Liz Tyner - The Wallflower Duchess

Music filled the air and Edgeworth watched her as if she should say something profound, but all she could manage was a pinched-sounding mumble of thanks.

‘Greetings, all.’ Fox appeared behind Edgeworth, popping into the conversation like a marionette might drop on to the stage to scatter the other puppets.

‘Edgeworth dragged me from the country so that I might attend this evening, but when I realised that I would be seeing the two Hightower sisters, I thanked him most utterly and profusely—even though one of them...’ he tilted his chin to the ceiling, batted his eyes and looked as if he might whistle ‘...may once have compared me to a piece of very important pottery.’ He smiled. ‘I tried to steal a kiss and you told me you’d prefer to kiss a chamber pot.’

‘I meant it as a gentle reprimand,’ Lily said.

‘It was.’ He chuckled and put a hand to his ear. ‘Is that music I hear?’ He held out his arm for her to clasp. ‘Dance with me, please, I beg you, so that I might apologise for being so ungallant in the past.’

‘You are not here to impress Miss Lily,’ Edgeworth said.

Foxworthy’s jaw dropped, but his eyes sparkled. ‘I thought for certain I was here to impress every woman in attendance. I’m crushed.’ He winked at Lily. ‘So even if I cannot sway you to swoon with admiration, will you please do me the honour of dancing with me?’

Edgeworth’s eyes narrowed and his jaw tensed.

Quickly, she returned her glass to the table and accepted the request, feeling the men must be separated immediately.

She glared at Fox and hurried to the dance floor.

Even with her back to him, her mind’s eye could see Edgeworth watching her. Prickles of warmth flared. But he needn’t have worried. Foxworthy was all nonsense. He liked a certain type of woman and she wasn’t it. That she knew.

Fox turned to her, pulling her into his orbit with a half-hidden smile. He moved into the dance so quickly she had to pay attention.

‘Edgeworth is watching us.’ Fox leaned close and practically stumbled over her, but she was certain he was an excellent dancer. The cad. She hated to dance and it was hard enough for her to keep up with the steps without having a partner who purposefully stumbled.

His head turned and at that moment his eyes changed. ‘Your sister just walked into the room.’

‘She tends to do that.’

‘I had not realised how long it’s been since I’ve seen her,’ he said, eyes locked on Abigail.

‘She’s not for you.’

‘Really?’ She had his full attention. His brows moved so that a little crease formed in the middle between them.

‘She is only interested in men who have the most honourable intentions.’

‘My intentions are honourable. Always honourable intentions,’ he said.

She didn’t answer. Honourable intentions written in air.

‘Miss Hightower. You’re starting to look at me the same way Edge does. Are there any sharp objects about that I should hide?’

‘If we look irritated at you, it’s for good reason and you know it. You are a disaster waiting to happen.’

Nodding, Foxworthy said, ‘I’ve tried to keep my life amusing, unlike Edgeworth. He’s just like his father. I can still hear my uncle saying to Edge, “You are a duke first, you are a duke second and you are a duke third, and whatever of you that is left over after that is also a duke.”’

‘That’s Edgeworth.’

‘Yes. And I see him being just like the old Duke. He’ll settle into married life some day, because he does his duty. He will have his duchess. The perfect family. And then some years hence, he’ll discover he’s a man as well. Then you know what will happen. Just like his father.’ Fox shut his eyes for half a second and shook his head in the way of a sage.

His words jarred her insides. The recollection of the old Duke looking over his nose at her ignited memories she’d rather forget.

‘I want to experience life while I am young and get all the adventures I need out of my system.’ Fox swirled her around. ‘When I marry I will happily rot away, blissfully, in the arms of my beloved.’

He caught her eye, giving her another wink. ‘Just wanted to reassure you.’

‘Foxworthy.’ She snapped out his name. ‘You cannot possibly reassure me. You’re constantly in that half-rate newspaper that scandalmongers delight in.’

‘I’ve only been in it fourteen times and I count the Beany Beaumont incident even if I wasn’t mentioned by name.’

‘You are terrible.’

‘I am not.’ He glanced towards his feet. ‘I’ve missed only one step and it brought me closer to you. So how can I be upset with myself?’

‘Foxworthy. You wish people to talk of your missteps. You are a rake to the core.’

‘But beyond that, I’m pure gold.’ They turned around the room again. ‘Admit it, you find me quite charming.’

‘I would not exactly say that. I would say you have the very minimal charm necessary for a dance partner.’

‘Ouch,’ he said, and the dance ended without any more banter, but at least a dozen smiles from Foxworthy. He did have a rather elegant way of looking into a woman’s eyes, but it made Lily feel as if he expected her to swoon over him. She would be pleased when she could retire to her room, but she wasn’t leaving Abigail alone with only their father and aunt for chaperons.

She didn’t think it coincidence that Fox managed to stop them near Edgeworth.

‘Miss Hightower has commented quite directly on my charm as we danced,’ he said to Edge. ‘I fear it has quite gone to my head. Near smacked me across the temples, in fact. But—’ He spoke as he released her hand. ‘She was quite the most wonderful partner and a treat to listen to.’ He looked deep into her eyes. ‘Thank you. I will never, ever forget these moments with you.’

Then his eyes turned to Abigail and he clasped his hands flat over his heart. ‘Another Miss Hightower. How fortunate we are to have two in our presence. Please do me the honour of a dance.’

Abigail rose on tiptoes and proved women could not fly or she would have fluttered off the floor at that moment. ‘I would be honoured, Lord Foxworthy.’

He swirled her away.

‘Stop staring after him,’ Edge said. ‘He’s full enough of himself as it is.’

‘I don’t like him dancing so close with Abigail.’

‘It’s not close.’

‘He’s looking at her much too lingeringly.’ She turned to Edge. ‘Are you going to let him get away with it?’

He didn’t move, but she heard a snort of air from his nostrils. ‘I insisted he accept the invitation for that very purpose.’

Her eyes widened. This wasn’t the same Edgeworth she’d known her whole life.

He took her by the arm and led them from the music and back to the refreshments. He bent his head low so his voice wouldn’t carry. ‘When you told me that everyone believed I’m interested in your sister, I made sure Fox knew it wasn’t true and insisted he attend to change the perception.’

She stopped, mouth gaping, and reached for a glass. ‘You can’t be serious? Foxworthy?’

He nodded.

‘But you’ve always... I’ve heard the rumours—that you warned men to—’

‘To take care around the Hightower sisters.’

‘Around Abigail.’

‘Lily and the sister she watches over.’

‘Because we’re neighbours. Because Abigail and I often were next door.’ She put the lemonade to her lips.

‘Certainly,’ he said. ‘And because I didn’t want another man near you.’

She spewed droplets of lemonade over his coat.

She coughed, her hand over her mouth, choked. She followed with another sip to keep herself from coughing again. ‘My apologies,’ she croaked out.