For some reason, the way he looked at her made her feel a little hot and itchy, as though her garments were too thick, and she needed to strip herself of them. She supposed he was so practiced at looking at women in such a manner that he simply did not know how to look at them any other way, even if he was looking at his closest friend.
“She’s happily married,” he told her. “She just has not realized that yet.”
“You know, there are many people who would not think you capable of such kind-heartedness. Was there not that piece about you in the London Chronicle?Marmaduke Cameron cuts through the eligible women of society with no prejudice or compunction...” She frowned. “There was a piece of poetry too.”
“I do not have time to read such nonsense and I certainly do not want to pollute my mind with terrible poetry.”
“Actually, it was not too bad I think.”
“Did it have a certain word...?” He shook his head. “Never mind. I pay those newspapers no heed and I am not in the habit of ruining happy marriages.”
“Oh, I see. It should have beenMarmaduke Cameron devotes himself to the needs of lonely and neglected women.”She paused in front of him. “Have you thought of setting up a charity?”
He fixed her with an amused look, his dimple flashing. “I have some standards is all I am saying.”
“You are dancing with me. Many would say you have no standards at all.”
On the next trip up the line of dancers, Duke took her dance card and flicked his gaze over it. “If that is true, then neither do any of these men. For all your complaining, Vi, you always have a full dance card.”
“I suspect they are willing to overlook my scandalous family thanks to myhugedowry.”
“Oh yes, the huge dowry. I think I read about that in the London Chronicle too.”
“Did you not just say you do not read that newspaper?”
“I may have skimmed it a time or two.”
“My dowry is enough, but I am certain whatever was said was exaggerated.”
“So, you can see why it is a fine idea not to believe a word the London Chronicle says.”
The music came to an end and after a round of applause for the musicians, Duke led her to the nearby refreshments. She gratefully grasped a glass of lemonade and took several gulps whilst wafting herself with her free hand. Duke plucked the dance card from her wrist and added to the wafting. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the cool air for a few moments.
She opened her eyes to find him staring at her in that intense manner again. “You forget, Duke, that I do not need to read the London Chronicle to know all about you. I have firsthand experience of your adventures.” Eyes wide, she closed her mouth and swallowed through a dry throat. “That is...I have witnessed it during our friendship...” She blew out a breath and took another long gulp of too tart lemonade. To think, she had almost spoken of the one thing she and Duke must never speak on again.
∞∞∞
Duke smirked. Violet was a woman of honesty and intelligence and fumbling her way through that excuse of a sentence didn’t become her.
After all, it was only a kiss.
One little kiss.
He’d enjoyed many kisses in his life and whilst he was willing to admit Violet was most likely less experienced, she hadn’t kissed like a fumbling innocent, so he had to conclude she’d kissed a man or two in her time. He’d like to claim that did not bother him one jot—as well he should—but for some reason the idea caused a strange itching sensation in his gut.
Their kiss had been a mistake—an act of the moment, a wild instance of madness. Whilst he’d kissed many women, he could not claim any of those instances had been anything but considered. To the gossip columns, he might sweep through lovers with the speed of a racehorse, however, he never entangled himself recklessly and he never came back for more.
So, he had to wonder why the urge to kiss Violet Musgrave again lingered deep in his muscles, making his fingers flex involuntarily and forcing his gaze to her mouth. Since his friend’s engagement to Violet’s sister, he and Violet had grown close to the point they rarely went a day without at least penning a note to one another, if not talking in person.
With the exception of one day of course.
The day after the kiss.
He hadn’t realized how enmeshed into his life she had become until then. He couldn’t ruin that.
No matter how tempted he was...
The line for the dance reconvened, forcing them both to take a step back toward the edge of the ballroom. Duke put a hand to Violet’s elbow and guided her behind a row of chairs. He glanced her over.