He forced himself forward, reaching for and bowing over Lady Warrick’s hand, and then shaking Earl Warrick’s firmly. “Thank you for trusting me with your daughter, Sir. I swear I will guard her with my life.”
“See that you do, boy.” Earl Warrick nodded and then winked at him before he took his wife’s hand. “We’ll follow, Nellie, let’s get going so you aren’t late.”
Nick bowed and offered Nell an arm. He would find a way to apologize later for gawking at her, but for now she needed to get to her presentation.
The palace ballroom was utterly crammed. But it always was, and he took Nell’s arm again and guided her to the crier togive her name and his. That way everyone would know who she came with, and it would give her name proper weight.
His Mama went first, and then her parents, and then Nell, who was announced with him as her escort, and he watched heads jerk in their direction. Saw the surprise and confusion on some faces, and the frustration on others.
He’d known, intellectually, that being made duke had jumped him through the ranks of the eligible bachelors of the nation and that everyone and their sister was going to be after him.
But the only person he wanted was already on his arm. He flicked a look at Nell, who looked back and crossed her eyes at him, making him choke back a laugh as a palace page trotted through the crowd and bowed to him and to Nell.
“His Majesty commands Miss Eleanore Warrick’s attendance on him.” The page smiled, pointing through the crowd to the dais.
“Thank you,” Nell patted the page on the shoulder and moved in the direction that he’d pointed. Her hand left his arm, and Nick hurried to catch up with her, tucking her gloved hand back into the crook of his elbow.
“I’m your escort, remember?” he smiled. “Let’s go see what His Majesty desires.”
He led them through the room, to the dais where the king was sitting, and let Nell go so she could curtsy.
“Miss Warrick, good of you to join us.” The King smiled at her before he looked up at Nick. “Duke Graves.”
“Majesty,” Nick bowed. “What would you have of us?”
“I would have you enjoy the party,” the king waved an idle hand at the ballroom. “But Miss Warrick, I would have you attend on me tomorrow morning with your escort.”
“My pleasure, Majesty,” Nell said, curtsying again. “My papa—”
“Your current escort, Miss Warrick.” The King corrected. “Your parents will attend as well as Duchess Graves.”
“Yes, Majesty,” Nell said, but then, what else could she say?
“Celebrate, Miss Warrick, and I promise you that nothing bad awaits you tomorrow.”
“Thank you, majesty.” Nick took her hand again and escorted her to the dance card table. He was going to lose her here, but before she was deluged, he was going to claim the three dances he was allowed by custom as her escort.
“Would you dance with me, Miss Warrick?” He held out his hand for her card. “Nell?”
She handed it to him, but there was something in her eyes that he didn’t like. Some hesitation, or worry that he needed to dispel. “I’m sorry, Nell, I was struck by you and forgot how to talk.” He wrote his name on the three lines he was claiming, making certain that he got her last dance. “You look stunning.”
She smiled, a shy little thing. “It’s silly that the good opinion I wanted most was yours.”
He handed her card back. “My opinion is that you are the diamond of the ball, and you won’t change my mind on that.”
She blushed, but her eyes remained squarely on his. “That’s bald flattery, Nick.”
“It’s the unvarnished truth.” He put a hand on his heart. “I swear it, Nell.”
“I’m not calling you a liar, Nick, but you might want to look around you.” She crossed her eyes at him again.
“I don’t need to.” He said softly, stepping to the side as the men started coming forward to put their names on her card.
By custom and to be polite, he also had to add his name to the cards of others, but the only person he wanted to dance with was Nell.
Supper was first, and an entertainment decreed by the king that he sat through at Nell’s side. And then he was finally able to dance with her. He was her first dance, as well as her last, and the determination in her eyes as they lined up for the dance made him smile.
“Relax, Nell,” he told her as their hands connected. “It’s meant to be fun.”
