Page 9 of Miss Kimble Bites Back

That remark did make him laugh out loud.

Sebastian glanced around the room. The foolish Lord Brookes was braying like a donkey and torturing other ladies with his presence across the room. He seemed hardly aware that Miss Kimble even existed.

Not knowing the extent of Gabby’s abilities on the dance floor, Sebastian remained watchful as they began the first steps. But it was clear to see Gabby was no bumbling beginner. She moved with utter confidence as she crossed the set to change partners again and again.

Sebastian had to admit he was grudgingly impressed with Gabby’s poise by the time their dance neared its conclusion, too. She was in no way in awe of the honor that dancing with a duke might be to others. He was enjoying himself, which was unusual lately, given his problems at home.

“You’re a fine dancer,” he whispered, hoping to bolster her confidence further.

“So are you,” she whispered back, a little more color pinking her cheeks. “It was kind of you to ask me to dance after…”

“I was in the mood,” he suggested. He would not have her read too much into his interest toward her tonight.

Her eyes narrowed on him slightly. “I was in a similar state of mind,” she promised, and then laughed.

The sound, a delicate invitation to share in her amusement, reminded him of how much he’d enjoyed teasing the young woman in the library. She employed no tactics to lure a man in, but he found himself grinning back.

As they began the promenade to finish the set off, he heard the whispers grow louder as they passed others in the crowd. Who was she? Where did they meet? Does she know about him?

Sebastian gritted his teeth and did his best to ignore the whispers and stares as they finally came to a stop and bowed to each other.

Sebastian led Gabby back to where he’d found her, among her friends and guardian, and bowed over her gloved hand. “Miss Kimble, I do thank you for a pleasant dance.”

When he rose, he observed a few bachelors of his acquaintance craning their necks and paying more notice to Gabby Kimble. Including Lord Brookes. The viscount had finally lifted his head from his circle of female admirers to see what everyone else was staring at.

Yet Brookes was not looking at Gabby, but at Sebastian…and for one brief moment, a look of bafflement appeared on the stupid man’s face. It lasted for the blink of an eye and then that foolish smile of Brookes’ slammed fast back into place.

Gabby cleared her throat, subtly trying to tug her fingers out of his grip without anyone noticing he held her too long. He let her go, and she smiled brightly. But it was a smile that was utterly calculated to fool the world around them.

“Your grace, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the honor of sharing a dance with you this evening. I do hope we might dance together again soon.”

He pursed his lips at her bold suggestion, aware that her popularity, and perhaps her very future in society, hinged on his response. Miss Kimble was aware they had an audience, and he could tell she was hopeful of a positive response from him. Cheeky morsel. Yet he could not commit to anything that might lead to any expectations arising. “Perhaps.”

Gabby Kimble curtsied deeply. “Until next we meet.”

“Yes, until tomorrow,” he replied, surprising himself. Tomorrow, he would make a call on her for the sake of politeness and it might seem to others that he was engaged in a pursuit—but he would make it clear to Miss Gabby Kimble that he certainly was not.

He bowed and strode away, though for some reason he itched to look back over his shoulder to see her face one last time. Miss Kimble was refreshingly direct, and he’d always liked confident women.

Yet, with his dance and his call tomorrow he would set a lure for other gentlemen to discover why Gabby Kimble was the one who had captured the Duke of Mamble’s attention tonight.

Well pleased with himself for the deception he would play upon society, Sebastian sauntered away in search of other amusements.

As he passed into the hall, a voice called out. “Well, if it isn’t the Duke of Mamble?”

Sebastian spun about and grinned to see Lord Triscot. His old friend hadn’t changed in the many years since they’d seen each other. Triscot had been traveling constantly of late, without revealing where he’d taken himself off to, though. Sebastian was wiser than most and did not ask. Triscot had forever been secretive.

They shook hands vigorously. “It’s good to see you again.”

Triscot merely laughed. “What on earth were you doing dancing with a debutant?”

Sebastian grinned. “A fleeting sacrifice for a worthy cause.”

Triscot’s eyes lit up. “Did you find her as intriguing as I did?”

Yes, but he would not admit to that out loud. Triscot was not in the market for a wife, anyway. “Just another proper young lady meant to be leg-shackled.”

Triscot laughed. “Well, at least my mother has not lost her instincts.”