Page 4 of Seven Days with her Duke (Hearts of Whitmores #3)

CHAPTER 4

“ T hank you,” Eleanor said in a disgruntled tone as she left her hand off his arm after they’d gained entrance to the ball and left the receiving line.

Dominic was taking back her hand before he could help it, the sudden absence more annoying than anything else. He held her there as she shot him a look. The young woman was a full head shorter than him, if not perhaps a tad more than that, and reminded him of a fierce little kitten.

She has claws. Mighty sharp ones she too rarely brings out.

“It is my pleasure,” Dominic told her with a broad grin. “Now, shall we take a walk about the room?”

Tugging at her arm while trying not to garner attention, she huffed and threw him a look. “I know exactly where I wish to go. You’ve done your duty, Your Grace. Perhaps I shall see you in a few hours when it is time to leave?”

“A few hours? Darling, you are not leaving until you’ve properly enjoyed yourself. I know you left your own ball, but I expect you to enjoy yourself tonight,” he lectured her playfully.

It was too easy. Too easy, he told himself, to prod and poke and tease her. Only Eleanor Whitmore would flash those pretty black eyes of hers in annoyance when ordered to have an exciting evening.

“Fine, but I do not need your escort.”

Dominic readied to argue before catching himself, wondering why he thought he needed her on his arm. The young lady had a point. He’d been asked to escort her, but that didn’t mean she needed to stick to his side. There were other matrons of society who might keep an eye out for her, especially in a crowd like this.

So why can I not let her go?

Thinking quickly, he found a middle ground. “Fine.” He traded her arms and tugged on her dance card looped around her wrist. “But I shall reserve a dance to ensure you are still about here.”

Eleanor’s eyes darted about, studying the crowd around her. She seemed to think better of arguing then. There were too many people. Already her shoulders were shifting, and he could sense she was trying to make herself smaller. It made him pause, wishing he could tell her to hold onto that confidence she held inside. He knew she was brave if only she would believe in herself.

“Don’t take the supper dance.”

Blinking, he forced a nod. “Very well.” He wrote down his name in what he thought was neat lettering. However, when Eleanor took a glance, she rolled her eyes and dropped her arm. She turned to go but he gave her hand a quick squeeze that made her pause at his side. He offered a final smirk just to annoy her. “Enjoy yourself, Eleanor. For I shall be keeping my eye on you.”

“Scoundrel,” she mumbled under her breath, offering a parting nod before she hurried off.

One easy look around the room showed his old friends from university nearby. He took a step toward them just to hear a feminine squeal with Eleanor’s name tied into it.

Glancing over, Dominic found Eleanor had already been scooped up by a friend of hers. A pretty lady all blonde and flighty. She was much more animated than Eleanor, vaguely reminding him he’d seen her before. Probably the night prior, he supposed. Curious about the friendship, he crept closer to overhear.

“I cannot believe Lady Angelina was right. She said you arrived with Lord Elkins on your arm! Lady Stetson nearly fainted. However did that happen, Eleanor? Has he come to town to court you?”

He started to roll his eyes but stopped when he considered Eleanor might do that for him. Wishing her back wasn’t to him, he nearly missed her response. “Nonsense, Nancy. Please do put that from your mind at once.”

“Then whatever are you doing with him?”

“I am afraid he has the unfortunate honor of being a friend of my brother’s,” Eleanor explained. She muttered something else he missed, and then added, “He’s here only as a favor. He’ll grow tired of me, you know. The man is terribly arrogant.”

Nancy sighed. “And so charming.”

“It’s all a lie, Nancy, don’t believe a thing he says.”

Dominic’s lips twitched. He had always known she was clever. The girl had a good head on her shoulders. Or rather, he reminded himself as he watched her cross the room, she was a young lady. Still in the bloom of youth, Eleanor was rosy-cheeked and bright-eyed in an innocent way that surprisingly caught his attention.

Only so I might watch her, of course. I must keep an eye on her as I promised Nicholas. She knows better than to get into trouble. She avoids the rakes, she knows the rules, and will be ushering me out the door at a proper time to be had, I’m sure.

Having left England for five years, there was much to this life that Dominic had put behind him. He’d certainly enjoyed his time in London. But it was beyond that time that he often tried not to think about. About his youth in the countryside. The memories left tangled memories in their wake; it was easier for him to ignore them altogether.

Until he saw Eleanor again.

Every time he looked at her, he remembered the other sort of youth he had been. The hopeful one. The playful one. He’d caused trouble then, yes, but not the sort that broke hearts or toes or carriages. He too had once been innocent.

Just as Dominic was wishing Eleanor might still retain her open heart through her years, he was ready to turn away toward his friends when he saw someone making their way to her. He stiffened at the sight of Viscount Hilliard, Lord Jonathon Wilmington, who he’d known many years ago.

His eyes narrowed. Eleanor smiled at the viscount and curtseyed. To his frustration, he watched as the viscount motioned toward the dance floor and offered his arm.

Blast it, anyone but him, you foolish chit.

“So the rumors are true! Salford has made his return to faithful old London. Welcome, old chap.” A man clamped his hand on his shoulder. “Have a drink and tell us your tales, would you?”

It was Lord Marcus Quirmore who would someday inherit a marquess title. Friends from years ago. The man grinned and offered a drink with his other hand.

Unable to turn him down, Dominic put on a smile. “I would be more than glad to. We’ll only need a few years to tell every tale. How much time have you got for me, old boy?”

Laughing, Marcus shook his head. “I knew you would never change. Come, everyone is asking about you.”

Unable to turn them down, he moved to the corner of the ballroom near the card room to greet familiar faces. Everyone was thrilled to see him again. They had countless questions that demanded his attention.

Answering the best he could with his drink in hand, Dominic let his gaze wander back to the dancing while studying Eleanor through this never-ending dance set.

It didn’t appear that they were talking, he noted. But was that for the better? He didn’t know how Eleanor flirted. He wished he knew. From there, he couldn’t tell if she was looking at the viscount or somewhere else. Where was she looking? Were the lord’s hands high enough? She was a small woman and he kept needing a second look to ensure the man’s hold was appropriate.

At last the set ended. He straightened, pushing his glass into Marcus’s hand. “I’m afraid I’m needed elsewhere. If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen.”

They toasted him loudly as he started off.

It wasn’t difficult to intercept Eleanor. The viscount escorted her away from the dancing, but Nancy had left, so they had no particular place to go.

Dominic intervened. “Hello, Wilmington. Thank you, my lord, I can take over here now. Hello, Lady Eleanor.”

Frowning, Wilmington glanced at Eleanor but must not have been able to read her furrowed brow. “Certainly, Your Grace. Thank you, Lady Eleanor, for a splendid dance. I look forward to our next one.”

“Indeed, perhaps at the next ball,” Dominic said as the viscount started to point at Eleanor’s dance card. A second dance tonight certainly could not be permitted. Offering a grin, Dominic took Eleanor’s arm. “I just found the freshest glass of lemonade I’m saving for you. Shall we?”

The moment they turned away from the viscount, Eleanor gripped his arm tightly like she wanted it to hurt. A darling notion. “That was rude, Dom––Your Grace.”

“What is rude is that lord daring to dance with you. He’s not someone you should associate with, Eleanor, and I do not say that lightly.”

“He was perfectly polite,” she said. “Unlike some people.”

That was probably directed at him, but Dominic waved that off. Polite manners meant little in certain situation. Polite manners could still be a lie and it was important Eleanor, even in her innocence, understood that. “I meant it, my dear lady. He shall not have another dance. Has anyone else requested a dance with you? I must be certain they’re all men of good standing.”

“Don’t you dare.” She tugged back, visibly frustrated, when he reached for her dance card. A couple ahead of them caught sight and stared before Eleanor sent him a look. “Dominic, you are not my brother nor my guardian. I may––and I will––decide with whom I shall dance. Do not order me about again.”

“But––”

Before he could come up with a dozen reasons, let alone one good one, why she should listen to him, Eleanor slipped free of his grasp and darted through the crowd. He took one step, and she took five.

When she crossed into the refreshments room, he followed but stayed back. He’d forgotten just how slippery she could be when she tried.

That didn’t stop Dominic from watching for her over the crowd as she made her way around to the drinks. His gaze lingered on that pretty dark hair of hers, reminding himself it was only to ensure her safety. He grunted in annoyance. Someone looked his way, but he didn’t bother. They didn’t matter, not when he needed to watch after Eleanor.

A voice in the back of his mind told him she was right.

But how could she be? Eleanor needed protection. He knew how dangerous and rakish men could be. He was one of them, and probably the only one at this entire ball who could be trusted to properly protect her.

“What a surprise it is to see Lady Eleanor about.”

“Goodness, was that her? I’m surprised we could even see her this evening. Is she off to hide behind another plant?”

Dominic stiffened with a frown, glancing around to see who might be talking. He moved forward slightly as he spotted a collection of five women in varying ages all gossiping with their fans up. The room was still cool with open doors nearby to the terrace and they weren’t looking away to flirt. No, they only used the fans as a pretense to hide their words.

“She’s such a wallflower. What a shame.”

“Don’t say such a thing, Beatrice. It is better that way. We have enough competition this season as it is.”

All of them were not bothering to keep their voices down. Their shrill tones left him gritting his teeth. Especially when he saw Eleanor straightening her spine from where she stood with a glass of sherry.

She could hear them. Dominic’s hands tightened into fists.

“Lady Eleanor, competition? Don’t be silly. She’s much too plain for a husband.”

“Timid, too.”

“Twenty years of age and just now having her first season? The poor lady never had a chance,” added one of the older women, encouraging another bout of giggles amongst them.

Unable to stand it no longer, Dominic stepped forward and spoke to them sternly. “What a curious mention of age you make this evening, Lady Jane. There is no need to ingratiate yourself into a party of younger women when they too have sharp tongues and nothing to show for it.”

They all fluttered about, squeaking as he joined their circle. Flushes spread across their cheeks and some left their mouths hanging open.

The blonde next to Lady Jane reacted first. He couldn’t remember all their names but he had a feeling he had met her before, too. Met her and danced with her and had not married her. It seemed none of them were married, just eager to denounce everyone but themselves.

“Your Grace!” The blonde squeaked. “What bold words you share. I cannot help but notice you––”

“Funny, because I had not noticed you.” That quieted her. “The only reason I noticed anyone here was because of your crude words that you are using against those who have done nothing to spite you. I should think you should all be worrying about setting your cap for a gentleman rather than talking about half-sprung and crude to those who could have been your friends.”

By the time he was done talking, everyone’s mouths were left open. He realized too late he’d grown too heated. There were other eyes on him now as well. Running a hand through his hair in irritation, Dominic shook his head, wondering if he’d lost himself somewhere along the way.

He forced a smile and bowed after taking a breath. “It was lovely to see you all and I wish you the best either in your cups or your courting.”

“Oh!” Lady Jane gasped as he took his leave.

Putting the women behind him, Dominic sought to settle the ire inside him before it raged into something more. He drank some watery sherry and looked for Eleanor, realizing he should have focused on her more than those other ladies. Was she well?

He left the room finding she was nowhere about. Huffing in irritation, Dominic quickly scouted out the ballroom as well, and then the hall, before hastily making his way out of doors.

I should have gone here first, of course. She would want to be getting away from everyone, not losing herself in the crowd. If I was Eleanor, I would be near the pond…

Hastily making his way through the courtyard based on sparse memory, Dominic saw the last flicker of sunlight fading. Soon it would be too dark to be out in a garden unless one was here for a tryst. And Eleanor would certainly not be involved in one.

“My lord, release me!”

Dominic cursed, hastening down the path he’d just begun with a careful eye out. He’d know Eleanor’s voice anywhere. He just hadn’t heard panic in her voice like that since he had tricked her into picking up a frog when she was not but eight.

Rounding the curve, he saw Wilmington there first, his pale-yellow hair over Eleanor. The embrace was much too intimate. The viscount had his hand around her waist and her hands were on his chest.

Whatever ire he’d felt a short moment ago inside was nothing compared to the rage that was born to life the moment Dominic saw Eleanor trying to escape the man. He hastened forward at once. Though he didn’t know what he would do, his only thought was to save her.