Chapter 7
Dancing Card
“Idon’t think I have seen you this early in the ball,” Edwin teased Leo.
“I decided to come early so I can finally have those infamous cheese sandwiches that seem to vanish by the time I get here.”
“The ones that Abigail makes sure the kitchen prepares for you when you are drunk after?”
“Are you going to make a point, or am I supposed to guess?”
“You take that new role very seriously.”
“It is not the role. I am out hunting today, and the grounds happen to be your ballroom.”
Edwin sobered.
“I have not invited your family, Leo.”
“There may be others. I am just being cautious.”
“Fine,” Edwin relented. “Nothing to do with a certain Miss Jenkins.”
“Absolutely not.”
“You do realize that it is me we are talking about, right? I know you.”
Leo turned to his friend with a look that was both exasperated and angry. It was bothersome to have Edwin accuse him of such a thing.
“Exactly, Ed,” he hissed. “Am I one to come early because of a woman? Or do anything more for that matter?”
“Touche,” Edwin raised his hands in defense.
“Show me to the sandwiches, Ed.”
Edwin escorted him, his mirth still resonating. Abigail joined them and looked between them as if dealing with petulant children.
“This is our annual ball, kids,” she chastised both of them. “Act accordingly.”
Edwin took his wife’s hand and kissed it softly. Leo could see how his friend looked at his wife with a heated look.
“This is your annual ball, kids,” Leo couldn’t resist teasing them.
He was ready to gorge on the sandwiches when he saw the Jenkins family enter.
More accurately, he saw Prim enter. He guessed the rest. Looking at her from afar, he was reminded that she was the diamond of the season when she debuted.
Funny that he hadn’t noticed how her hair caught the light, making it look golden.
And she looked good in the cobalt dress.
She looked around at the tastefully decorated ballroom with a look of fascinated discovery, like he watched her do at the Opera. When his mind went to the Opera, he ground his jaw. He felt a wave of irritation come over him.
The memory of how his mother approached Prim the moment she entered the Opera, and his half-brother joining her, made anger rise inside his chest like a volcano. Their intentions were clear, Leo could see that even from across the room.
And then… at the box. When she turned in those shadows, her look fiery, her chest rising and falling, her perfume filling the air. Restraint seemed to be vexing him. It was as if Leo was trying muscles he hadn’t used in his lifetime.
He straightened his jacket and made his way to the Jenkins family. All eyes were on him as he walked tall and confident among the ton. Prim didn’t seem to realize that he was there at all, didn’t look for him, and still took the place in with a wide smile. Then she saw him.
Her face turned sullen as if she was reminded of a troublesome duty. His pawn seemed to have forgotten that she was also attending as a piece on his board.
And it vexed him. Her defiance, her sharp tongue and her inability to follow basic instructions. Leo thought he would deal with a quiet girl, grateful for his protection. She was anything but. He had to finish this nasty business so that he and Miss Jenkis would go on their merry way.
“Miss Jenkins,” he bowed slightly before her.
“Your Grace,” she curtsied.
“It is a great pleasure to see you,” Leo said with practiced veneer.
“The pleasure is all ours,” the Viscountess interrupted with frivolous enthusiasm.
Leo bowed at her and greeted the Viscount. Then his eyes found the twins. They were both looking at him as if he were a cruel savage that would wreak havoc somewhere between the refreshments and the canapes. He smiled, amused at the idea.
“Stop scaring my sisters,” Prim hissed, only for him to hear.
“They seemed thoroughly warned about me.”
“It is standard procedure for all debutants. A brochure is distributed.”
Leo laughed and was ready to ask her for a dance when she saw her look change. Prim watched as her mother and father, who had linked their arms, turned their backs and left. They had already started mingling when Leo glanced back at Prim.
She seemed to stew in her own disbelief, her eyes falling in despair on her sisters. Her parents really just abandoned their three unwed daughters to fend for themselves amidst the wolves of the ton.
His presence and his claim over Prim shielded her from rejection. No one would dare put their names on Prim’s dancing card. But for her sisters to fail to secure at least a few names would be utter humiliation.
“Primrose!” Abigail approached with a wide smile, loud enough for the whole ton to witness.
“Abigail,” Prim responded.
The familiarity and lack of decorum between the two women caught him off guard. As did everyone around them. The message was elegantly sent. The Duchess of Blackwell personally welcomed Prim, with whom they were on a first-name basis.
“Miss Jenkins,” Edwin followed his wife with a smile.
“Primrose, this is my husband, Edwin.”
Prim curtsied with grace. Everyone was openly watching the exchange.
“I am happy you attended our ball,” Abigail said sincerely.
“Abigail, this is heavenly. I knew you were an artist, but this is way beyond any dream.”
“Thank you, Primrose. I will show you around.”
Leo watched not the exchange before him but everyone else around them.
He was after all the one who had discussed with Edwin how his and Abigail’s open support would force the conspirator out of his lair to double down on the attack.
Still, wasn’t Abigail overdoing it? Prim was not here to stay.
Baits rarely are. Edwin must have read the look on his face and pulled closer/
“Miss Jenkins makes Abigail happy,” Edwin hissed. “You know what that means,” Edwin said solemnly.
“That whoever is after Miss Jenkins, just made a very powerful enemy.”
“Exactly.”
“Do you suppose we are expected to dance?” Leo huffed at Prim.
“I have more important things to do,” Prim was somber. “Our little performance can withstand a delay.”
Leo faked an injury.
“You wound me, Miss P.J., me, your devoted suitor.”
“Can you be devoted in silence, Your Grace? I am trying to think.”
“You are troubled over your sisters,” Leo said, dropping the playful act.
Prim glanced up at him with a surprised look on her face. As if she was not expecting him to notice her distress.
“I am told I am observant,” Leo joked.
“I am sure you are told many things, but selective hearing is doing its job exceptionally at filtering them out.”
The Duke chuckled. Prim shook her head in annoyance as if dealing with him took every ounce of her patience.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” He said.
Her annoyed look turned into a thoughtful one. Leo scowled at himself. What on Earth was he thinking? He had his own troubles, and he didn’t have the energy for other people’s, too.
“No, just don’t break anything. I will ask Abigail for help.”
Leo felt a rise of anger at her open defiance and dismissal as if her were a child, but chose to ignore it.
“I am relieved,” he chuckled. “The offer was merely a courtesy. I would be mortified to be entrusted with tasks.”
“I am well aware. Now, if you will excuse me,” she curtsied out of pure habit.
Leo bowed and watched as she went straight to Abigail.
On the surface, there was nothing that would interest him in watching the two ladies plotting a strategy to navigate the turbulent waters of the ton.
And yet, Leo watched enthralled as the two women divided their efforts to ensure that both the twins had their chance on the dance floor.
Abigail was the one to take the twins by the arm and present them to the matrons of the ton.
As for Prim, she followed closely, aware that her reputation might do more damage than good.
She was the picture of serenity and poise, her posture respectful.
And she was subtly nudging any of the bucks of the ball, who found it intriguing to get to know the woman that caught Leo’s eye, to her sisters.
Soon, the goal was achieved, some names were written down on the dancing cards of the girls who openly smiled at their sister. Prim beamed a genuine, real, bright smile that Leo saw for the first time. She was usually so serious and tense and guarded around him and in front of the ton.
“She is something else,” Edwin materialized at his side.
Leo knew exactly what Edwin was talking about, but he wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of acknowledging anything either way.
“Your wife has mastered the art of being the Duchess,” Leo stayed on safe ground, knowing that Edwin would never refute the fact.
“She has,” Edwin said with a dangerous glint in his eye. “But I am not talking about Abigail.”
“If you are talking about Prim, I must admit she is an admirable strategist.”
At that exact moment, Prim raised her head, looking around before landing her soft, warm brown eyes on him. Leo smiled that side smirk of his in response, and she nodded as if she was reminded of a task. She crossed the hall to him while Edwin went to ask Abigail for a dance.
“I congratulate you on your success,” Leo said.
“I feel as if I had been running,” Prim responded.
“Dealing with the marriage mart of the season can be taxing. A refreshment? A good excuse to avoid dancing.”
“Please,” Prim nodded.
Leo offered her his arm and guided her to the exquisite room dedicated to a variety of exotic refreshments on a table shaped to look like a tree.
“There you are,” Leo offered her a glass.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
They drank in silence, as Prim glanced to her sister spinning gracefully on the dance floor.
“I see that Camilla is swirling with Lord Dennington,” Leo noted. “He seemed quite insistent on putting his name on your card.”
“He was annoyingly so,” Prim huffed. “Even when I said I had my card reserved for you.”
“He has been like this with me ever since Eton.”