Page 57 of The Duke’s Matchmaker

But all she really wanted was to retreat to a place by the wall, out of the heat of things and enjoy watching the party. Sometimes it felt to her as though the affairs of London society were a stage play, one she had a front row seat to witness. That was an enjoyable thing, but what wasn’t enjoyable was feeling as though she’d been pulled onto the stage and forced to perform herself.

She decided to permit herself a respite. There was a group of ladies standing off to the side, perhaps waiting to be approached for a dance. She concealed herself among them with ease and looked about the room again, hoping to locate Nathaniel. She couldn’t talk to him. That would be too difficult. But perhaps she could ease the burn of their separation by allowing herself to watch him for a while.

“Have you seen Lady Clementine?” one of the ladies near Dorothy asked. “She looks like a peacock. It’s absolutely ghastly.”

“How do you know it’s her?” another lady asked.

“She told me, of course,” the first one giggled. “Look, there she is now with the Baron of Westchester.”

Dorothy followed the pointing finger and saw a raven-haired lady in a mask so elaborate that it made Agnes’ look tame. It was done in bright blues and purples and had feathers on the top.

The ladies all giggled. “She can’t resist making a show,” one of them said. “But I thought she was going to make a bid for the Duke of Henshaw tonight.”

Dorothy froze.

“Yes, I thought that myself,” someone agreed. “Why is she wasting her time with Lord Westchester?”

“The Duke of Henshaw has never shown an interest in marriage,” someone said. “It’s he who would prove to be a waste of her time. He’s never going to marry.”

“I don’t know about that,” one of the ladies said. “I’ve heard that lately he’s been spending time with⁠—”

She was distracted by someone colliding with her, and several cries went out as wine was spilled.

Dorothy gritted her teeth in frustration. She would very much have liked to hear the end of that sentence. Who did they think Nathaniel was spending time with? Had they been about to say her name? Or would they have said Lady Amanda’s?

She would never find out now. The ladies bustled off in the direction of the kitchen, looking for some way to clean themselves up, and Dorothy was left standing on her own, pondering all that she had heard.

But her isolation didn’t last for long.

“Here you are,” said a low voice, shockingly familiar. She looked up into warm brown eyes, and though they were surrounded by a black velvet mask that obscured his face, she knew at once who he was. There was only one person this could be.

He’d found her.

She sucked in a breath. “Nathaniel.”

“I’ve been looking for you,” he said. “I knew you would be harder to find than usual, what with the masks. I even thought about choosing one for you and having it sent over. But after our conversation when I sent you that gown, I’m not sure you would have worn it.”

Dorothy wasn’t sure either, but she was glad he hadn’t done that and had spared her the decision. “It wouldn’t have been a good idea,” was the best she could offer.

She took a step back, putting a little more space between the two of them—it was uncomfortable being this close together. All she could think about was what had happened the last time they’d been in close proximity.

“You’re probably right,” Nathaniel agreed. “And anyway, you look good in that mask, Dorothy. It was a spectacular choice. I’m just glad I found you.”

“How did you find me? I mean, how did you know it was me?” With all the effort and thought she’d put into keeping herself concealed, how had he known so easily?

“I would know your eyes anywhere,” he told her with a smile.

An electric shiver passed down her spine.

This was exactly the kind of thing she had been trying to avoid. This was not safe for her. She wasn’t going to be able to keep herself under control. She would be drawn back into the feelings she’d been having for him, and there would be no way to guard her heart.

And she couldn’t let it happen. She knew that. She had to prevent herself from becoming attached to Nathaniel because she would never be able to keep him for herself. Soon enough, he would marry, and then he would be required by custom and taste to distance himself from her. It was for the best that she was creating that distance here and now.

It was just that every time she looked into his eyes, she found it hard to remember exactly why all that was so important.

And even now, as all these thoughts went through her mind, she couldn’t quite bring herself to look away.

CHAPTER 29