Enticing the Earl

“North insists I try to learn everyone’s name. He also assists me as we greet people. He will pretend to lean down and whisper something sweet when he is actually reminding me of their names.”

Mia giggled. “How sweet.” She never imagined the duke to be such a nice man.

“And necessary. I have no idea how people do it without some tutoring.”

“That’s easy. Most have been around these people all of their lives. We don’t have that advantage so we must do our best to learn people’s names.” Mia smiled. “After all, if we don’t, how will we ever know who the gossips are discussing?”

“Oh, we both know they are discussing us tonight.” Selina walked with her to the refreshment table where they picked up glasses of lemonade. She nudged Mia. “See the old biddies in the corner? They both keep nodding our way.”

Mia stole a glance toward the corner, then laughed. “That’s Hart’s grandmother. Come along, I shall introduce you to someone for a change.”

Selina grimaced. “I vaguely remember her. A bit of a dragon, isn’t she?”

“Only a bit.”

They approached Lady Hartsfield slowly and stopped a few feet away until the older woman beckoned them with one crooked finger. “Come along, girls. We are old women who don’t have much time left.”

Mia rolled her eyes. That woman would live to be a hundred. Mia introduced the dowager countess to Selina an

d the countess introduced them both to one of her old friends.

Simon’s grandmother scrutinized them both and then a slow smile lifted her lips. “For two girls of no consequence, you clean up nicely. I believe you shall do well in Society.”

“Thank you, my lady,” they said together.

“Now, why aren’t you young ladies dancing?”

“I am waiting for the duke. He wanted to lead me out for my first dance here,” Selina replied.

“And you?” Lady Hartsfield asked of Mia.

Mia glanced away and shrugged.

“Oh dear,” the older woman whispered. “Why didn’t you tell me that you couldn’t dance when you arrived? I could have arranged for an instructor.”

“Honestly, I didn’t think of it,” Mia admitted. “I feel terribly foolish.”

“Nonsense,” Lady Hartsfield said. “Your inability to dance is your husband’s fault.”

“That’s hardly fair,” Mia said. “He didn’t think of it either.”

Lady Hartsfield shook her head. “The boy should have known better. Your Grace,” she said, turning her gray eyes on Selina, “Did your husband make sure you could dance before attending this ball?”

“Actually, his mother and sister brought in a dance instructor before I attended my first ball.”

“Ahh,” Lady Hartsfield waved her hand. “I stand by my statement.”

“I don’t believe we had planned to attend until Charlie insisted we come down,” Mia said. “Speaking of which, where is he? I thought he would attend the party.”

“Charlie?” Lady Hartsfield laughed. “We can’t pull him away from the gaming hells to come out to the country for a few days.”

That was odd. Mia was certain Simon had told her that Charlie would be here. Perhaps he was held up in London and couldn’t get away. She and Selina moved on until they ran into the duke.

“I do believe this is our dance,” he said with a smile to his wife.

“I think you are correct.” Selina took the duke’s outstretched arm and then they walked to the dance floor.

Envy filled Mia as she watched her dearest friend. The duke was so in love with Selina. Mia wanted that. She wanted Simon to look at her with love in his eyes all the time, not just in the bedroom.