Page 6 of An Inconvenient Duke

Harriett finished her examination with an approving nod. “Life in London must be agreeing with you.”

His mouth twisted with amusement. “I feel as if I’ve just been put through a military inspection, Viscountess.”

Harriett let out a sound halfway between a humph and a chortle. “Better grow used to it, my boy! You were the grandson of a baron before, but now you’re a peer. A duke, no less. Privacy has just become a luxury you cannot afford.”

Although his expression didn’t alter, Dani felt a subtle change in him. A hardening. As if he’d already discovered for himself the truth behind her great-aunt’s warning.

“Lovely party.” Harriett waved a gloved hand to indicate the festivities, the rings on her fingers shining in the torchlight. “So kind of you to throw it and invite all of London.”

Dani blanched. Of all the things to say—

“Couldn’t invite the best without inviting the rest,” he countered as expertly as if the two were waging a tennis match.

Her eyes gleamed mischievously. “And which are which?”

“If you don’t know—”

“You’re part of the rest,” the viscountess finished, raising her champagne glass in a mock toast.

In reply, he winked at her.

Harriett laughed, tickled by their verbal sparring match. “You happened by at exactly the right moment. I was just telling everyone about the first time I met His Majesty. Have I ever told you—”

“If you’ll pardon me, Viscountess,” he interrupted politely to avoid being caught up in the story.Smart man.“I’d like to ask Miss Williams for the next dance.” He turned toward her. “Would you do me the honor?”

Dani’s heart slammed against her ribs in dread. Being with him like this, surrounded by a crowd of friends and acquaintances where the conversation had to be polite and impersonal was one thing. But dancing was something completely different and far too close for comfort. There would be too many opportunities to be reminded of Elise’s death, for both of them.Thiswas exactly what she’d hoped to avoid.

“My apologies, Your Grace.” Dani smiled tightly. “But I’m not dancing tonight.”

His expression darkened slightly. Clearly, he wasn’t used to being refused. “Not even with an old friend returned from the wars?”

Especiallynot him. “Not at all, I’m afraid.”

Something sparked in the dark depths of his eyes. A challenge? Had he realized that she’d been purposefully evading him? The butterflies in her belly molded one by one into a ball of lead as he smiled at her. “Surely you can make an exception.”

Dear heavens, why wouldn’t he let this go? “I haven’t been feeling myself lately, and a dance might tire—”

“Danielle,” Harriett chastised with a laughing smile. Beneath the surface, however, she was surely horrified that Dani was refusing not just an old family friend and the man of honor at tonight’s party but the most eligible man in the entire British empire. “One dance will not overtax you.”

Without giving her the chance to protest, he insisted, “If you grow fatigued, I promise to return you immediately to your aunt.” Marcus turned the full charms of his smile on her and held out his hand. “Shall we?”

Now she knew what foxes felt like when they were cornered by hounds. With no more excuses for why she couldn’t dance, the only way to avoid him now would be to flat-out cut him in front of his guests.Thatshe would never do.

Marcus didn’t deserve that. Truly, he’d done nothing wrong, except remind her of Elise.

She grudgingly nodded her consent and allowed him to place her hand on his arm to lead her away.

Once they were out of earshot of the others, she lightly squeezed his arm to capture his attention. “While it’s kind of you to request a dance, it’s perfectly fine with me if we don’t take the floor. You shouldn’t feel obligated.”

“But I want to.” He slid her a sideways glance that rippled a warning through her as he led her toward the house. “I was very happy to see that you’d attended tonight.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it.” Although she’d dearly tried to do just that. Swiftly changing the topic away from herself, she declared, “This party is a grand way to celebrate your return as a hero. I’m certain that Claudia and Pippa are thrilled to have you home.”

Regret surged through her as soon as the words left her lips, because her mention of them would surely only remind him of Elise’s absence. She hadn’t wanted to cause him more grief. After all, that was why she’d been avoiding him since his return. How could he not look at her without thinking of his sister’s death? God knew Dani was reminded of exactly that every time she thought of him.

“And you—” she rushed to add before he could reply, pivoting the conversation in a different direction. “You must have missed England.”

“I did.” The way he said that sounded faintly aggrieved. “But I’m not certain England missed me.”