The Duke's Tattoo by Miranda Davis
Author:Miranda Davis
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Aspen Street Press
Published: 2012-03-29T21:00:00+00:00
Chapter 20
In which our hero and heroine waltz across the Rubicon.
Irritated, frustrated and confused, the duke left Miss Haversham to her own devices for an eternity. The following week, he approached Lady Abingdon and Miss Haversham in the ballroom shortly after they arrived at the Upper Rooms. He bowed with formal correctness and asked the dowager countess to dance a country set.
Lady Abingdon laughed with delight, “I’m all atwitter to be so honored, Your Grace! You’re too kind to an old woman.”
Ainsworth bowed politely to Miss Haversham as he led Lady Abingdon away to join the dance. Well he knew to keep his face blank. He dared not reveal any feelings for the little apothecary in the dowager’s company, especially because they alternated between lust and murder.
Unfortunately for the duke, his caution was for naught. Lady Abingdon caught the scent and began hounding him. Though rotund, she was so light on her tiny feet, she could mind the dance and undertake a relentless inquisition for the entire half hour they partnered. The dance brought them together often as they wove in and out of the figures. He knew from experience she would not question him directly, but rather would wheedle and winkle information from him at each close pass. This was a society matron’s version of death by a thousand cuts: to torture a fellow until her curiosity was satisfied and he was left bloodless and twitching.
The duke girded his loins and prepared to bleed.
“What keeps you in Bath in the middle of the Season, Ainsworth?”
“You suggested I take treatment.”
“You’ve found Miss Haversham helpful?”
He hummed his assent but became distracted. Although Lady Abingdon was likely to notice, he hazarded a look over her head to find Miss Haversham. Having spotted her, he continued to glance in her direction as often as the dance allowed. Only his eyes moved though, he made damned certain to keep the rest of his expression blank.
Lady Abingdon began probing his intentionally bland demeanor with her damnably sharp mind. “She looks quite well, doesn’t she?”
His eyes strayed back to where Miss Haversham sat incongruously among the matrons, chatting easily right and left. Hundreds of candles in the six-tiered chandeliers burned high overhead. The candlelight darkened her hair to rich sable and gilded her luminous skin.
“She looks radiant,” he murmured, momentarily forgetting his nonchalance.
“I’ve read of your amorous exploits, Ainsworth, and find them hard to credit. You were such a shy little boy.”
“Was I?”
“Very. But then I always say those who speak little feel much. And you were a silent, watchful boy. Not still. A perpetual motion machine, flinging yourself here and there, climbing trees like a chimpanzee, riding horses like a Turkoman…so very busy. But very quiet.”
“Practically mute, or so I’ve been told.” As he spoke, the duke’s eyes found Miss Haversham again.
“I see how you look at her, as if you’ve not had a meal in weeks. Don’t think to trifle with her!” Lady Abingdon commanded a bit breathlessly.
Ainsworth’s attention snapped back to his partner. Her warning stung.
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