“Oh…” It was not the answer she had been expecting. “Er… Why not?”
“I do not care to dance. And social gatherings make me fatigued.”
Leah put her hands on her hips. “You are purposefully making this difficult! How am I supposed to make conversation with you when you are responding as a curmudgeon!”
“Because if you’ve already dealt with the worst, everything else will be easy,” he said. “Anyway, there are things you could say to me that could get the conversation rolling. You could have inquired if I preferred to speak away from the hustle and bustle of the crowd. Or offered up that you don’t care to dance, either.”
“But I do care to dance.”
“You do when you’re dancing with Mr. Trenton. The fact you don’t care to dance will make him feel even more special when you eventually convince him to dance with you and then enjoy it immensely.”
Leah narrowed her eyes. “That’s manipulative.”
“That’s flirting, my dear.”
“You’re not making this easier for me,” she complained. “You’re making me have to think more, not less.”
“You’re right,” he said, shaking his head. “Let’s start with something easier. Come over here to the mirror. I want you to see your posture.”
She followed him over to the mirror, and he positioned her right in front of it, while he stood behind her.
“Do you see your posture?” he asked. “It’s very stiff. Try to relax.”
“I can’t when I’m looking at myself.”
He walked around in front of her and stood between her and the mirror, so that she could no longer see herself. “Let’s try with an easier gentleman,” he said. “I’m the Duke of Nottington now.”
“That’s just yourself.”
“So get to know me.”
Leah took a deep breath. “I’ve just rung for a pot of tea,” she improvised. “Would you like some?”
“Yes,” he said, smiling warmly at her. “I’d love some tea.”
“How do you take it?” she asked. “With milk and sugar?”
“The more sugar the better. Life is rarely sweet, so why shouldn’t our tea be?”
She laughed. “That’s a very grim view of the world, Your Grace.”
“Not at all. Reminding myself of life’s difficulties helps me live to the fullest. And take advantage of all the little treats along the way.”
The way his voice dipped and softened on the word ‘ treats’ made her blush, but she kept going. “And how do you do that? Live to the fullest, I mean? What do you care to do?”
“I like to travel, and ride horses, and fence. I stay active.” He tilted his head to one side. “And what about you? What do you do to occupy yourself?”
“Oh, the usual things,” she said, shrugging. “I ride as well, and play games with my sisters. Sometimes I paint as well. Although really, what I’m most interested in is astronomy.”
“Astronomy!” He looked surprised by this. “How very curious--and very original. I like astronomy too. Some might say that is a typical trait of my being a Libra.”
Leah frowned. “That’s not astronomy. That’s astrology. It’s very different.”
“Is it?” His grin grew wider. “And that is a very Virgo thing to say. You are a Virgo, are you not?”
Leah stared at him, her eyes wide. “How do you know that?” she murmured.
“I remember many of your birthday parties when you were young,” he said, laughing at her surprise. “You forget that I was around often when you and your sisters were growing up. And your birthday comes right before mine, so yours was particularly memorable.” He paused. “September 19th, is it not?”
