Loving a Fearless Duchess: A Historical Regency Romance Book(13)
“Would you introduce us, Stanton?”
“I’m staying here for now, but her brother Edward is standing next to her and her mother, Cecilia. He’ll do the honours. Be warned. She has a small scar on her face, mostly hidden by her hair. I warn you because she doesn’t want anyone startled by it.”
“Thank you.” Nash bowed. “I’ll be on my way.”
***
Henry stood rigidly next to Penelope. Seeing Nash again across the ballroom was making the past rise up again. He thought of Nash’s dog. How dare he accuse Henry of killing his dog. He didn’t care how long ago it happened. Sure, it was true, but that wasn’t the point. The point was with no evidence whatsoever he came over to their land and came in their house to make accusations about a terrible crime.
Revenge would be his. He hadn’t seen Nash in years. Now, they would see each other regularly, and he could put his plans for revenge in place. He wondered if Nash owned a dog. It certainly looked as though Nash didn’t have a wife or fiancé. Too bad. That would have been fun.
He would prevent Nash from getting a lady to court him. That would be fun. That’s what he would do. Starting this evening, every time he saw Nash, he would stick to him like glue and work on breaking up his alliances. He would make that man miserable.
***
Avery watched as Nash moved across the dance floor in search of Edward and Penelope. This man came out of nowhere. It had been years since he’d seen him about the sheep then the dog.
Now he was deliberately in search of Penelope. Something must be done. He and Penelope could not get close. If they put their heads together, Avery would be in big trouble.
Avery handed a footman a coin and asked him to get Henry to the library. He left for the library and started pacing.
The door opened to Henry. He shut it, locked it quietly, and poured a drink for himself and his father. He sat, but
Avery kept pacing. “You know why I called you here?” he said.
Henry got up and handed Avery the glass of whisky he poured for him. “I was shocked when I saw him, and more shocked when he danced with Penelope. He’ll take a long look at her face and run away.”
Avery shook his head no. “We can’t be sure of that. For all we know, he might like it.” He turned to Henry. “If they even look at each other again, you need to break them up.
Henry nodded. Not only did he have to do it for the sake of their title, but also he wanted to do it. He wanted to make them miserable. “I will be where they are and do what they do. They won’t have enough time alone to develop a relationship in the first place.”
Avery looked at him hard. “Make certain of it.”
***
Nash strode across the ballroom floor at the edge of the dancing. The lack of floor space made the dancers look like ants scattered in all directions. There would be a toe or two stepped on tonight.
Nash was a tall, sandy-haired man with twinkling blue eyes whose presence had rippled through the ballroom. He walked up to Edward and the four girls who looked at him motionless to see who he would approach. He smiled warmly and asked, “Lord Balfour? May I introduce myself? I am Nash Finch, the Duke of Norfolk, and your neighbour.” He bowed.
Edward bowed. “Edward Balfour. Your neighbour is my uncle, Avery Stanton. Do you know him?”
“I do,” Nash said, “But not well. My father and I visited you probably four or five years ago now. We dined at your table.”
“I remember you and your father visited us. I took you around the estate.”
Cecilia came and stood next to Edward. “Your Grace, may I introduce my mother, Lady Balfour.”
Cecilia curtsied, and Nash bowed.
“I remember you, Your Grace. You and your father. He has passed?”
“Yes, My Lady. Some three years now.”
“My condolences. I remember you well. So polite and caring. You and your father were pleasant dinner companions.”
Nash turned back to Edward. “Would you introduce me to your sister, Lord Balfour?”
“I’d be delighted. Penelope?”
Penelope walked over to Edward. Nash remembered her, but when he’d met her, she had just acquired her scar. It was inflamed and seemed much harsher and larger than it was now. She wasn’t disfigured by it, and he gave a sigh of relief for her.
Edward introduced Nash to the three girls standing with her. The girls curtsied, and Nash bowed. He turned to Penelope. “May I have the next dance, Lady Penelope?”
Penelope smiled while the other girls hid their enthusiasm for the single Duke behind their fans. “Certainly.” The ballroom had been buzzing about the young, handsome Duke. The fact he was with them had many in the ballroom turning their way.
“Our dance, Lady Penelope?” Nash asked. He looked down at her and smiled.
As they walked to the dance floor, Penelope said, “I must admit, Your Grace, I have only a vague recollection of having met you before. I find it amazing that you remembered.”
Nash smiled warmly at Penelope, “You made quite an impression on me that day. You handled your dinner guests and your cousin with great ease. I think greater ease than I tolerated Henry.”
Penelope looked down then up into his eyes, “Yes, Henry. I suppose I was more used to him than you were. Back then, I spent a lot of my time in the practice of staying out of Henry’s way.”