Missandrei was in a pale pink ball dress of fine lace.Her small waist looked even smaller with the corset.The gown was low necked and showed off the top mounds of her breasts.Her hair had been miraculously clipped up In an elegant twist , tendrils of red hair falling to her jaw.A pearl earring hung from her ear .the matching pearls around her neck.She looked quite proper and beautiful In the new dress.The countess had stared at her hair in disapproval.She couldn't do anything about that.
She was standing by her countess' side as she gossiped with the other ladies.There was no stealing away to explore the corridors or gardens.The duke stood at the other corner of the room , beside his mother.He was in his customary black waist coat , black jacket, black breeches and boots .White shirt and cravat.His dark hair was slicked back.His green eyes were like sparkling jewels underneath the bright ballroom overhead lights.
She had seen Jon arrive a while ago and they had exchanged glances from across the room.Lady Haversat kept glancing between her and the duke.
She suddenly felt a hot rush of awareness.She looked up.The Duke's eyes were firmly on her.It was disconcerting to have such a powerful gaze focused entirely on you.She wanted to look away but he had her trapped .She could do nothing but stare back .His gaze was getting closer and more intense .That was when she realized he was walking towards them , a woman in tow.
"Lady Fensworth"the woman greeted .
The countess raised her head dismissively.Aa soon as she noticed who it was she jumped to her feet ,her eyes glowing.
"Lady Hulsbury"
"This is my nephew, The duke of chadwick.Luke Chadwick"lady Hulsbury said
"how nice to meet you your Grace .This is my step daughter Missandrei"the countess put great emphasis on the 'step' , Missy winced.But all the while her eyes had never left the Duke's.His eyes left hers to run down her body.She shivered as he slowly took her in.Then his eyes met hers again "Lady Missandrei.A pleasure to meet you"
"And you too your Grace"her voice came out small and shaky.The strains of the waltz began .
"May I have this dance?"
Missy nodded then put her hand In his much larger ones .
"I'm not a very good dancer"she confessed as they took their place .
"I've got you You will be fine.
Missy looked away from his intense eyes feeling a weird sense of loss she didn't like .Standing before the duke now , she realized how tall he was. She had always been too tall for a girl , she was taller than many of the men she'd come across and of the same height with her brother. But she barely reached Chadwicks chin.Chadwick stepped closer and his arms encircled her waist .she gasped at the proximity.She was close enough to see that his eyes had two shades of green.They weren't supposed to be this close were they?
"Aren't you going to say something?"she asked as they danced
"no"
She frowned "You are such a bore"
"if you say so "
She ground her teeth and then purposely stepped on him "oh sorry"she said in a tone that wasn't sorry at all.
He narrowed his eyes at her "do you always throw tantrums and act childishly?"
"are you always rigid and boring?"she asked back "do you like books?"she asked
"not really"
"I don't"she said "what do you like?"
"Numbers"
"Numbers?"she asked confused .
"Yes.numbers.I like multiplying numbers.I like seeing things with small value and increasing them .Making them yield profit"he looked down at her challengingly.
"So the only thing you like is to work and make money?"
"what do you like?"
"I like riding.I like archery.I like fishing.I like running through the grass with the wind in my hair.I like chess and climbing things"
His face didn't betray his thoughts "Why do you like those things?"
"I just like them.I've tried painting and embroidery and reading and shopping, it's not who I am"she looked up at him , her eyes pleading."and i can't do what I like as your duchess"
He was quiet for a while .Then his eyes shifted to somewhere over her shoulder briefly before they held hers again "As a duchess , you can get away with any thing Lady Missandrei"
Why had he said that?
He didn't know.There was no logical explanation for why he had said it or why he was holding her closer than normal or why he had noted that she smelled like Jasmine or that her eyes were like the brightest sun and the smoothest whisky or that her hair was exquisitely unique and beautiful or that her skin sparkled .
She'd looked at him with those eyes and she'd looked so hopeless and sad and he'd wanted to comfort her.To hold her to tell her being with him wouldn't be her worst nightmare.He no longer believed she'd planned the whole thing.How could he? When she looked so miserable about being with him , not being able to do as she liked .The only logical explanation was that she had bewitched him- quite thoroughly.
And he didn't know how he felt about that.
He returned her to her mother's side as soon as the dance ended. "It was a pleasure to meet you lady Missandrei"
Her eyes flicked up and met his "A pleasure to meet you too your Grace" her soft , even voice replied.
He turned swiftly and walked away. To every other person he was walking away . He knew the truth , he was fleeing for his sanity. Being around the red head woman was definitely dangerous.