Entangled with the Duke: A Clean & Sweet Regency Historical Romance Book

by Abby Ayles

  “I wonder if you might indulge me with a set, if you still have one available,” Raven continued motioning to her Programme du bal fan. “I know it would appease my aunt,” he said by way of explanation.

  * * *

  The lady looked down at the fan in her hand, “Oh dear, this isn’t…I don’t have,” she took a slow breath. “I don’t have any dances set aside at this time.”

  * * *

  “Splendid,” Raven said happy for his good fortune. He could dance with Lady Charlotte for the first set and convince Aunt Rebecca to return home having fulfilled her desires for the night.

  * * *

  “Would you do me the honor of dancing the first set of the evening with me?” Raven asked.

  * * *

  “Of course, Your Grace,” the lady replied with a soft bow.

  * * *

  He seemed to watch time stand still for just that moment. He was sure he could see a soft blush rush up her cheeks.

  * * *

  He reached out an arm for her to take, which she did. Together they walked the length of the hall to the dance floor. Though she tried to do so discreetly, he watched as she tugged at her long glove. It was only then that he noticed that two of the buttons were missing.

  * * *

  It was a most curious thing to him, but he thought little of it. He made the walk in silence to then study more of her.

  * * *

  What lady that was coming to a ball would not bring a booklet to write her partners name in it? Especially a lady that was already creating such a stir if his aunt was correct.

  * * *

  He noticed too that though her dress was of fine blue silk, it was of a later fashion and even had some fraying to the cream ribbon around her waist and down her back.

  * * *

  Surprisingly he didn’t find these facts to deter from her beauty to any degree. She was a delicate creature to look at but more than that she seemed to walk with a great air about her. He could tell, though he wasn’t sure how, that she was not a frail miss of the ton as so many were.

  * * *

  Though he hated to admit so, he was finding that perhaps his aunt had done right in insisting he give the season a try.

  * * *

  After all, if he could find a lady that shared in his mutual interests and love for travel, it might not be so bad to have a companion to go along with him.

  * * *

  The duke lead the lady up close to where the earl and his wife were already standing. He knew from this point both his aunt and the Earl would see his efforts and perhaps not pressure him so to find a partner. Though the idea intrigued him, he would still have liked it to be of his own volition and not pressed upon him.

  * * *

  The Earl’s silver brows rose in surprise as Raven took his place on the floor with the lady across from him.

  * * *

  “I believe you know Lord Eagleton,” the lady said seeing the silent exchange between the two of them.

  * * *

  “Yes, he has been somewhat of a father figure in my life,” Raven said as the dance began.

  * * *

  “I am good friends with Lady Eagleton,” she said by way of explanation of her words.

  * * *

  “Though I believe she hasn’t had the pleasure to meet you herself, she has already spoken many high praises of you tonight,” she continued.

  * * *

  “Then that must mean that the Earl has not divulged all the horrible trouble that his son and I always found ourselves in,” Raven said with a soft smile.

  * * *

  She blushed and looked away. It was a shallow conversation to start, but it was undoubtedly what was proper of a dance.

  * * *

  “Lady Eagleton informed me this is your first season in town for some time, your grace.”

  * * *

  “Yes, I tend to avoid London as much as I can,” Raven replied.

  * * *

  “So you don’t like the city?” the lady continued to keep up a steady conversation.

  * * *

  “I have never particularly enjoyed it. There is so much of the rest of the world to see. Why stay here when wonderful things are waiting to be discovered?”

  * * *

  “Hopefully you will discover something new of the city while you are here at present.”

  * * *

  “Are you a protector of it, then?” he asked narrowing his hawk eyes on the lady.

  * * *

  “No, not really. Though it is the only home I know, so I suppose in that way I do have a fondness for it as well as its hidden gems of wonder.”

  * * *

  “Never left the city? That’s surprising to hear,” Raven retorted.

  * * *

  Surely her family would return to their country estate during colder months or at least go and visit other estates around the country. He didn’t hold on to the thought as they did their turns on the floor, however.

  * * *

  “What gems might you find here?” Raven asked the lady, rather enjoying their conversation.

  * * *

  “Well, of course, there are the parks and theaters.”

  * * *

  “Yes, but by the way you say that, I would guess you don’t frequent those. Where would you say you spend most of your time?”

  * * *

  “Actually if I am not at home with my sisters I am at the Natural Museum of zoology and botany.”

  * * *

  “Oh not that dreadful place,” Raven blurted out without even realizing it.

  * * *

  “Dreadful?” The lady retorted.

  * * *

  “Forgive me,” he said clearing his throat. “I went there as a child myself. I wanted to see and learn everything about the world around me, and that was sure to be the place to get close to real specimens. But it was just so…”

  * * *

  “Not to your taste?” She asked, though he could tell her words had visibly cooled.

  * * *

  He wondered if he had offended her. He hadn’t meant to. As a boy, he had considered it to be amazing and perhaps a lady who never left London would too, but once seeing what the world had to offer, he learned how misguided the studies and conclusions drawn at that place were.

  * * *

  “Completely backward, in all honesty,” Raven said gently but not willing to give up honesty.

  * * *

  “How so, Your Grace?” she said narrowing her own eyes at the gentleman.

  * * *

  “So often their classifications of animals are completely off base, the scientific assumptions they make only lead to the fact that they have no practical knowledge outside of the city themselves.”

  * * *

  “Perhaps it is better now,” Raven added quickly when she didn’t meet his eyes or respond. “Forgive me, Lady Charlotte. I meant no offense. Perhaps we could go together to the museum, and you can prove me wrong.”

  * * *

  Raven was suddenly desperate to get in this lady’s good graces again. Somehow his offer and apology didn’t do justice as her head snapped up to look at him in utter shock at the mere utterance.

  * * *

  “I am not Lady Charlotte, Your Grace. I am afraid you have mistaken me for another.”

  Chapter Seven

  Lady Alexandra Woodley could not imagine being in a more embarrassing situation. At first, she had been delighted when the duke introduced himself to her, and even spouted a connection to her family through her late mother.

  * * *

  She had found it curious that Lady Rebecca had told the duke that she and her mother had been friends. It was news that had never been spoken to her from either Lady Rebecca or her father.

  * * *

  She had waved that warning away, however. It didn’t matter how the duke was connected if it meant he might find favor with one of her sisters. Of course, the second warning was when the du
ke asked her to dance.

  * * *

  No one ever asked Lady Alexandra to dance. In fact, she was a little frightened that she might not remember the steps. Her whole focus at social events had been to make friends with the other matrons of the ton to find partners for her sister, never herself.

  * * *

  Even still, when the duke asked her to dance she merely thought he was being polite in dancing with the eldest sister first. She had learned of a miracle connection between a most prominent single duke and her family and she would take advantage of that moment.

  * * *

  Even with fear of miss-stepping she had agreed to waltz the first set with him. It would give her the opportunity to introduce him to her sister’s personalities beforehand.

  * * *

  She had done her best to begin some light conversation. Through the whole of it, however, she felt her stomach knot with nervousness. He was far more handsome and imposing up close than he was at a distance.

  * * *

  She had to tell her self several times that this man could very well be her future brother-in-law if she played her cards right.

  * * *

  He may have at the charm and mannerisms of a duke, but she could not let that blind her from the course she was on. She was determined to see her sisters put to him before the night's end.

  * * *

  That determination changed, however, when he so blatantly criticized her father’s life work. Every aspect of the Natural Museum of Zoology and Botany had been at her father's behest and sponsorship. To say that all he did was a laughing stock was more than insulting.

  * * *

  It had been more insulting, however, because over the last several years she had been the one predominantly overseeing the various curators and scientist as best she could.

  * * *

  Certainly, she was no expert in that field. It had all come out of necessity as her father soon refused to leave the house even to his once beloved sanctuary. He cited that the traffic on the streets had become more than his frail constitution could take.

  * * *

  From that moment on all information or specimens were brought to the house for approval just as he was doing at that moment. And then information was carried back to the Museum via letters or Lady Alexandra’s personal inspections.

  * * *

  It wasn’t a subject that Lady Alexandra had much interest in, and she did not do these errands and added work out of her own passion. Instead, it was the simple fact that her father had tied up the last of his inheritance as an investment of the place.

  * * *

  If the Museum were to fail, any chance of a dowry would be lost to the sisters. As it was, the pavilion was not doing as successful as she would hope and dowries were going to be meager at best.

  * * *

  If his distaste for her father’s passion had not been off-putting enough, the duke then proceeded to call her by the wrong name.

  * * *

  It was as if she had raised up on top of a high tower only to come crashing down again.

  * * *

  She felt utterly ridiculous now that she had even thought the duke would have introduced himself to her of all people. She mentally kicked herself for thinking that a fine lady such as Rebecca Sinclair would go the whole of Lady Alexandra’s life never speaking a word to her and then press her duke nephew to engage in a dance over a dear friendship.

  * * *

  They took several moments around the floor in utter silence. Both were lost in their own thoughts of the current revelations presented. Neither one could simply leave. They would have to stay until the set was completed.

  * * *

  Lady Alexandra felt all the more tortured as Lady Eagleton looked her way over and over again with an excited gleam in her eyes.

  * * *

  “Please do beg my pardon, miss. My aunt described a lady with brown hair, a blue silk dress, and high gloves. I made the misfortune of seeing you and making the assumption.”

  * * *

  “That I was Lady Charlotte,” Lady Alexandra finished for him.

  * * *

  “I didn’t mean any offense, it was a simple mistake,” he said defending himself.

  * * *

  “I should be honored I suppose,” Lady Alexandra replied, not precisely enjoying the way he was now becoming defensive about the fact.

  * * *

  “Perhaps you would do me the courtesy of telling me your name,” he said after a few more moments past.

  * * *

  She couldn’t believe he even had the nerve to ask.

  * * *

  “I dare say I couldn’t bear to own up to it at this point,” Lady Alexandra said looking every direction except the partner in front of her.

  * * *

  She was relieved that the set was finally coming to an end.

  * * *

  “Perhaps though, Your Grace, as we part ways I can do you the service of pointing out the true target of your desires. She is just there,” Lady Alexandra said nudging with her chin to another set of partners on the floor.

  * * *

  The Duke of Raven studied the girl she had motioned to. No surprise she too was wearing an elegant blue silk dress with high gloves and gleaming white pearls strung through light brown hair.

  * * *

  “And just in case you are wondering,” Lady Alexandra said looking him in the eye finally as the dance ended.

  * * *

  She took her soft curtsy as was customary before finishing her sentence.

  * * *

  “My father is the patron of the Natural Museum of Zoology and Botany. If you truly think your vast knowledge of the world is far superior than those in the pavilion, you might consider putting it to good use.”

  * * *

  Raven cocked a brow not understanding her words entirely.

  * * *

  “A candle loses nothing from lighting another. What is the point of vast worldly experiences if you will not impart it on those not as fortunate as yourself to experience them, Your Grace.”

  * * *

  With those final words, Lady Alexandra turned with her head held high and left the dance floor. She may not have been considered worthy to be in his elite circle and perhaps her father’s museum was less than par compared to others. It made little difference to her. She had come too far and worked too hard to see her family name disgraced and made fun of.

  Lady Alexandra strolled directly out of the room and to an adjoining one were a bowl of punch was still out to quench the thirst of tired dancers. She did the best she could to ladle a cup for herself without showing her shaking hands too much.

  * * *

  She had never spoken in such a manner to someone her superior, probably no one at all in honesty other than when she had to scold her sisters.

  * * *

  Perhaps the Duke had meant to be contrite in his apology and, to be honest, it was a simple mistake. Oh, how she wished he had made it with any other woman that night instead of her.

  * * *

  In her moment of embarrassment and anger, she had lashed out. Lady Alexandra had soiled her image in the eyes of the duke permanently.

  * * *

  It would only be a matter of time before he learned her name, her relations. How long before he began to share his ill meeting with her to other gentlemen? Soon her whole family of eligible ladies would be considered undesirable for yet another reason. That was all her making.

  * * *

  “Oh, to be sure, that was straight from one of my romance books,” Lady Eagleton said with a flurry coming to Lady Alexandra’s side.

  * * *

  “I even asked the earl if he put the Duke of Raven up to it. He said he hadn’t. Isn’t it just so romantic?” She said with a whimsical gloss to her eyes. “He came right up to you and asked you to dance. It’s like a fairytale, isn’t it?”