They circled around the room together and she told him of the latest gossip. Lady Caro had a gift for mimicry and he laughed merrily as she parodied their various acquaintances. After the dance was over, she insisted on a second with him. Samuel could hardly refuse her without offence. When the second set was over, he led her by the hand to the side where his friend Sir Alexander Gordon and his new wife were standing. Lady Caro squeezed Samuel’s hand before releasing it. She stayed next to his side as if they were tied together by a string, instead of merely acquaintances.
Alexander was a tall man with thick brownish-red hair and a welcoming smile. He was also an ADC to Wellington and a good man, except for the fact that he let his cousin ride his stallion with Frederica.
His friend bowed. ‘Pelford, Lady Caro, allow me to introduce my bride, Lady Gordon.’
Samuel bowed to a short young lady with flaxen hair and brilliant blue eyes. She was pretty in the English style and had the glow of a new bride. ‘It is an honour.’
‘A pleasure,’ Lady Caro purred in a bored voice.
The new Lady Gordon ignored the other woman and turned to face Samuel. ‘Alexander has told me all about you and your practical jokes, Duke.’
Ones he had learned from the Stringhams.
Lady Caro cackled and hit his arm with her fan flirtatiously. ‘You never told me you were a jokesmith. For shame!’
Samuel was about to step away from Caro and her claws, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see the beautiful face of Frederica, her countenance a bit pale.
‘I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you,’ she said, her neck turning a blotchy red and her cheeks pinker than usual as she smiled at him.
‘No, no,’ Samuel said, taking her hand in his. ‘I was hoping to find you. May I escort you to the terrace? I believe there is to be a fireworks show there.’
He ought to have introduced her to Sir Alexander, Lady Louisa, and Lady Caro, but he forgot his surroundings when she smiled at him. Before he knew it, he was leading her to the terrace to watch the fireworks display. He cursed inwardly that it was so crowded, he would dearly have liked to have kissed her again. He led her to the edge of the crowded terrace and they looked at the crescent moon.
But as soon as the fireworks began, she moved closer to him. Pressing her curves against his side. ‘I have decided that I do not like sharing.’
‘What are you talking about?’ His words were muffled as red fireworks exploded above their heads.
She cupped her hands around his ear. ‘You. I do not like sharingyou.’
He opened his mouth and waited to speak, for another barrage of fireworks was going off at the same time. The sky glittered with gold, but nothing shined brighter than Frederica in her finery.
‘Am I not allowed to dance with other women?’
Frederica shook her head. Her curls brushed his cheek tantalisingly.
‘Or speak to them?’
‘If they try to talk to you, simply run in the opposite direction,’ she said primly, but her eyes were dancing with mischief.
Samuel had his own bone to pick with her. ‘I shall run from all the ladies, if you promise to do the same from all the men. No more rides with Captain Wallace.’
Her mouth opened. ‘But he is just a friend.’
‘So is Lady Caro,’ he countered.
She gritted her teeth and he tried not to smirk. ‘Fine. I shall flee whenever I see him.’
Lifting his hand, he brushed a curl back from her face. It was dark, but the light from the fireworks illuminated her beautiful countenance. ‘I never thought to see you jealous.’
‘Is jealousy a hideous colour on me?’
He pressed a light kiss to her cheek. ‘Quite fetching actually. Perhaps we might find a suitable corner and make our own fireworks show?’
Samuel loved the way Frederica’s smile began in her eyes and slowly spread to the rest of her face, finally to her mouth and her beautiful sharp white teeth. She had bitten him before and not only while kissing.
‘Yes!’
Putting his hand on her waist, he steered her through the crowd and they were about to make their escape into the gardens, when the Duchess of Hampford appeared in front of them.