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“It was fine. In fact, I rather liked her candor.” Nora considered her next words carefully. “She told me Kendal is called the Forbidden Duke.”
Lady Satterfield laughed, her gray eyes sparkling with mirth. “Oh yes, I imagine she did. What else did she say?”
“Only that he dances with someone special at your ball.”
“Yes, he does. It’s quite thething.”
Though Nora burned to ask why he was forbidden, she didn’t dare. She’d already risked enough that afternoon and come through unscathed. Still, she could wonder how he’d earned that label. One thing was certain—he seemed a lonely figure. Did he prefer the isolation it offered, or was it a prison like Nora’s own banishment had been?
She doubted she’d ever find out.
As the crowd had increased toward the end of the tea, Titus had decided to take his leave. He hadn’t departed the town house but had gone upstairs to his stepfather’s study for a glass of brandy.
His glass was nearly empty, and he surmised from the lack of activity downstairs that the tea was now over.Good.He could take his leave without running into people.
Although, he might like running into Miss Lockhart.
He’d watched her as much as he dared, and a few times had caught her watching him. He’d seen her laugh and converse. She seemed charming. Witty. Probably intelligent. Or so he guessed based on her frank expression and the way she held her shoulders. Two busybodies had spoken with her, and she’d sparkled against their insipidity.
The door to the study opened and in walked his stepmother. She gave him a wide, beaming smile. “You stayed nearly the entire time.”
Seeing how happy it made her was worth it.
She looked up at him eagerly. “Dare I hope you might come again?”
“Anything’s possible.” But not necessarily likely. He suspected that he’d started to become a novelty toward the end of the tea—probably due to earlier guests spreading the news of his presence at their next destinations. “Are you certain you want such a crowd in future?”
His stepmother cocked her dark head to the side. “Hmm. Perhaps not.” She exhaled. “Pity. You know, you could just overlook the nonsense.”
He blinked at her. “I do. It’s simply a nuisance, and I don’t wish to beleaguer your event.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you, but it isn’t a nuisance to me. I should endure any sort of bother if it meant you would come out of your shell a bit more.”
It wasn’t a shell. It was a well-guarded fortress to protect him from the absurdity of Society. He loathed the preening and the gossip and the ghastly, careless behavior. He didn’t wish to discuss it further so he changed the subject. “Your new companion seemed pleasant enough.” What a dull description. She was stunning and sparkled like a diamond amid coal.
“I’m quite pleased with her.” Creases formed over the bridge of her nose, and Titus sensed she was about to impart Something Important. “In fact, I’m going to ask her if she’d like to have a real Season—not just as my companion.”
“What do you mean? You wish to sponsor her?”
She nodded. “I do. She was denied her chance at a happy future, and I’d like to give her a second chance.”
Titus clamped his teeth together lest he speak out of turn. He didn’t want her to know that he was well aware of Miss Lockhart’s past—that he’d been part of the machine that haddeniedher. Yes, she’d made a mistake, but her punishment had been swift and harsh.
His stepmother continued, “I wondered if you might choose her as your dance partner at our ball.”
And there it was. Every year, he danced with someone who needed a little boost in Society. It had been his stepmother’s idea some six or seven years ago. It was her way to persuade him to come out from behind his wall, if only for one night, and with such a noble purpose, he’d been unable to refuse her request. In fact, it was because of Miss Lockhart that he’d agreed. He’d seen helping these specially selected women as his penance for the role he’d played in Miss Lockhart’s downfall.
Now he had the opportunity to help her.
Something about the request made him feel unsettled. Why? Was it because of his involvement nine years ago? Or was it because he found her damnably attractive? None of it signified. Heowedit to her to give her the dance.
“Consider it done.”
She dropped her hand to her side, smiling. “Excellent.”
“What are your intentions with regard to Miss Lockhart? Does she hope to wed?”
“I believe so. We haven’t discussed it specifically. I only made my decision to offer her a Season this afternoon after watching her comport herself. You didn’t ask why she needs our support, but I shall tell you anyway. She was tossed out of Society nine years ago after she was caught in an embrace with that cad Haywood.” His stepmother wrinkled her nose. “She’s been rusticating in the country ever since, and now her father is unable to support her. That’s why she sought employment. As much as I enjoy her company—she’s an excellent companion—she deserves a family of her own.”
