Page 19 of The Duke's Indecent Match

Then he stepped forward, and she automatically stepped back, instinctively following his lead, then they were whirling around the ballroom with the other couples.Unlike the previous dances, some of which had provided opportunities for easy discussion and some of which had not, the waltz was a closer dance.

More intimate.

More dangerous.

He could feel her body only inches from his, the way her skirts swished around them as his leg moved between hers every time he stepped forward.They could have spoken, yet it felt like a single word would break the spell that was growing between them.

They moved in silence, the entire world seeming to drop away until all that was left was them and the music.He had never been so aware of a woman he was dancing with in his life.

She was not trying to beguile him, yet he was beguiled.

She was not attempting to fascinate him, yet he was unable to break free of the spell that had woven around them.

When she lifted her gaze to meet his as the music ended, her eyes were fathomless dark pools that Nathanial could easily fall into.She was a siren, with no need of a song.

“Thank you, Your Grace,” she whispered, stepping away.

Letting her go ached.But he had to.

He was very aware, as he stepped away and she turned to smile prettily and accept her father’s offer of a dance, that the eyes of everyone in the room were on him and her.Lifting his chin, he turned away, seeking his next dance partner.

The Duchess of Clarence caught his eye and lifted one delicately arched brow at him.

This was going to be a very long house party.

7

Kalina

Rolling over in bed, Kalina yawned as she faced the large window.She’d left the curtains open a small bit so the sun could filter in through them.From what she’d gleaned, country hours began earlier than London hours, and she did not want to miss a thing.

She was at Lady Astrid’s house party.

Last night, she’d danced with every duke in attendance.

She’dwaltzed.

Staring at the crack of light between the heavy curtains, she let out a long, slow breath.Everything felt a little unreal.Like a dream.Or one of her books.But without all the dramatics.

“I am going to marry a duke,” she said quietly out loud.It was the first time she had dared do so, phrased exactly that way.

She had hoped.

She had put forth her intention.

This was the first time she’d spoken it as a truth.

But after last night, she felt it in her bones.It was true.And this house party would be the means by which it would happen.

The Dukes of St.Albans, Montagu, Bolton, and Hereford were all in attendance, and all of them had seemed to take an interest in her last night.Montagu had even returned to dance with her a second time.Something that all the older ladies watching had taken note of.He would make a better husband than he thought.

Bolton had also been particularly attentive.As Tiffany’s brother, Kalina felt like she was a little closer to him, knew him a little better from the things Tiffany had said about him.St.Albans, on the other hand, remained a mystery, but the Lord of Luck was hardly someone she could set her cap for, according to gossip.

If his lucky coin did not flip in her favor, it did not matter what she said or did.Kalina could not decide if he was deluded or brilliant, resting all his decisions on chance, no matter how much the outcome would affect his life.Some days, she could not imagine the loss of control; others, she thought it sounded so much easier to be guided by the whims of fate.

Regardless, focusing her attentions on the Duke of St.Albans was hardly conducive to a sure outcome.

And the Duke of Hereford?