Page 8 of Miss Kimble Bites Back

He looked away and adjusted his cuffs, irritated with her behavior. It reminded him too much of what he’d learned of Cordelia’s actions during her first season. Following a fellow around at balls, seeking him out for private conversation. Of course, the fellow had no honorable intentions, but Cordelia hadn’t realized that for quite some time.

There were so many better men in society who did want to marry, and Gabby Kimble was doing herself no favors by waiting for a disinterested man to grant her a crumb of his attention.

She ought to be mingling, meeting new people, but of course that required her to notice other men, and be granted introductions to the ones who might help her stand out of the crowd. All she needed was an ally in the room. And not just other women, either. She needed a man to notice her appeal.

Sebastian had noticed her, but they hadn’t actually been introduced yet.

He thought of turning away, as so many had from Cordelia in her season after rumors had begun about her and gritted his teeth. He might have enjoyed shocking Gabby in the library, but out here, he could not turn her attention elsewhere without drawing attention. Yet any conversation they had, any dance they shared, might help this one woman make a match with someone who deserved her admiration.

And he suddenly wanted to do something truly reckless.

Esme was not far from Gabby Kimble, and Sebastian went to her and immediately leaned down to whisper in her ear, “Introduce me to the kitten.”

“Yes, of course,” Esme whispered back excitedly and drew him there by his arm, no doubt leaping to a wrong impression of why he wanted the introduction.

It took a moment to drag Gabby’s attention away from admiring Lord Brookes, and that irritated him beyond belief.

She seemed surprised to see him standing before her again, but Esme had a knack for smoothing over any awkwardness as the introductions were made. “Miss Kimble, may I introduce my dear friend Sebastian Spence, the Duke of Mamble, to you,” she said loudly for all to hear, and beamed a smile for the crowd as well.

Behind Gabby, a pair of gentlemen immediately straightened to attention. Lord Throsby was known to Sebastian already and, beside him, a new face in Town. But judging by the similarity of his features to Gabby’s, he was the cousin and guardian Esme had already mentioned.

Miss Kimble dipped a quick, shallow curtsy and smiled. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, your grace.”

He liked that her curtsy was shallow and her response brief and to the point, rather than babbling about the honor like so many women seemed to find necessary with a duke. Sebastian’s reputation might be besmirched with false accusations of his misdeeds, but no one ever forgot he was a duke, with a vacancy for a duchess—years overdue to be filled. “And yours.”

Esme, of course, had to introduce him to the pair of dumbstruck debutants flanking Gabby, and the unknown man, her cousin and guardian, Mr. Bennett Kimble. But it was clear to see that Gabby was the leader of their little group. They all looked to her for signs of how to react to his introduction.

As the next set was called, Sebastian glanced at the dance card Gabby clutched so tightly to her waist. She seemed anxious and not at all excited about the next set forming. Did she not have a dance partner for this set either?

If she was focusing all attention on the unworthy Lord Brookes, few gentlemen might have had a chance to approach her if she never looked away from him. It wasn’t normally in Sebastian’s nature to fret about debutants and their lack of dance partners, but he could do her popularity more good by dancing one set with her tonight.

“Miss Kimble, might I tempt you to take the floor with me for the next dance?”

Her friends were instantly delighted on her behalf, but not Gabby. In fact, her eyes narrowed on him with sudden suspicion. “I should be honored.”

Should be honored? He almost laughed out loud as that bit of sarcasm slipped off her tongue. The tongue that had innocently touched his finger no more than twenty minutes ago. He was right about her. She was no wilting wallflower, and she didn’t trust him.

Clever girl.

No one seemed to notice her bright blush as she regarded him for several long moments, sizing him up. He had the ridiculous urge to laugh again. When she eventually handed over her card, he added his name to a completely blank page.

He handed it back with a flourish and held out his hand to her.

Gabby’s touch was light in his grip and a strange whisper of anticipation thrummed through his entire being as he led her to the floor. He had perhaps enjoyed too much the speculation and temptation she had stirred in him in the library.

Gabby was an innocent, but her reactions to him had been honest. He’d flustered her well and truly, but not enough to make her flee him…or encourage him, either. He ruthlessly quashed any disappointment over the latter, but it was probably for the best.

Their dance was to be a quadrille, which meant they could talk to each other, but not too often. He led her to their position and then turned to her to bow. “Have you been close to Lady Windermere all of your life?”

“I’ve only known her a week. We first met at Lady Triscot’s ball,” she murmured. “It was quite a surprise for my cousin Bennett when he saw her there. He had not seen her for a very long time, I believe.”

Sebastian had not attended that ball or heard the Triscots had returned to Town, either. But Esme knew everyone and everything worth knowing. “Are you enjoying tonight’s ball still?”

“I am, thank you,” she said, her voice warm and her eyes demurely downcast.

He’d rather have her looking at him than faking modesty. “And the season in general? It is your first, isn’t it?”

“Yes, the season is everything I expected. Agreeable,” she promised, glancing around the room and smiling. “With one recent exception.”