Unbelievable.
Katherine returned her gaze to the man she'd just agreed to dance with. His beauty was actually quite flawless, if one liked dandies or perhaps fops. His waistcoat glowed, causing her eyes to burn just slightly. But that was the result when one was wearing a bright yellow piece of clothing. Perhaps he was color blind? He led her to the middle of the ballroom floor and bowed. She stifled a snort when the couple next to them scowled. Truthfully, it wasn't necessary to bow that low unless she was royalty.
He was still facing the floor as the music started, and then with a sweeping gesture he pulled her into his arms.
Winded, for they were moving vigorously in the wrong direction of the steps, Katherine managed a tight smile and grunted when they stepped toward one another and he stepped on her toes.
Goodness, did she have to endure an entire dance with this man?
Apparently, she did. Perhaps this was her punishment for succumbing to the Devil Duke's charms. Truthfully, she had no idea what had come over her, and then to have Baldwyn see it all, well it was turning out to be the worst night of her life, and then…
"May I cut in?" the Duke of Paisley's deep timbre sent a shudder down her spine. She paused in the dance and looked up. He was making an absolute scene. Mayhap he did have feelings for her? But hadn't his engagement just been announced?
So, she was to be the pity dance.
Lovely.
Always great to know when she was wanted by the man she loved the most.
Her dandified partner, whose name she still hadn't been given, glared, and hopped off. Literally had a hop in his step as he tried to storm the room.
The music continued to drift, dancers swirled around her and the Scottish duke held out his gloved hand.
So this was what it felt like to want and not have.
Reluctantly, she put her hand in his as he gently pulled her into the dance with a smoothness unmatched by any man except his cousin, the very man she did not wish to think of. Paisley had always been the kind one when they were little, and now he was looking upon her the same way Banbury did — pity and not an inch of attraction. Had she really changed so little? The thought darkened her mood; perhaps that was why she was labeled a spinster. She'd had offers, but none of them were from her heart's true desire. Suddenly depressed, she grimaced.
"Are you alright?" he asked smoothly. His face was turned away from hers as if watching. With his red cheeks and blazing eyes, she wasn't sure if he was foxed or just plain irritated.
"I'm fine, th-thank you," she stuttered as she took another sweeping step.
"Don't know why it's my lot in life to have to save every simpering female within the realm. Have you any idea who that man was?"
"A dandy?" she guessed.
He did not look amused; instead his eyes took on more fury, drilling a hole through her very person. "That was Sir Elliot himself, the very same man, who just a few weeks ago, was found ravaging the very young Lady Lillian Derby."
"Him?" Katherine tried not to look amused, but the idea of that man ravishing anything was inconceivable. "And here I thought it was Banbury who did all the ruining."
"Looks can be quite deceiving, and believe me, Banbury isn't without his faults, but when it comes to women, he has more of a mature taste." His eyes scanned her from head to toe as if to say, Pity, you aren't one of them. He shrugged and continued to glare in the opposite direction toward the wall.
"How is the girl?" Katherine asked needing to change the subject before she burst into tears. Is that how all men saw her? First she was a spinster, and now she was hardly a woman! Not even good enough for the Devil Duke to freely ruin and not good enough for Paisley either.
"Ruined, at the young age of one and six. You would do well to stay away from him."
At least he would try to ruin her, whereas everyone else found her disagreeable.
"Noted." She gulped and took one last turn just as Benedict's voice rose above the music.
Paisley searched the crowd, his eyes darting back and forth and then suddenly stilled, a smile lit his face. Katherine followed his gaze and with a sinking stomach spotted the last man she wanted to see—Benedict. Cheeks ruddy and stance not at all sturdy, the man was completely and utterly foxed.
What a grand night this had turned out to be.
Katherine pulled away, thoroughly disgusted with not only her behavior but that of her betrothed, and to be honest, a little heartsick that the very man she had loved since she was a small girl was doing nothing but a small favor. Protecting her as if she was still a girl of nine years.
Had nobody noticed that she was a woman? Did she need to shout it just as Benedict was shouting now?
Though he wasn't using words, merely grunts, and thankfully the music was loud enough to drown out some of his bellow.
He reached her side and pulled her aggressively across his body, sending a seething glare to Paisley before using her as a crutch to leave the room.