Kenilworth’s lips twitched, and all her sisters had raised their brows. “I am the Duke of Chandos. And Lady Theo has already given her supper sets to me.”
Theo quickly looked at him. Alice placed a hand on Theo’s arm and gave her an imperceptible shake of the head.
“We will see about that, your grace.” Ashford glared at Leo before striding off.
“Of all the gall.” Theo stared after his lordship, seemingly not knowing what to do. “If either Lord Feversham is not on time, I will dance with him this evening, but never again.” Then she turned to Leo. “Why did you tell him that you had reserved all my supper dances?”
“To stop him from harassing you.”
“Thank you, but I am not convinced it will work.” Her well-shaped brows drew together. “He seems to have a very good opinion of himself.”
Unfortunately, the musicians were taking their places and her partner had not arrived. Ashford would return soon. Leo needed to be on that dance floor and in the same set as Theo. He looked around and saw Miss Pettigrew standing with her mother and Marrow. “Excuse me for a moment.” Leo approached her. “Miss Pettigrew, would you allow me to have the first set?”
“Of course, your grace.”
Marrow touched Leo’s arm. “What’s wrong?”
“The person Lady Theo is to dance with for the first set. A Lord Ashford. I don’t trust him.”
Marrow gave a sharp nod. “Let me know if there is anything I can do.”
“I will. Thank you.”
As Ashford approached Theo, Leo led Miss Pettigrew to the floor, making sure that they were in the same line as Theo and Ashford. She looked at Leo and smiled. Ashford scowled. Excellent, now to keep her in sight.
“What do you think you’re about?” Ashford growled.
Leo gave the man his best innocent expression. “Dancing with Miss Pettigrew, naturally.”
Ashford huffed but said nothing more. Leo, though, was going to ask Worthington why he had allowed Ashford to be introduced to Theo. After Leo reserved every one of her supper sets. A sudden chill spiked through his heart. What if something happened, and he didn’t win Theo as his wife? What would he do? How would he even live? The music began, and it struck him that he was in love with her. Really, truly in love. Or he thought he was. Leo needed to speak with St. Albans. Or perhaps his mother. No, not her. Maybe St. Albans’s mother.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Theo had never been so thankful that the first set was the minuet. A country dance would have been good as well. But no one started a ball with a country dance. It was either the minuet or quadrille, and the quadrille would have given her too much time with Lord Ashford. She wished she knew why he was so interested in her.
They changed partners, and she found herself with Chandos. “Who is he?”
“I have no idea. He didn’t attend Eton. I don’t know idea if he is university educated or not.”
“I will try to discover more about him.” They switched, and she was back with Ashford. “From what part of the country do you hail?”
“My father’s family is from Shrewsbury. My mother’s family is from Bristol.”
Bristol? Theo felt slightly ill as a memory came to her. “Your mother is the sister of the current duke and the daughter of the previous duke.”
Ashford’s smile was more than pleased that she had placed him than happy that she was dancing with him. “I wondered if you would know.”
Of course she knew. She and Mary had looked up Dotty’s family years ago. It simply had not occurred to Theo that there was a son old enough to wed. Which begged the question, how old was he? It was hard to believe the Dowager Duchess of Bristol would tolerate Ashford’s behavior. “I probably would not have if your cousin, Lady Merton, was not such a close family friend. I have never heard her mention you.”
Before he could answer, she was back with Chandos. “He’s Dotty’s cousin.”
“Really?” His eyes widened. “How very remiss of her to have a relative such as him.”
Theo almost laughed out loud. “She and Dom will be here this evening. We must ask her about him.”
“Indeed, we should. You, however, are dancing every set. Shall I start the conversation?”
“Tell Charlotte. She and Dotty are bosom friends.”
