Page 91 of Courting the Wrong Duke

It was perfectly harmless. Of course it was.

Lady Sophronia was merely conversing with him, and William was doing exactly what any gentleman ought.

Even so, something inside her tightened.

She disliked it.

Whether it was Lady Sophronia herself, with her carefully practiced smiles and unfortunate habit of disguising malice as kindness, or merely the sight of another woman monopolizing William's attention, Rosalind could not have said.

She had no intention of considering the question any further.

After all, Lord William was perfectly free to dance with whomever he pleased.

Reminding herself of that, she crossed the remaining distance.

“Lord William?”

He turned almost immediately.

The moment he saw her, his attention shifted so completely that Lady Sophronia's cheerful account of some amusing incident came to an abrupt halt.

“If you would excuse us for only a moment,” William said politely.

Lady Sophronia's smile faltered almost imperceptibly before returning. “Certainly.”

Rosalind stepped nearer, lowering her voice. “My mother wishes to return home.”

“I hope you are feeling better.”

“I am.” She glanced briefly toward the terrace doors. “But I think I saw your brother in the gardens.”

William's brows knit together. “My brother?”

She nodded. “I cannot be certain. He disappeared before I could see him clearly, but I thought you should know.”

For the briefest instant, genuine surprise crossed his face.

He opened his mouth to answer.

Before he could, the orchestra struck the opening notes of the next dance.

Lady Sophronia looked toward them with a pleasant smile. “Lord William,” she reminded him sweetly, “I believe you promised me this waltz.”

Rosalind stepped back before either of them could protest. “I only wished to tell you. Goodnight.”

“Lady Rosalind—”

She merely smiled, curtsied, and turned away before he could say anything further.

Her mother was waiting near the ballroom doors, and Rosalind crossed toward her, resisting the entirely unreasonable urge to glance back. She had nearly reached the doorway when the opening strains of the waltz swelled behind her and curiosity finally won.

She looked over her shoulder.

William and Lady Sophronia had already joined the other couples upon the dance floor. Sophronia was speaking animatedly as they moved, her face bright with laughter and her attention fixed entirely upon her partner.

William, however, was not looking at her.

He was looking across the ballroom at Rosalind.