“You will not dance with anybody tonight but me.”
“That is a very bold move, Your Grace,” Joanna commented, giving Elinor a knowing look.
The duke shot Joanna a smooth, pleasant smile. “You see that I am a bold man, Lady Joanna.”
Joanna murmured something about finding a dance partner of her own, and Elinor was grateful. For when they were alone, the duke leaned closer, pretending to look at the refreshments table. His mouth came near her ear, and she fought back a shiver.
“I have plans for tonight,” he told her. “Just know that I am putting our ruse into further action.”
That terrified Elinor more than anything. Still, she nodded.
“Then when shall we have our first dance?” she asked.
“I am a man who believes there’s no better time than the present.”
He took hold of her hand, and in the movement of leading her to the dance floor, the duke slid her dance card into the pocket of her reticule. The briefest feel of his hand near her hip sent color flooding to her cheeks. He spun her into position, his palm settling on her waist.
“I do not want to sound offensive,” he said, laughing lightly, “but youdoknow how to dance, do you not?”
“Of course I do. I took lessons, like every young lady. I just did not know that they would go to waste.”
“Oh, Lady Elinor,” he purred, “tonight, they shall not.”
He whirled her into the first steps. Around them the ballroom watched. Elinor could not entirely block out the stares, curiosity from the men, and jealousy from ladies. Each time her shoulders began to pull inward, the duke found a way to turn her, loosening them.
“For a lady who has not danced with anybody for a while, you are very adept,” he complimented. “I am honored to have such a partner.”
“Partners in more ways than one,” she laughed.
“Partners in ruse,” he mused. “Partners in dancing, and … well …” He grinned at her. “Another kind, perhaps.”
Elinor’s heart pounded, and she swallowed, not knowing how to answer.
“You look beautiful,” he told her, his voice pitched beneath the music.
“There is nobody to hear us,” she reminded him. “The music drowns us out. You do not need to speak falsely.”
“I am speaking honestly.”
His eyes held hers, far too intimate for pretense. Elinor misstepped, and the duke braced her tighter, pulling her closer than the dance required. His hand drifted low on her waist.
“Your hand,” she managed, “is rather low.”
“And? We must give the ton a show. We have the attention of everyone here. Especially a very jealous Lady Belinda. Perhaps I will smile at her just to be spiteful.”
“Do not,” Elinor said quickly, but she found herself laughing. “She will be awful to me.”
“And I will protect you, and be ten times as awful back, as much as I can get away with.”
“You are rather wicked, are you not, Your Grace?”
“I have knowledge that my tongue is, particularly. Would you like to find out?”
Elinor stumbled, her eyes widening, and the duke laughed.
“I am quite the insulter,” he said smoothly. “My tongue is rather wicked with words. Butdotell me what assumption had your face going pinker than a decadent raspberry.”
“I was thinking nothing,” she rushed to say. “Nothing beyond what you clearly meant.”