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“Were you now?” He turned to Miss Bigby. “All lies, I am quite certain.”
The younger woman giggled and blushed.
He looked back at Louisa with a cocked brow. “I have been told by Lady Leicester that I must dance the first dance.”
“Excellent,” Louisa replied with a broad smile. “Miss Bigby would love to dance with you.”
“I would,” she said breathlessly.
Harry narrowed his eyes on Louisa. Dancing with Miss Bigby was not the plan when he walked over here. Dancing with Louisa was about the only way to speak with her properly. And he was positive Louisa knew that. “I would be delighted.”
“Your Grace, is that not Lord Collingwood over there?” Louisa asked glancing at the man who just entered the room.
“I believe it is. After my dance with Miss Bigby, I shall endeavor to speak with him.” Letting Collingwood or any man in the room dance with Louisa left him feeling irritated.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Miss Bigby, shall we?” he asked, holding out his arm to her. “The music is set to begin.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” she answered with a slight giggle.
He led her to the dance floor, mentally cursing Louisa for getting the upper hand. Miss Bigby’s constant giggling was already driving him mad. As the dance started, he searched for Louisa to see if she had partnered with someone for the dance. Instead, he found her standing against a wall sipping her wine, staring at him with a self-satisfied smile. Thankfully, the dance was fast-paced, so he didn’t have to attempt conversation with his giggling partner.
Once the set finished, he searched for the only woman he wished to speak with tonight. Only this time, Emma had her sister’s attention. He grabbed a glass of wine and watched Louisa from afar.
“Well, at least you have excellent taste in women.”
Harry turned at the sound of his brother. “I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”
“Since our father’s death, I am now a somewhat respectable bastard. It’s interesting how inheriting a large sum of money from a duke will do that for you.”
“Well, congratulations on gaining some respectability.”
Simon laughed. “Now, back to those two ladies you were eyeing. I suppose, as the bastard, I must take your cast-off, so which one do you prefer?”
Harry frowned. “Hold your tongue. They are both ladies. Miss Louisa Drake to the left, is a dear friend of mine.”
“A friend, is it?” Simon smirked. “I don’t believe I have ever had a lady friend, except in the bedroom where they all are my friends. And what about the angelic-looking one?”
“Miss Emma is engaged to Lord Bolton.”
“She looks a little too innocent for my liking. The brunette has a passion in her manner that is hard to resist.”
“Simon,” Harry growled. “Do not think about it.”
“I see how it is,” Simon replied with a smirk. “I suppose I shall have to settle for a lonely widow tonight.”
“Good luck.”
Simon chuckled. “I don’t need luck, brother. I had a fortune from my gaming hell before Father bestowed even more upon his ‘poor’ bastard.”
Spying Collingwood, Harry said, “I must go speak with someone.”
Harry left his brother and focused on Lord Collingwood. “Collingwood, might I have a word?”
Collingwood turned and nodded. “Of course. What do you need, Your Grace?”
“If you remember you met Miss Drake at the park a few weeks ago. It would be a favor to me if you would dance with her. She gets so few opportunities.”
