The Lady and the Duke (2 page)

Cocking her head, she glanced up at the gentleman, surprised to realize she only came up to his nose.

It was unusual for a girl her height to be dwarfed by a
tonnish
gentleman. As a rule, she could look eye to eye with most men of her acquaintance—a fact that the slender, popular Lady Beatrice seemed to relish reminding her, as the current fashion leaned more toward the slight and delicate.

Audrey was not slight, and she was anything but delicate. At her best, one could describe her as a pretty, sturdy sort of girl, more suited to exploring the countryside than tripping down the quadrille line.

As they approached the ballroom doors, the gentleman stopped and bowed over her hand. Fighting back a small surge of disappointment that she must return to her lonely spot by the wall so soon, she dipped into a shallow curtsey.

"Thank you, sir, I—"

"Would you care for a stroll?"

Audrey glanced over her shoulder at the crowded room, noting her mother was still engrossed in her conversation. She could escape, just for a few moments.

"Yes. That would be lovely."

The dark haired gentleman led her through the open door of the library to the outer doors beyond. While the ballroom opened to the terrace further down, and was quite crowded with couples, the section Audrey and her escort stepped out onto was secluded and shadowy. A little tingle ran up her spine as the gentleman pulled the glass doors closed behind them and held his arm out again.

Audrey placed her gloved hand lightly on his forearm, the hard muscles under her palm warm through the cloth of his sleeve, as they strolled to the balustrade that overlooked the darkened gardens. "This is very improper, you know."

"Is it?"

She glanced back to see his eyes twinkling. "You know it is. We shouldn’t even be speaking, much less walking alone, having never been introduced."

"Ah, yes," he conceded. "I have never understood why a gentleman must find a third party to recommend him. I am perfectly capable of conducting a conversation myself. I don’t require any outside help."

Audrey shook her head in mock reproof. "Perhaps you don’t
require
it, but you should accept the help when offered. I have yet to find a man who doesn’t manage to wedge his Hessian in his mouth at least twice per any conversation."

Dark eyebrows shot skyward, and Audrey’s breath caught. What was she thinking, teasing him as though he was familiar to her? Her Mama would say it was merely another example of her tendency to speak before thinking.

But the crinkles of amusement were back at the corners of his eyes, and she drew in a breath of relief. Thankfully, this man had a well developed sense of humor.

"Is that a challenge?"

"You must take it as you interpret it, sir. I cannot think you are much different from any other man I know." Audrey giggled at his expression.

"By God, I will take up this challenge," he said, holding one fist to his chest dramatically. "But to be fair, I don't think this evening should count. I'm not prepared."

"And will that help?"

"
Touché
, my lady."

The most adorable dimple winked in his left cheek. It quite fascinated her. She met his thoughtful gaze, and flushed to be caught staring. He leaned back at the stone rail and crossed his arms over his broad chest.

"Since we are being improper, I'm going to break another rule, and ask your name."

"I wish you would not." Audrey placed her hands on the cool stone next to his elbow and slid him a glance. "If I don't know you're name, then I can just pretend that this never happened."

"Do you always follow the rules then?"

"Clearly not
always
."

She could feel the heat of him as they stood too close, almost shoulder to shoulder, as she looked out over the gardens. Out of the corner of Audrey's eye, she saw him turn until he was facing her, then he reached out, smoothing a wayward curl away from her face. She swallowed, and angled herself toward him. Their little section of the terrace was dim, quite private in its shadowed seclusion. Hearting beating madly against her breastbone, Audrey stilled, as he stepped closer and dipped his dark head. Her eyes drifted closed and she lifted her chin a fraction, waiting to feel his lips soft upon hers.

The gentleman cleared his throat and Audrey felt a rush of cool air as he stepped away. Her eyes popped open, and she was glad for the cover of the dim light. Perhaps he hadn't seen her well enough to understand she had thought he would kiss her. The alternative was too embarrassing to contemplate.

"You should go back in before you are missed." The stranger walked to the edge of the garden stairs and paused when Audrey merely stood where he had left her.

"You're not coming in?"

"No." He smiled, his large body relaxed and loose, as if they hadn't almost just kissed. Well, maybe they hadn't. Perhaps she was the only one who had felt the thrill of his nearness, the urge to crush herself to him and never let go.

He looked so self-possessed, wearing a comfortable air of command and power, and she had never felt less sure of herself. Audrey turned to the door, then back again.

"Will you be in Town long?"

"Perhaps. It depends on how long it takes to complete my errand."

He was not going to give her anything, she could tell. Which was fine, because she wasn't looking for an entanglement. She might have lost her head for a moment when he stood so close, but Audrey knew what she wanted and it didn't have anything to do with fancy balls or the gentlemen who prowled them looking for wives.

"Well, enjoy your evening then, sir." She dipped into a brief curtsey and he inclined his head, that charming dimple winking out again.

Without a backward glance, Audrey let herself into the house, crossing swiftly through the library and back into the corridor. She was relieved to see no one about and smoothed her skirts as she slipped into the noisy ballroom. Holding her breath, she walked over to where her mother was chatting with a portly gentleman with florid cheeks, but let the air out slowly when Mama merely glanced over and nodded. Audrey's defection and small rebellion had gone unnoticed, which was both a comfort and an irritation.

The brief break from duke-hunting had been just what Audrey had needed, however. The thorny problem of her parents expectations, the Duke of Halford, her scant marital prospects and her ever-increasing feeling of being hunted by Beatrice Lettington, had all been left behind for the space of a few hundred heartbeats. Audrey settled onto a chaise, feeling lighter then she had in months.

Chapter Two

"Audrey!"

Wincing at Mama’s shrill call from the first floor of their London townhome, Audrey hurried down the steps, hastily tying the wide ribbons of her bonnet under her chin.

"There you are, you lazy gel," said her mother, as she stood in the entry of the house tapping her foot impatiently against the marble floor. "I cannot imagine what has taken you so long, but never mind, for you are here now. Finally. We must hurry if we are going to have time for Bond Street before visiting Lady Harris."

Biting back a sigh, Audrey followed her mother to the waiting landau. It was a beautiful spring day, warm and balmy, rare in that one could actually spy clear blue skies instead of the dreary grayness that usually permeated the London air. And she was going to spend the entire day inside, first at the shops and then sitting in a parlor, sipping tea and making insipid conversation with women who looked down their perfect, elegant noses at her.

What she wouldn’t give to be back at Dobbins House, in Hampshire, secluded in her favorite copse of trees with a book and a nice, crisp apple.

The next hour was spent sitting and standing, being draped with volumes of material, pinched, prodded and minutely inspected, as if she were a new specimen of insect the world had never seen. Her mother seemed quite sure that the only way her daughter would catch a husband was if she were dressed in high fashion at all times, a belief that her father claimed was going to put them all in the poorhouse.

Audrey tolerated the torturously long experience with as much patience as she could summon; turning, dipping and holding still without a murmur. Mama meant well. It was senseless and a bit self-indulgent to complain about receiving new clothes, even when she had hordes of perfectly serviceable garments in her wardrobe already.

Distracted by her thoughts, Audrey stepped out of the dressmaker's shop and ran smack into someone walking in the opposite direction.

"Oh!"

She
really
needed to start paying attention. This was becoming tiresome.

Exasperated, she started to bend down to pick up the packet of ribbons she had dropped in the collision. A man’s gloved hand came into view, stopping her with a touch on her elbow. She glanced up to find a pair of familiar brown eyes laughing at her.

"Oh, of course it’s you," said Audrey, with a disbelieving shake of her head.

"You weren’t joking last evening. You actually do make this a habit," said the dark haired gentleman from the ball with whom she had shared the most enjoyable ten minutes of her entire night. Unable to stifle her amusement, Audrey rolled her eyes and held her hand out for the package he had scooped up from the pavement.

"Ha, ha, you are so very diverting."

With a grin, he placed the ribbons in her outstretched palm as the bells over the door tinkled and her mother stepped out of the shop.

"Audrey, who is this gentleman?"

Mama's gaze measured the man, dressed as well and correctly as any of their set, with the experienced eye of a matchmaking mama. With an elegant flourish he bowed low, his movement fluid and natural, then straightened with a charming grin firmly in place. That lovely dimple creased one cheek again, giving him a roguish air.

"Good day, madam. Your daughter dropped her parcel and I was merely retrieving it for her."

As her mother arched a brow at Audrey, the gentleman turned his head slightly away from her and sent her an almost imperceptible wink. She lifted a hand to her mouth, disguising her giggle as a cough. Mama eyed her suspiciously for another moment before turning back to the man before them.

"If I might I be so bold as to make myself known to you, madam?" he continued, his manner sure and smooth. "Halford, at your service."

Audrey immediately lost her smile.

Oh, Lord. Why did it have to be him?

She couldn’t bear it if the duke thought she set out to maneuver him onto that balcony last night. It was almost comical that Audrey had finally attracted the notice of a gentleman that her mother fervently approved of, one that she herself found quite attractive, and it was the worst possible thing that could happen at the moment.

She just wanted to go home to Hampshire.

"Oh, Your Grace, it is so lovely to finally meet you," gushed Mama, her entire demeanor changing from mildly interested to fawning in the blink of an eye. "I am Baroness Witte, and this is my daughter Audrey."

The duke bowed over her hand, then turned to Audrey, his expression polite. Unless one could see the gleam in his dark gaze. "Miss...?"

"Ellis, Your Grace."

"Charmed to make your acquaintance, Miss Ellis."

Although his bow over her hand was brief, Audrey could feel the heat of him through her glove. When he released her, she surreptitiously rubbed her tingling palm against her skirts.

Audrey's mother cleared her throat, claiming his attention again. "We missed you at Lady Massey's ball last night, Your Grace. How sad, for my Audrey truly loves to dance."

A slight smile curved the duke's mobile lips. "I do apologize. I was...detained elsewhere."

"We are out almost every evening, Your Grace. I am quite sure you will find another time to dance with my daughter."

Oh, Lord. She wanted to find a rock to crawl under. Audrey couldn't stop a small, horrified whistling intake of air.

"Ah, yes—"

Mama cut him off, giving Audrey a not so subtle jab in the ribs with her elbow. "That is, if Audrey's card is not full. I have always said that my darling girl could look high for her match. Why, her father has been besieged at his club by prospective suitors ever since her debut."

Audrey resisted the urge to snort with derision at the blatant lie, as a pregnant pause stretched between the duke and her mother. His expression had turned slightly alarmed. She could only presume it was the effusive endorsement of a girl he had presumably just met. Halford took half a step backward and glanced around, as he appeared to be searching for words. The poor man looked to be on the verge of bolting.

Audrey did not blame him in the least.

How could she? She wanted to run away herself, from the embarrassment that was her social-climbing mother. But running wouldn’t help, since this was her daily reality. Best to just wait it out, really.

Perhaps he really
would
run away, and then she could go back to Hampshire, where everything was comfortable and made sense to her.

"Um, how encouraging. Miss Ellis is very lucky to have her family’s support. However—"

"Why don’t you come for supper one night this week, Your Grace?" Audrey's mother determinedly rolled over Halford’s weak reply. She must have sensed her prey slipping away, and went in for the kill.

"I—"

"Perfect! Then it is set. We will expect you Thursday evening, say, eight o’clock?" Before the duke had a chance to turn down the invitation, she grasped Audrey’s arm and hauled her down the sidewalk. "We look forward to seeing you again, Your Grace!"

Audrey glanced back to see a stunned Halford still standing outside the modiste’s shop, looking entirely flummoxed by the conversation and felt a flash of reluctant amusement. He looked as though someone had run up behind him and smacked his head with a board. It was really quite adorable, actually. She caught his gaze and sent him a small, crooked smile of apology before following her Mama into the waiting landau.

As mortified as she was at her Mama's blatant matchmaking, Audrey couldn't help but feel a little tingle of anticipation at the thought of seeing him again.