Loved by a Duke (The Heart of a Duke #4)(21)

The earlier warmth faded. She’d never been anything more than a responsibility. With his misplaced sense of obligation to her and her family, he’d insert himself into her life as another brother, failing to realize that his constancy would never replace Lionel. She tipped her chin up. “I appreciate that you visit my mother,” she began, because she did. His presence, though obligatory, brought much joy to the grief-stricken marchioness. “But you have duties that extend beyond my family.” The muscles of her throat worked. “In your effort to be loyal and devoted to Lionel’s memory, you fail to realize that you have to live your life for you, first.” And that is the only crime he’d been guilty of in the weeks he’d courted Lady Anne and committed himself to finding a duchess.

Well, that and the crime of breaking her heart.

The strong muscles of his arm twitched under her fingers, hinting at the tension in his frame. It did not, however, escape her notice that he didn’t issue any false protest to her words.

She slid her gaze off to the dancers twirling about her. Her eyes collided with the grinning Lady Stanhope and her husband. The tall, blond gentleman whispered something that raised a blush on the lady’s cheeks. Even over the thrum of the orchestra and the buzz of conversation throughout the ballroom, she detected the woman’s husky laugh blended with the earl’s chuckle. Envy tugged at her breast. That is what she craved for herself, and yet studying the other woman in her golden glory, who was so perfectly pleasant and kind and warm, was it any wonder Auric had wanted her for his duchess?

Auric followed her gaze.

“She’s lovely,” she murmured.

He did not pretend to misunderstand. “She’s married.”

“Are you still hurt by her rejection of your suit?” She immediately wanted to call the words back. “Not that it is my business.” Then she gave him a dry smile. “After all, I’m not a duke and don’t have the right to ask such intimate questions,” she added in an attempt to divert him away from that immediate question that exposed her before him.

A half-grin turned his lips at the corner and her breath caught. “What you are and are not supposed to do have never stopped you before.” His smiles, once so easily given, were now mere fleeting glimpses of mirth he then buried under his practiced ducal expression and aloofness. This brought her back to the young man who’d willingly schemed with her as a girl.

She found herself smiling. “No, this is true.” Daisy wanted their waltz to go on forever and steal more time with Auric, and yet the closing strands of the orchestra indicated the end of the set. The dancers drew to a stop, clapping politely about them as they shuffled from the floor.

They lingered a moment, studying one another, and then remembered themselves at the same time. She dropped a hasty curtsy and allowed him to guide her from the dance floor over to her mother’s side.

As they stopped beside her melancholy mama, the woman’s eyes lit with eagerness. “Auric.”

He smiled. “Lady Roxbury.”

Her heart pulled. He was ever so patient with her mother’s humbling displays of emotion. For a moment, a glimpse of the teasing, vivacious hostess from their youth was restored. She clasped Daisy’s hand and gave a squeeze. “I told my Daisy you didn’t merely feel a sense of obligation to her, isn’t that right Auric?”

Oh, God.

The ghost of a smile hovered on his lips. “Indeed, not. It is, of course, an estimable pleasure to claim a dance with Daisy.” Any other lady would surely be simpering and swooning at such high praise from the young duke.

Then, she’d never been just any lady where Auric was concerned. She winked twice. For, if this didn’t merit some manner of salvation, she couldn’t determine what else would.

He laughed and then buried that sound behind a cough. “If you’ll excuse me,” he said once more.

Mother shot a bold hand out and wrapped it about his forearm. “Do promise you’ll come ’round more frequently, Auric. We do so miss your presence.”

Ashamed of her mother humbling herself so, Daisy gently chided her. “Mama, please.” She stole a glance about at the curious lords and ladies taking in the marchioness’ audacious gesture.

Auric caught Daisy’s eye, both a gentle reassurance and an understanding in his warm, blue gaze. “I pledge to visit more frequently,” he murmured.

And she remembered all the reasons she’d fallen in love with him in the first place. He sketched another bow and made his excuses once more, before taking himself off to the opposite side of the ballroom. To Lady Leticia. She frowned. Daisy openly studied the couple they presented with the same interest as the members of the ton present. Society had begun taking wagers the moment she’d made her Come Out that Daisy Meadows would find herself the Duchess of Crawford. They’d based that fool, erroneous decision off those faithful visits and his loyal attendance at Almack’s and every other event she was unfortunate enough to attend. All such rumors were quashed when she’d come out of mourning two years ago, with no offer forthcoming from the Duke of Crawford. That had, in fact, proven there was nothing remotely romantic about the duke’s relationship with Daisy. Nothing at all.

Now, the busybodies of London wondered who would be the duchess in waiting, since it would not be Lady Stanhope.

Auric guided Lady Cordelia, another golden haired, flawless, English beauty, upon the dance floor and another fool sliver of her heart cracked. She curled her hands into tight fists. Even through the fabric of her fine gloves, her nails marred her flesh.