Page 49 of A Siren for the Duke

“Business, eh? Well, that’s not a pleasant topic for a ball. Why don’t you introduce me to your lovely companion?” Dartmouth said, casting a roving eye over Jemima. Lionel had to clench his fists so tight that his fingernails left crescent-shaped marks in the meat of his palm.

“Of course, I have forgotten my manners. This lovely woman is Lady Jemima Upton, sister of Duke Ferdinand Upton.”

He hoped the dropping of Ferdinand’s name might strike some fear into Dartmouth’s heart as if to tell him I am connected to powerful people, but the scoundrel did not back off, nor did he seem at all agitated.

Jemima at least showed a modicum of grace and was clearly prepared to curtsy in greeting, but Dartmouth grabbed her hand and lavished it with a kiss.

“Oh!” Jemima exclaimed uncomfortably, trying to wrestle it away when the kiss lasted too long. Lionel was about to step in when he finally let go, leaving Jemima looking quite perturbed.

“Charmed, Lady Jemima. Charmed indeed. Would you do me the honor of a dance?”

Poor Jemima was clearly ruffled, her eyes wide with indigence, so Lionel spoke on her behalf.

“Lady Jemima has already promised her first dance to me. And in fact, I hear the music starting now. Shall we, my lady?” he asked, extending his hand to her. She accepted it with clear relief.

“Indeed. It was lovely to meet you, Mr. Dartmouth,” she said pleasantly as Lionel whisked her away.

As the dance started, Lionel noticed that she seemed immediately more relieved.

“Who was that strange fellow?” she asked. Her voice was quiet, knowing that any of the dancing couples might hear her.

“Gervase Dartmouth,” Lionel said, unable to keep the bitter edge out of his voice. “He claims to be an honorable merchant, but we know for a fact he is involved in smuggling on a large scale—even in Africans, meaning to sell them as slaves in the Caribbean and the Americas.”

Jemima gasped as he twirled her around.

“That’s horrid! I thought the slave trade was made illegal!”

“It is. Parliament outlawed the trade in 1808, but the Americans have not outlawed slavery itself. Some smugglers still take African peoples across the Atlantic to force them into servitude and make a profit. Because it is illegal, the prices are high. It’s sickening,” Lionel said, gripping Jemima’s hand a little too hard.

She yelped, and he quickly softened his grip.

“I beg your pardon.”

“It’s alright. But how revolting of him!”

“Yes. Mr. Sherwood invited him here hoping he might slip up and confess so the Navy could arrest him. He is a slimy little eel. Every time he has been arrested and charged, the charges magically drop. I suspect he has eyes and ears in Parliament and knows who to pay off in order to maintain a semblance of innocence.”

“Goodness,” she said.

“Yes, please stay away from him. Wherever he goes, trouble follows.”

“I think I’ve had enough trouble for a good long while,” she said lightheartedly.

“However, it seems to have brightened your complexion. I meant it when I said you look stunning,” he confessed, his voice dropping nearly an octave as it had when he’d surprised her in the bath.

“You do not have to flatter me anymore, Lionel. I have forgiven you.”

“I would simply like to be sure,” he murmured, subtly shifting his hand to her lower back and pulling her closer. The sharp gasp she let out was music to his ears, and he longed to hear more. In this close proximity, he could feel the heat radiating from her body, and if he looked down, he was able to see a beautiful view of her pretty, ample bosom. And she smelled divine, too—like jasmine and cinnamon. The little flowers woven into her intricate braids made her look like a tropical flower fairy, and he wished to worship at her feet and more…

With each turn of the dance, their bodies moved in perfect harmony, as if they were destined to find each other on this very night. Lionel's hand rested on the small of Jemima's back, feeling the gentle rise and fall of her breath. He couldn't ignore the desire coursing through him, and he stole glances at her whenever he could, hoping she wouldn't notice the flush on his cheeks. The music took on a slower, more intimate tune, and Lionel's heart quickened its pace. This was the moment he had been waiting for – a chance to hold Jemima close and feel the warmth of her body against his. As the other couples around them began to dance, Lionel hesitated for a moment, uncertain if he should act on his feelings. But when Jemima looked up at him with a hint of curiosity in her eyes, he knew he had to seize the opportunity. He did not even have to ask for a second dance—she was ready.

With a gentle but firm touch, he guided her into a tender embrace. The world melted away as they swayed together, their bodies pressed intimately against each other. Lionel's hand held Jemima's securely, and his other hand lightly rested on the curve of her waist. The silk of her gown felt like a caress against his skin, and he was lost in the sensation of her nearness.

"Captain Hunt, I am rather taken by this dance,” she said in a light voice.

Lionel's heart soared at her words, and he replied, "As am I, Lady Jemima. I feel as though I am dancing with an angel."

A rosy blush spread across her cheeks, and she lowered her gaze, momentarily hiding her radiant smile. The vulnerability in her reaction endeared her to Lionel even more, and he vowed he would discover more of her all over again.