Page 17 of Miss Kimble Bites Back

Their first words were during a set he had not been able to avoid participating in.

Gabby was partnered with another gentleman opposite, and Sebastian met her in the center of the dance floor. “Miss Kimble.”

“Your grace,” she murmured back as she took hold of his hand to spin about.

Sebastian experienced a jolt of awareness at the contact that he did not usually feel around other women. When she returned to her proper partner, he noticed her cheeks were flushed a delicate shade of pink, too. When she noticed him observing her still, the color grew far more pronounced.

Was that from exertion, or was she thinking of their interlude in the library a week ago?

He acutely remembered the brush of her tongue against his fingertip. The memory had caused a rather wicked fantasy as he’d waited for sleep to claim him each night since.

The set ended, but there was some commotion near Gabby, and he saw her limp from the dance floor, aided by her stammering dance partner. She returned to her cousin, and then disappeared alone for a while.

Sebastian spoke pleasantries to his last dance partner, but his curiosity and concern grew the longer Gabby was gone from the room. It made him wonder if Lord Brookes had been invited, and if the woman was attempting to speak with him alone again somewhere in the house again. The thought of Gabby and Brookes engaged in any sort of flirtation left a decidedly unpleasant taste in his mouth.

But after several minutes, Gabby limped back to her guardian’s side and began to whisper to him. Whatever was said in response made her shake her head, and then she faced the dance floor with a smile that was clearly strained.

She peeked at him from under her lashes a few too many times for him to ignore though. Was she attempting to flirt with him or, despite the limp, encourage him to ask her to dance again tonight?

He slowly made his way toward Gabby and her guardian, determined to make it clear that he would not be cooperating with that farce. But he could talk to her for a little while.

He thrust out his hand to Kimble, making it clear whose conversation he sought. “Kimble, good to see you again,” he said as Gabby dipped a curtsey, slightly more awkward than the last he’d seen her perform. He inclined his head to her but looked back at Kimble quickly.

“Your grace, good evening,” Kimble replied. “It’s a fine night for a party.”

“It is indeed,” he agreed. “How did you fare after our luncheon last week?”

“I enjoyed it immensely but not my pounding head the next morning,” Kimble remarked. But a small frown crept over his face.

“Is something the matter?”

“No. Most likely its nothing of importance. But I wonder if I might claim an hour of your time tomorrow?” Kimble murmured quietly. “I would not presume to call on you at home, but it could be of great interest to you to hear what I have to say.”

Sebastian studied the man and then glanced at Gabby, too, who seemed surprised by her cousin’s request for a private appointment. Kimble, by all accounts, was a serious man, and Sebastian paid attention when serious men had concerns. “You may call in the morning. I’m free from nine.”

“Thank you,” Kimble answered, and with obvious relief, too. They made small talk until the next set was called. Kimble was to dance with Lady Archer, a widow new to Town, and Sebastian was abandoned and left to continue to stand beside Gabby and watch others pair up.

“You’ve a partner for this set, yes?” he whispered as their hostess drifted closer, eyeing him and Gabby standing side by side. Any moment, Lady Pendleberry would probably conscript him to dance with Gabby, whether he wanted to or not.

While Gabby was a fine dancer, he was still worried about misunderstandings. He acknowledged he found her attractive, but nothing further could be possible between them.

“I’m afraid I stubbed my toe badly in the last set and cannot dance again tonight, though I long too,” she admitted in a whisper.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he answered before the hostess joined them. “Ah, Lady Pendleberry. I meant to say earlier how wonderful you look tonight,” he said with a teasing grin. Lady Pendleberry was a handsome woman over fifty, with snow-white hair and a curvaceous figure. She was a kind soul and usually blushed at any compliment he made about her appeal. “If only I were ten years older, I might give your husband a run for his money.”

“I’ll tell him you said that later.” But Lady Pendleberry beamed and then glanced at Gabby suddenly. “Oh, my dear, he means nothing by that. The duke and I are very old friends, and he enjoys teasing me and my husband.”

“But, my dear, I do hold you in the highest esteem,” Sebastian promised, hand on his heart. “It is my joy to make you blush.”

“Now that is something you should do for a much younger lady, who must long for such a passionate declaration as he twirls her about my ballroom,” she said, giving Gabby a sideward glance.

Gabby quickly informed the hostess that she was not fit for further dancing tonight.

“Well,” Lady Pendleberry huffed, clearly disappointed to hear the news that Gabby could not enjoy the evening more.

“I promise I am content to watch everyone else dance and to talk,” Gabby assured the hostess.

Lady Pendleberry beamed. “I’ll leave you two to continue your conversation, then. If you need anything, just ask a servant to help you.”