Graced with wealth, a title, and good looks, he must have been quite the rake in his day.
“So, you are the young lady who has captured Captain Brayden’s heart. I did not credit it, at first. But now that I’ve had a good look at you, I can see why he is captivated.”
She glanced at Ronan, then turned back to the duke. “I cannot speak for Captain Brayden. But as for me, I consider myself most fortunate to have made his acquaintance.”
She did not look at Ronan but felt his approval.
So far, so good.
She did not wish to appear too eager.
“Have a turn on the dance floor with me, Miss Farthingale. It is not often an old man such as myself has the chance to waltz with a beautiful girl.”
“Of course, Your Grace. It would be my pleasure. I don’t believe I’ve ever danced with a duke before.”
“We don’t bite, I assure you.”
She did not believe it for a moment. This man was going to question her and see if he could trap her into making a mistake. And then she would be in his jaws, and he would be drawing blood.
As expected, the questions began the moment they began to spin around the floor along with the other dancers. “How long have you known Captain Brayden?”
“I met him when I first arrived in London a few months ago.”
“And you and he have been an item ever since?”
“No, Your Grace. I came to London believing another gentleman of my lifelong acquaintance was going to offer for my hand.”
“That Wainscott fellow?”
She pursed her lips in a grim expression. “Then you’ve heard.”
He spun her in a twirl. He was an accomplished dancer and as spry as any young buck strutting along the edges of the dance floor. “Seems the two of you parted ways only a few days ago. And now you are here with Captain Brayden?”
“You are polite in saying we parted ways. Lord Wainscott openly humiliated me and dumped me. In truth, I am still bruised over the public embarrassment. But I am not pining for him. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have seen his true nature before it was too late. As for Captain Brayden, again, I cannot speak for him. But he told me that he only held back from courting me because he thought I was about to be betrothed to another. He was there and witnessed the Humiliate Dahlia spectacle.”
“What did Brayden do?”
“Jumped in and defended my honor. I don’t think Lord Wainscott would be alive today if I hadn’t begged Captain Brayden not to hurt him. I think he was more overset than I was about the sad affair. He has apologized to me a thousand times since for not pressing his suit.”
“Do you love him, Miss Farthingale?”
“Captain Brayden? I expect I shall, Your Grace. But I am no fickle maiden. I’m still reeling from my first unhappy experience with love. I don’t trust my feelings yet and will need a little time to regain my balance. However, I am not blind to Captain Brayden’s merits. Is there any doubt he is magnificent?”
“My daughter seems to think so, too.”
Dahlia instinctively flinched and then silently berated herself for giving away her reaction. “I see. Did she ask you to dance with me to pry information out of me?”
He frowned at her. “That is an impertinent question. I am no one’s lap dog.”
Did he expect an apology? He wasn’t going to get one. “I’ve read the gossip rags. I know your daughter and Captain Brayden are supposedly an item. I know for a fact it is not true. What is it you wish to find out from me? Whether it is for your sake or your daughter’s sake, just ask me, and I will answer it to the best of my ability. And if it is none of your business, I shall tell you so.”
“You are quite direct for a young chit. You surprise me, Miss Farthingale.”
“In a good way, I hope. But knowing the embarrassment I suffered, can you blame me for having very little patience for lies, evasions, or manipulations?”
The waltz would soon come to an end, but Dahlia dared not breathe a sigh of relief until the duke had returned her to Ronan. Only a few more spins around the room, and it would be over.
“Does your sudden infatuation with Captain Brayden have anything to do with my displeasure of him courting my daughter?”
“No, Your Grace. It has everything to do with my enjoyment of his kisses.” She blushed. Gad! Why had she blurted this? She sighed. “Kindly do not report this to my aunt and uncle. They’ve been extremely kind and generous with me. In fact, to all their nieces. I would feel awful if I shamed them.”
“Miss Farthingale, dukes are not in the habit of tattling.”
She could not hold back her laughter. Perhaps it was her nerves getting the better of her. Or the shock so evident on his face when she so much as accused him of being a tattletale. It was both, most likely.
“One last question before the dance ends, and I return you to Captain Brayden. By the way, he has not taken his eyes off you the entire time.”
“It is his protective nature. He knows I’ve been hurt once, and he has appointed himself as my guardian angel. As I said, I think that incident tore him up inside worse than it did me.”
“I see.” He emitted some harrumphs and grumbles, then asked another question. “What do you know of the Royal Navy’s budget vote?”
“I know that Captain Brayden has poured his heart and soul into it. I know it means a lot to the navy that it passes.”
“Enough that they would contrive this romance between you and Captain Brayden in the hope I’ll believe he is not courting my daughter against my wishes? I know my vote is essential.”
“What has one thing to do with the other?”
“It might. Will you answer my question?”
“Do you wish my honest answer?”
“Yes, Miss Farthingale. Surprisingly, I believe you will give me one.”
“I will, Your Grace. I’m a terrible liar, and you would see through any falsehood at once. So here is the truth. Captain Brayden is in love with me. He is not in love with your daughter. If he were, he would not sneak around behind your back. It is cowardly, and Captain Brayden is no coward.”
“I never said he was.”
“You suspected him of going behind your back, and that is insulting enough. Now, about our courtship. It is not contrived. If it were up to Captain Brayden, we would be married tomorrow. But as I mentioned earlier, I do not trust myself yet. He knows better than to push me for an answer.”
“And the funding vote?”
“Why should my answer matter? Aren’t you going to vote on its merits? In which event you would have to approve it because I cannot imagine Captain Brayden putting anything extraneous or unnecessary in his budget.”
“How little you know of the workings of government. Merit alone is never enough.”
“Merit is all that should matter. Shame on all of you for even considering putting the lives of our noble seamen in danger over your petty suspicions and dislikes. Your Grace, those less clever than you would be guided by you on this vote. On any vote. You cannot hold back your approval out of spite.”
“Who says I plan to vote against it?”
“Then why are you questioning me? Why have you asked me to dance with you?”
“Concern for my daughter, of course.”