Page 41 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke
She embraced Jane. “I’m so glad you came.”
“So am I,” Jane admitted.
Lavinia greeted Lady Wynten warmly before turning back to Jane. “You look beautiful.”
Jane laughed. “You are an exceedingly loyal friend.”
Lavinia sniffed. “I happen to possess excellent eyesight.”
Lady Wynten laughed softly. “I believe Jane could use some company her own age.”
“Mama,” Jane began.
“Go,” Lady Wynten said, pushing her away gently. “I shall go talk to Lady Weatherby. I promise not to disappear.”
Jane hesitated, only briefly, and then kissed her mother’s cheek. Lavinia looped her arm through Jane’s, and they wandered slowly through the ballroom, smiling politely whenever introductions became unavoidable.
They paused beside the refreshments. A servant handed them each a glass of lemonade.
Lavinia lowered her voice. “Has there been any word?”
Jane’s smile faded. “No.”
“I am sorry.”
“So am I.”
Silence settled briefly between them. Then Lavinia suddenly looked across the room. “Oh!”
Jane followed her gaze. Immediately, she wished she had not. There was the duke. He stood among a circle of gentlemen near one of the tall windows. Even from across the ballroom, he seemed taller than everyone surrounding him. His dark evening coat fitted his broad shoulders with effortless perfection.
Several gentlemen appeared to be laughing. The duke merely listened. When he finally spoke, every one of them fell silent.
“He came,” Lavinia murmured.
Jane forced herself to sip her lemonade. “So I see.”
“You sound terribly indifferent.”
“I am.”
Lavinia looked unconvinced. “He is rather difficult not to notice.”
“I had not noticed him.”
“You looked directly at him.”
Jane frowned. “I looked across the room.”
“Convenient timing.”
Jane gave her friend an innocent look. “You imagine things.”
“Oh?” Lavinia smiled knowingly. “Then why have your cheeks become pink?”
“They have not.”
“They absolutely have.” Lavinia laughed.
