Madcap Miss

The waltz over, Scott came up to them to claim Becky’s hand. She looked over her shoulder as she walked away and glared at the duke.

* * *

Ashton was still staring after them when Felicia appeared at his side and remarked, “Such a dreadful frown!” Felicia giggled. “Who has annoyed you now? Surely not our Becky?”

She had watched the two twirl around the floor, and while she had not been quite jealous, she was certainly curious, especially now watching the duke’s flitting expressions.

He smiled down at her, caught her ungloved fingers, and took them to his cheek and held them there a moment for all the world to see. He didn’t care. In that moment, all he wanted was his madcap, his love, near and touching, even through the material of her lace gloves.

“Becky didn’t annoy me. She made me look into myself … into you,” he said softly.

“Has she? And what, my beloved guardian, did you see?”

“That she has asked the band to play another waltz, and that I am going to claim your hand for it.”

“Oh, but how can you? It would be our third waltz. You will set tongues on fire.” Felicia laughed openly at the notion.

He took her waist and hand and began to lead her into the steps of the waltz and bent to tell her, “You know, I love your eyes. I have from the start … they speak. Even when your lips are sealed tight, your eyes say so much.”

“And what are they telling you now?” she whispered.

“I see myself in them,” he answered, and his voice was a caress.

Tomorrow, she thought would be another day. Tonight. She would always have tonight … and the night she had spent in his arms in his bed. Would that she could spend another such night … forever!

~ Thirty-One ~

LORD WAVERLY EYED

his lady as he helped her out of their town coach and said in an undertone, “He is going to put up a fuss, and then when she finds out what we have done, she is going to put up a fuss—two of them, fussing, and I don’t like fusses.”

He turned to his coachman and told him, “Sorry, ol’ boy, we shall probably be about twenty minutes or so.”

Daffy sighed as she took her husband’s arm. “The trouble is, Freddy, you are right. You are always right.”

He patted her hand. “Dearest heart, don’t fret then. We’ll muddle through.”

“Shall we? Shall we muddle through and stand by and watch my brother make a mess of this entire business? Felicia is with him right now with his solicitor. His guardianship is at an end as soon as they sign the necessary papers. What then?”

At that moment, a young man came dashing out of the duke’s house just as they were about to knock. He stopped, mumbled something incoherent in the way of a greeting, and told them that his life was at an end. So announcing, he dashed past them, down the steps, and along the avenue out of sight.

“That was young William,” Freddy said on a frown. “Seems a bit … distracted.”

“Oh no, Freddy. My brother cannot have refused William of Hartford’s courtship of Felicia?” Lady Daphne wailed. “William is an earl and wealthy, so wealthy. If my brother doesn’t mean to have her, and I am beginning to think he doesn’t, then he must not stop all these wonderful suitors from courting her.”

They went inside and were led to the library, Freddy muttering about keeping well out of it as things had a habit of sorting themselves out. His wife said she wished this were true, and then a most charming vision met their gazes.

The duke was seated by the fire in a leather-bound chair, a folded document in his hands. At his feet, Felicia in a gown of dark blue velvet was comfortably leaning against his chair and perusing a fashion plate and reading the duke a lecture about something. Daffy was too stunned to hear over the din in her head.

“Daff!” Felicia said, looking up at the newcomers. “Finally, you are here. Good. I must tell you what this brother of yours just did. I am so embarrassed.”

“Never mind,” the duke said on a frown.

“He sent poor William of Hartford off. Told him he wasn’t fit to stand up to a waltz with me, let alone court me,” stuck in Felicia, ignoring the duke’s warning look.

Daffy eyed her brother. “Yes, we saw the poor young man as he dashed out of here. Said his life was over.”

“I do not think that is true, do you?” the duke countered ruefully. “Besides, he is no more than a puppy. How dare he come here after only a day after Felicia’s ball and declare himself!”