Page 4 of Sinfully Daring

“Well, as it happens, there is a quadrille about to begin and I don’t have a partner. You may escort me,” the duchess said imperiously, holding out her hand.

“You do me great honour, your grace,” Sebastian replied, bowing low, before winking at the young ladies and leading the duchess out onto the floor.

He turned and grinned at Rosamund as he went.

“Save me a dance,” he said from behind his hand with a mock whisper quite audible to her mother.

Rosamund laughed, her eyes sparkling, and it gave Sebastian an unexpected little jolt of happiness.

5th June 1842, Mrs Digby-Jones’ Ball, London.

“He might do better to dance with his wife,” muttered a familiar dry voice from beside her.

Rosamund looked away from Lord Hargreaves to discover her older brother, Jules, and his friend, Leo Hunt, had appeared at her elbow.

“I don’t think dancing with her is what’s required,” Leo replied in an undertone, making Jules snort with laughter.

“It’s not Lord Hargreaves' fault if his wife is rather… lively,” Rosamund said in protest, though of course she knew as well as anyone else did that Lady Hargreaves was rumoured to have had many lovers. Even Rosamund had observed that she was an outrageous flirt, even with men she knew to be her husband’s friends.

“Humphrey Price would tell you she’s neglected,” Jules said, considering the lady with interest.

“Whatever the truth, it’s none of our business,” Rosamund hissed, appalled that they were discussing the Hargreaves’ marriage.

“It’s Lord Hargreaves’ business. If I were a man, I’d do something about it and not let her make a fool of me at every opportunity,” Miss Morcombe said, shaking her head, surprising Rosamund with the comment because she was a sweet-natured girl.

No doubt Miss Morcombe was another victim of Lady Hargreaves' spiteful tongue, for she was not averse to making sport of the wallflowers and enjoying their discomfort and humiliation.

Miss Morcombe was staring at Lady Hargreaves with a troubled expression. She was not the only one. Many an envious girl had turned their heads towards the glamorous woman and her followers. A small knot of eager young bucks stood in the lady’s orbit, each of them hanging off her every word.

“She is exquisite, though, isn’t she?” Rosamund admitted, because she was inherently fair-minded, and it was undeniable. “One can hardly wonder at them falling in love with her.”

“Is that what they’ve done?” Miss Morcombe replied tartly, shaking her head. “It looks like slavish devotion from this angle. Mama says it’s an excess of animal spirits.”

“Come, Miss Morcombe, let me take you away from all this and fetch you some refreshment,” Leo offered hastily, noting Rosamund’s frown at the sharp words.

Miss Morcombe’s smile was dazzling, transforming her from merely pretty to quite lovely. “Oh, thank you, Mr Hunt. You are very kind.”

Leo led Miss Morcombe away in search of lemonade, and Rosamund watched her brother contemplate the lovely Lady Hargreaves.

“Don’t you dare, Jules,” she hissed.

Jules turned back to look at her, eyebrows raised. “Dare what?” he demanded, all innocence.

“Oh, don’t give me that. I’m not so naïve that I don’t understand the gossip about you.”

“Gossip? About me?” Jules laid a hand over his heart and regarded her with a wounded expression. “Whatever do you mean?”

“I mean that you’ve a reputation for being a….” She pressed her lips together, unwilling to say the word out loud.

“A what, sister, dear?” Jules asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

“A, you know what,” she retorted crossly.

Jules chuckled, and Rosamund glowered at him. She supposed she could understand why women fell at his feet so easily. He was devilishly handsome, and of course being heir to a dukedom hardly hurt. He shrugged and glanced back at Lady Hargreaves. “Don’t worry so, Ozzie. I wouldn’t touch the lady with a ten-foot pole.”

Rosamund stared at him with interest, intrigued to hear him say such a thing. “Why not? She’s so beautiful.”

“Now you’re complaining?” he exclaimed, smirking when she rolled her eyes. “Because, my sweet little innocent, there is something about her I can’t quite like.”