Dancing with the Duke (4 page)

She was having trouble thinking beyond her
need to escape his presence and their current conversation.
“Why?”

“You don’t have any siblings,” he said,
pulling a face of dismay, “but she would make my life a living hell
if she knew I was even considering the notion of marrying. I suffer
enough of her teasing already.”

At that moment, Charlotte wanted nothing more
than to unleash some of that hell onto Alex herself. But instead,
she pasted a false smile on her face and said, “That sounds like a
very practical arrangement.”

“Good,” Alex said, a large smile spreading
across his face. “Ah, I think I hear my mother and sister now.”

He gave her his arm. She hesitated only a
moment before taking it.

* * *

Alex found himself in the tedious position of
having to dance with one simpering girl after another. Perhaps if
at least one of them was more like Charlotte — direct and sure of
themselves — he might have been moved to try to learn more about
them. But despite what he’d told Charlotte, he had no intention of
paying court to anyone. He’d used that excuse so she wouldn’t
suspect the real reason for his attendance at Lady Weston’s ball
that evening.

For some reason he couldn’t begin to
understand, he felt compelled to look out for Charlotte Grant. To
keep her safe from the wolves that circled her. Her beauty drew a
lot of attention. That, together with the fact that her dowry was
modest and her absent father untitled, meant there would be more
than a few men who would see her as nothing more than a brief
conquest. And once they’d had her, they would show no hesitation in
tossing her aside. He’d seen it happen to more than one hopeful
debutante over the years, but he wouldn’t allow the same fate to
befall Charlotte.

It was all he could do to pay attention to
whichever girl he was partnering at any given moment. He wanted to
drag Charlotte away from all the men who were dancing attendance on
her, not one of whom deserved her. Instead, he was forced to watch
over her from a distance.

It was with relief that he finally spotted
the Earl of Kerrick and the Marquess of Overlea. After returning
his dance partner to her mother, he escaped the expectant group of
young women waiting to see if he would ask one of them to dance
with him next. He made his way over to where his friends were
standing at the edge of the dance floor, watching him with
unconcealed amusement.

“First Almack’s and now Lady Weston’s ball?”
Kerrick said. “If you’re not careful, people will start believing
those rumors that the ever elusive Duke of Clarington is searching
for a bride.”

Alex shook off the teasing and aimed for a
levity he was far from feeling. “You’re here as well.”

“Yes, but I am not the catch of the season. A
duke will always garner more attention than a mere earl. Next to
you and Overlea, I’m practically invisible.”

Overlea grimaced. “I fear he has the right of
it, which is why I can’t help but wonder at your presence here
tonight. Unless the rumors are correct…”

“Of course not,” he said, but he couldn’t
stop his gaze from drifting back to Charlotte. He was aware of the
speculative expressions on his friends’ faces, but ignored
them.

Charlotte had already danced with Haversham,
so he scowled when he saw the young viscount approach her again.
That scowl turned to a barely suppressed curse when he saw
Charlotte place her hand on his arm and allow him to lead her out
to the gardens.

Overlea and Kerrick had followed his gaze and
also witnessed the pair’s exit, but a quick glance around the room
showed him that most of the guests hadn’t taken note of their
departure. He didn’t bother to take leave of his friends when he
started to follow. They could think what they would. His primary
concern was Charlotte and making sure nothing would happen to ruin
her reputation.

Somehow he kept his pace normal to avoid
drawing attention to himself as he made his way to the garden
doors. It was a warm evening, and so the doors stood open. He took
two steps onto the long balcony and stopped short, relief pounding
through his veins, when he saw that Charlotte and Haversham were
standing on the other side of the balcony. Well within the range of
propriety.

At his intrusion, they both turned to face
him. Charlotte blushed, a reaction that set Alex’s nerves on edge.
Surely she wouldn’t be embarrassed if the conversation had been an
innocent one. He ground his teeth together to keep from saying
something rash.

Charlotte spoke first. “Is something the
matter, Your Grace?”

He knew he was being ridiculous, but the fact
that she hadn’t called him by his Christian name annoyed him. Given
the length of their acquaintance and how close she was with his
sister, there was no need to hide their familiarity from
Haversham.

“I didn’t expect to find the two of you here.
Without a chaperone.” He glared at the man who stood only a step
away from Charlotte.

“Now see here, Clarington,” he said, “we’re
just outside the doors and were only talking. There’s no reason to
act like a protective mother.”

Alex spoke slowly to avoid showing just how
angry he was. “I think you had best go back inside.”

Haversham looked as though he was about to
argue, but must have thought better of it. He turned to Charlotte,
but Alex cut him off before he could speak.

“Alone,” Alex said. “I would like a few words
with Miss Grant.”

His anger grew when the other man, as though
Alex hadn’t spoken, said, “I will escort you inside if you
wish.”

Charlotte had been watching their exchange in
silence, her expression neutral. She now smiled at Haversham, and
Alex found himself actually hating the man.

“You go ahead. I will be in shortly.”

Haversham nodded. Alex didn’t speak again
until the man had returned to the ballroom. Slowly, his steps
measured, he approached Charlotte.

“We need to talk,” he said through clenched
teeth.

She stood her ground. “You may proceed.”

Alex shook his head. He reached for her hand,
and ignoring the spark of awareness that flashed through him at the
contact, drew her down the steps and into the garden. He didn’t
stop until they were behind a shrub, out of sight from anyone who
might walk out onto the balcony. He released her hand and turned to
face her.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked.
Somehow, he managed to keep from shouting.

“I think I am being dragged away from the
ball by a madman.”

“Don’t try to be amusing now. This is
serious. What if Haversham had decided to take liberties? Your
reputation might have been compromised and you’d be forced to marry
him. Or is that what you’d hoped for?”

She tilted her head in that infuriating
manner that told him she was wondering at his behavior.

“We were only a few feet from the garden
door. The open door. No one would have believed anything untoward
was happening.”

Her calm response came close to making him
lose the fragile control he held over his temper. Why could she not
concede that it simply wasn’t wise for a young woman to allow a man
to take her away from a ball?

“You could have no way of knowing what he
intended when you left with him. It would have been very easy for
him to take you somewhere more secluded.”

“Like you did?” she asked, her amusement
clear.

Her voice was low, and Alex became acutely
aware of the fact that they were now, the two of them, very much
alone. Music drifted through the open balcony door, but the ball
and all the people inside Lady Weston’s house could have been a
thousand miles away.

Weariness crossed her face, and Alex felt an
odd pang somewhere around the vicinity of his heart.

“This situation cannot continue. I fear you
were merely being polite yesterday when you said my presence in
your house wasn’t unwelcome. I cannot help but think you want me
gone.”

*

Charlotte stood closer to him than she’d
realized. From this distance, she could see that his blue eyes had
flecks of silver in them. She was unable to tear her gaze away from
his as she waited for his confirmation of her worst fears.

“No,” he said when he finally spoke. “I do
not wish you gone.”

Being this close to Alex, she was finding it
hard to breath. “What do you want?” she whispered.

His answer this time was immediate,
surprising her. He raised a hand to her cheek, and his thumb
brushed along the spray of freckles she hadn’t powdered.

“You. I want you.”

Without conscious thought, she swayed even
closer to him. He wrapped his fingers around her upper arms and
dragged her against him. Sensations she had never felt before swept
over her, culminating in intense pleasure when he brought his mouth
down over hers.

The contact was soft at first as he brushed
his lips against hers. She sighed and reached up to twine her hands
around his neck. Her movement seemed to encourage him, for the
pressure increased. He brushed his tongue against her lips and she
opened them in surprise. The first movement of his tongue into her
mouth surprised her, but that surprise was soon replaced by
pleasure. With caution she touched her own tongue to his and he
groaned. His hands moved to her back, then down to her hips, and he
pressed her fully against him as he deepened their kiss. She may
have been inexperienced, but having been raised in the country, she
knew exactly what she was feeling pressed against her, just above
her womb.

She couldn’t believe this was happening. Alex
was actually kissing her.

All too soon, though, he pulled away and
looked down at her. His eyes had darkened, and the heated
expression in them sent another shiver of excitement through
her.

“We need to stop,” he said, his breathing as
ragged as her own. But he didn’t release her.

She shook her head. “I don’t want to. I have
waited so long for this. Years. Please, no more waiting.”

Her admission surprised him and a small
corner of her brain, the only part still capable of rational
thought, chastised herself for betraying her feelings so easily.
The rest of her, however, simply didn’t care. Alex was attracted to
her, wanted her as a man wanted a woman, and absolutely nothing
else mattered at that moment.

She didn’t have to exert much pressure to
coax his head back down and they were kissing again. He cupped her
breast in one hand and she arched into the caress, a whimper of
need rising in the back of her throat.

He pushed her away with a curse and turned
away, his harsh breathing sounding like a condemnation of her
wantonness. She wasn’t quite able to steady her own breathing.
Feeling bereft without his touch, she wrapped her arms around
herself and waited.

“I apologize,” he said. “I don’t know what
came over me. Here I was, warning you about another man when it
appears you have more to fear from me.”

When he turned to face her again, she could
see that the mask of composure he normally wore was back in
place.

“You should return to the ball. I’m sure the
last thing you want is to find yourself forced to marry me.”

His words were like a knife to her heart, and
she had no doubt that Alex’s true concern was that he not find
himself forced to marry her. She nodded and without another word
turned and made her way back to the ballroom.

Alex was in hell. For the rest of the night, as he watched
Charlotte laugh and dance almost every set, he couldn’t stop
remembering her stricken expression when she’d left him. He’d hurt
her feelings. That small, stupid voice inside him, the one whose
ears had perked up when she’d told him she’d been waiting years for
him, hoped she’d been hurt because he’d pushed her away. The more
practical side of him, however, knew she’d been upset by his
deplorable lack of self-control.

He’d sent away his valet when he returned and
was now waiting. He had to apologize to her. He knew he should wait
until morning, but he wouldn’t be able to sleep if he didn’t do so
right away. Charlotte had gone with his sister to Lucy’s bedroom
after their return from the ball and stayed with her for some time.
But she had to go past his bedroom to reach hers, which she’d done
only moments before. He had to see her and somehow assure her that
she was in no danger from him. He only wished he could assure
himself of that same thing.

The house was quiet when he made his way to
her room and knocked on the door. When she opened it, she was
surprised to see him.

“I know you were expecting your maid,” he
began, “but I needed to apologize.”

Now it was his turn to be surprised when she
opened her door to allow him to enter. He hesitated, but since her
maid was likely to appear at any moment to help her undress, he
decided there would be no harm in having this conversation in
private. He entered and she closed the door after him.

“What are you apologizing for, Alex?”

He frowned. She was in a very strange mood.
It didn’t help that he was feeling more than a little cast adrift.
He was in her bedroom and the door was closed. It was all he could
do not to draw her back into his arms and take her in that bed that
seemed to dominate the room. He turned his back to the prominent
piece of furniture and tried to concentrate on what he’d come to
do.

“For my forward behavior earlier this
evening, of course.”

She sighed and looked away. He waited for a
reply, but none came.

“Charlotte?”

“I don’t want an apology from you,” she said.
“Not for that.”

Her words confused him. “If not for that,
then for what?”

She met his gaze again, and he hated seeing
the hurt and disappointment reflected in her eyes. She seemed to be
waiting for something from him, but he could no longer think
straight. It was with great difficulty that he kept his eyes from
drifting back to the bed.