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I should have asked her to dance sooner.
Chapter 9
Chloe
“God’s wounds, I was beginning to think some of our guests would never leave.” The Duke sighed with his words, yawned and stretched, just as the door closed behind the final guest.
Chloe giggled as she waved through the window at the departing guests. Rosaline, Elizabeth, and Marianne were amongst them, hurrying off to the carriage the Duke had given them the use of for the night. Once the carriage door was closed, Chloe turned back to see that she was plainly not the only one to staying the night at Maeve’s house.
Lord Felton was there too. He’d taken a chair not far away, where he was downing the last of a glass of claret, before Maeve took the glass swiftly out of his hand.
“What was that for?”
“I am tidying up,” Maeve said with a shrug. “You were done with it, weren’t you?”
“The swallowing slowed me down,” he said wryly. “I know you were simply worried I would drop it.” Lord Felton shot his sister a glare, though it was a look she clearly pretended not to notice as she turned her focus on Chloe at the window.
“Perhaps we have lost enough glasses for one night. Well, my friend? What do you think?” Maeve asked and gestured to the empty ballroom as she called out to Chloe.
Chloe sighed with contentment and leaned on the windowsill, looking at the peculiarly bare room. There was something odd to the place now, after it had been so full of life and incessant chatter for hours on end. She was rather reminded of an evening in Billingsgate Market, after the market stalls had closed and gone home, leaving nothing but empty earth behind them.
“I think it was a busy evening,” Chloe said hurriedly. “If I have to play a memory game later and remember all the ladies’ names who I met tonight, then please, I beg you, do not ask me to play now. There are far too many to remember.” She placed her hands to her temple and rubbed it, as if she could relieve herself of the pressure.
“Well, the evening does not have to be over yet, does it?” the Duke declared, glancing over to the violinists who were packing up. At his words, one of the violinists halted, clearly waving a hand at the others to stop too.
“Whatever do you mean, Benjamin?” Maeve asked, turning in her place. “Were you not the one who was just yawning, gushing in relief that our guests had finally gone?” The Duke appeared to shrug off these words as he shot a smile Lord Felton’s way.
“I dare say I could dance one more time before I retire. What do you say, Leo?” he asked.
“If you are asking me to be your dance partner, then look elsewhere,” Lord Felton added wryly, pulling a laugh from Chloe.
She couldn’t help letting her eyes tarry on Lord Felton as he sat in his chair, clearly reaching for the glass that Maeve had already taken off him.
He didn’t seem to dance much at all tonight.
Chloe wished that he had. Maybe then she would have had the chance to dance with him, since her only one had slipped by earlier in the evening.
“What do you say, love?” The Duke turned his hand in Maeve’s direction. “Dance with me one last time?”
“Well, maybe one last time.” Maeve moved forward to take his hand.
Chloe pushed off the windowsill, painfully aware of how lonely the pair looked, as two of the violinists picked up their instruments once again. She looked Leo’s way, feeling that same longing build within her.
Could we dance now?
She found he was staring back at her.
Chloe held her breath, watching as Leo slowly stood to his feet. For a minute, she was aware of every move he made, and her eyes darted along his tall figure as he walked toward her. He subtly straightened his tailcoat and cravat, then he smiled. It was his charming smile that made Chloe rather shaky as she stood up from the windowsill.
“Well, what do you say, Miss Green?” Lord Felton asked as he stopped in front of her.
“You wish to dance with me?” Chloe tilted her head to the side, unable to resist the opportunity of teasing him. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Maeve and the Duke dancing together, both so absorbed in talking together, with their heads bowed toward one another, they didn’t seem to realize she and Lord Felton were in the same room.
“Indeed, I do. I may have missed the opportunity to dance with you earlier tonight, but it does seem too good an opportunity to miss now.” His words sent a thrill through Chloe as he raised his hand to her. “Oh . . . I will give fair warning though,” he whispered, as if it was a great secret. “I still might trip on my own feet.” His jest made a laugh shoot through her.
Chloe lifted her hand and eagerly took Lord Felton’s hand, unable to resist his charm. He drew her toward the other two dancers, with Chloe acutely conscious of the softness of his touch upon her hand. It was incredibly gentle, as if he was afraid that he might break her if he held on too hard.
When they took their places beside Maeve and the Duke, Chloe could feel how ridiculous her smile had become.
