“Well, you’ve got me there,” he said. “Perhaps some couples can experience love long-term in a marriage. But I know myself, Lady Leah, and I am not one of them.”
Leah swallowed, suddenly self-conscious, and a little annoyed, despite herself.You asked,she reminded herself.You cannot resent his answer.
“I probably shouldn’t ask any more questions,” she said. “My brother would not approve of me asking about marriage and love and all these unladylike topics--or hearing about them.”
“No, he would not,” the Duke agreed, amused.
“But… If you really believe everything you say about marriage, then you are not envious of my brother’s marriage?” She couldn’t let it go, even after everything he’d said. The wistfulness in his voice when he’d spoken of Lucien and Emery seemed more honest to her than all his pretty, clever words.
“No, not at all,” he said, but there was a strange flicker in his eyes and tensing of his shoulders that made her wonder if there was more to his feelings on the subject than he was letting on.
“Well, I envy my brother for his marriage,” she said, deciding to drop it and change the subject. “I had always dreamed of a love match for myself.”
She felt herself flush as she said this, and she looked down at her hands. When she looked up, the Duke was watching her very carefully.
“Do you think me silly for saying that?”
“No,” he said, his voice gentle, and from the soft look in his eyes, she believed him.
“Even though you don’t believe in love?”
“Even then. Love is probably the kind of thing where when one believes in it, one is more likely to experience it.” He laughed, then sobered. “And I’m sorry you have had to settle for so much less.”
“Thank you,” she said heavily. “I am sorry as well.”
“It does make me feel a bit better about having ruined your chances with Lord Trembley,” he said after a moment. “You never would have had anything close to a love match with him.”
“I meant what I said earlier,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “I can’t afford to be too choosy. Don’t go getting delusions that you’re going to find me a love match in the next week.”
“Perhaps not,” he agreed, “but so far, we haven’t been creating romantic situations between you and any of these suitors. Perhaps that is what we need to do in order to find someone who will at least make for a satisfactory husband.”
“And how do we do that?” Leah asked. “It is not exactly easy to be romantic with gentlemen when the entiretonis always watching.”
“Oh, but thetoninvented the way to be romantic in full view of everyone!”
Leah was taken aback. “They did? How? What is it?”
The Duke’s eyes sparkled. “Dancing, of course.”
“Dancing?” she repeated slowly. “Dancing…” Of course, he was right. It was a way for ladies and gentlemen to be close to one another, to share furtive glances and brief touches, to have their faces sometimes inches from one another. And all within view of the entireton!It was brilliant, when she thought about it.
“You’re right,” she murmured. “It is romantic.”
“And none more so than the waltz,” the Duke said. “The waltz is so overtly romantic, in fact, that it was banned for many years. Many of the matrons of theton’sdidn’t like that it took what was subtle and understated and made it so… brazen. But now that it has become more socially acceptable, and is allowed in theton’sballrooms, it would be the perfect opportunity for youto get closer to several of your suitors and see if they awaken any romantic feelings.”
Leah bit her lip. She knew the Duke was right, but she wasn’t sure she could do it. And she also knew he would make fun of her when he learned the truth.
“What?” he asked, noticing her hesitation. “You don’t believe me?”
“I believe you,” she said quickly. “It’s just that I don’t ever dance the waltz.”
The Duke raised his eyebrows. “And why not?”
“Well, for a long time I told any gentlemen who asked that I wasn’t allowed to, that my brother was one of those more traditional members of thetonwho wouldn’t allow it. But the truth is, I was afraid to dance it.”
“And why ever would you do that?”
“Because I always get the steps confused,” she said, turning red in the face. “I know it’s silly, because the steps are so repetitive, but it’s the repetition that messes me up. I never know when you’re supposed to go forward or backward, and I end up making a fool of myself. My dance instructor back home was always scolding me.”
