Pleasures of the Night by Heather Boyd

Chapter 4

Leadership did not come naturally to Teddy, but he would take charge for a good cause. “Gentlemen, you each have your lists. Pay no attention to the order of names and go find your first partner.”

Scarsdale groaned. “Why are we doing this again?”

“Because we gentleman have a duty to provide the ladies with an enjoyable evening. All the ladies, not just the ones in want of a husband or a lover.”

“Surely you’re not saying these women do not wish for matrimony,” the young Duke of Brandestock asked in a shocked tone as he studied the names on his list.

“Of course, I’m not saying that. Brandestock, have you stuffed wool in your ears again? These ladies are overlooked and bored,” he told them all. “Just as bored as we often are at these sorts of things. Go make someone smile. Don’t compromise any one of them.”

Each list contained a different set of six spinsters’ names. The recipients were chosen at random. Teddy would play no part in matchmaking. As Eugenia had claimed, not everyone wanted to marry, but dancing and good company were universally acceptable and desired by all.

At that moment, he heard the announcement that the first set would commence shortly. He smoothed his hair and started back into the ballroom behind his friends, urging them to fan out and seek partners. Admittedly, some were skeptical of his plan for their evening; others had outright refused to consider joining in and walked away. But there were a few who had easily seen the value of Teddy’s suggestion and were willing to play along.

His first dance partner of the night was Eugenia Hillcrest, but she wasn’t on his list. Her name was on a few other men’s lists, though, and because he was last to return to the ballroom, he had to fight his way through them to claim his already reserved first dance.

She seemed a little bewildered by her sudden popularity but appeared grateful to take his hand.

“Excuse me, gentlemen,” she apologized with a regretful smile.

They stepped aside, leaving a clear space around Eugenia. But after a few steps, she glanced down at her dance card with a perplexed expression.

“What is wrong?”

“Nothing now, but I…forgive me. I thought you had not come tonight,” she confided. “Lord Wallingham was trying to convince me to scratch out your name and replace it with his.”

Teddy turned and wagged a finger at Wallingham, who was pretending innocence a few feet away. “I was just in the garden talking with him.”

He caught sight of the dance card in her hand, pleased to see so many of his friends had sought her out for a set so quickly. “Any dances left free tonight?”

“I cannot account for it. I have just one left.”

“Ah, well. Perhaps someone will come along later to claim that last one, so you can say you danced all night.”

He held out his hand and swept her away to the dance floor. As they waited to begin, Eugenia began to crane her neck every which way, waving to her friends in similar situations upon the dance floor, each waiting to dance with one of the most popular bachelors of the season.

Left on the sidelines for this set were all the heiresses and more popular, well-connected debutants—and they did not look pleased about it at all.

Suddenly, Eugenia swung around and looked at him, eyes wide. “You did this.”

Teddy held in a grin, shaking his head to deny any responsibility. “I’ve no idea what you mean.”

“You did,” she protested. “I know it.”

He looked at her and smiled at her stunned expression. Eugenia wore a gown in an extremely dark shade of red, which was quite different from all the other wallflowers gathered around them, in their prim white muslins and pastel silks. The color suited her, he thought. She stood out in a sea of sameness. The wildflower amongst the wallflowers. “I assume you are pleased, whoever arranged it.”

“You knew I would be.” She gaped. “I never imagined you would listen so well.”

“I suspect if we put our heads together more often, we might continue a mutually beneficial partnership in other areas too,” he suggested, flirting because she had all but promised she wasn’t expecting a proposal.

Teddy had a long, dull future ahead of him, waiting for an inheritance he was in no hurry to receive. Arranging for his bored friends to dance with equally bored wallflowers and wildflowers like Eugenia was perhaps one of the most satisfying things he’d done this month.

She frowned, though. “My cousin Aurora has a great many ideas in that direction.”

“I’d rather hear yours,” he promised. Aurora was all very well to laugh with, but Eugenia…he only now suspected she might be more to his taste.

Teddy had been thinking of Eugenia all day. It was odd that he’d only just noticed her when he’d known of her existence for almost a year.

And then he had no time left for contemplation. He was swept off his feet by Eugenia’s enthusiasm and skill on the dance floor.

They danced well together, getting lost in the music and the steps along with everyone else, but always aware of their commitment to each other for the dance. And when other dancers lost their way, they merely laughed and dodged around them to continue on. For Teddy, it was one of the most enjoyable half hours of his life, seeing Eugenia and those other ladies dance and smile and be appreciated, and for his friends to seem to be having a good time, too.

He turned Eugenia around and around as the set ended and smiled down into her upturned face. There was a look of warm appreciation in her amber eyes that affected him from head to toe. When they finally stopped spinning, he was almost sorry to let her go.

Regretfully, Teddy guided Eugenia back to her cousin Sylvia and bowed over her hand. “Thank you for the dance. You dance very well, too,” he whispered for her ears alone.

Before she could respond with more than a smile, she was snatched up by Lord Wallingham to be his next partner.

Teddy took himself off to find his next woman to dance with but looked over his shoulder once just as Eugenia took the floor with Wallingham. She did not look bored at all, and that was all he wanted.

His next dance partner proved elusive at first. When he finally found Miss Charlotte Waters to ask her to dance, they were too late to join the current set forming. Charlotte Waters was someone he’d met before, so securing an introduction was unnecessary. She usually sat with the chaperones and tended to sway to whatever tune was being played, which normally made her easy to spot from any angle.

Tonight, she was seated on the edge of a smaller than the usual group of spinsters. A dozen heads whipped around to stare at him as he neared. Her eyes widened as he smiled. “Miss Waters, might I have the pleasure of the next set?”

Charlotte spluttered and stammered but eventually found her voice. “Of course, sir. How kind of you to think of me.”

“I should have long before now, too,” he confessed, apologetic. Charlotte was very nice. A wallflower of longstanding, though. Her parents were acquaintances of Exeter’s and something of an odd pair. Historians with an interest in far-flung places—and not in seeing their daughter make a match. Charlotte had been away from London last year, which explained her continued spinsterhood. She, like everyone else, deserved an enjoyable evening.

“That is quite all right, sir. You’re here now.”

By rights, Teddy did not need to remain by her side between asking and the dancing. However, he discovered the wallflower’s location had an almost unobstructed view of the dance floor. He moved slightly to one side and watched Eugenia and Wallingham twirl about.

A throat cleared. “Do you mind if I stand with you, sir?”

Teddy smiled at Miss Waters’ timid question. “Of course not.”

She beamed and looked around the room, unconsciously swinging her skirts about her legs. “It’s a pretty evening, isn’t it?”

“It is,” he murmured. “Pretty loud at times, too.”

Miss Waters laughed behind her hand. “Oh, yes indeed. I think the orchestra is determined to be heard in all corners of the chamber, and the guests are equally determined to talk over the music.”

He looked down at her. “Are you suggesting society is made up of windbags?”

Charlotte put both her hands over her mouth as she laughed heartily. “Perhaps I did. Are you going to deny it?”

“No.” Teddy grinned. “Miss Waters, you are very amusing.”

“My last companion would not agree with you,” she confessed.

“I don’t believe I had the pleasure of meeting her,” he noted, looking about for a new one. No one seemed to be looking upon him and Charlotte with any great excitement.

“She did not believe in frivolity of any kind, which I think made gentlemen flee to the other side of the room.”

He looked about them. “Where is your chaperone or your parents tonight?”

“They, ah…they are in the library, I expect.”

“Ah,” he said, feeling sympathy for the girl. From what he’d heard, Miss Waters had raised herself. Her parents were not particularly interested in what their daughter did.

At last, Eugenia and Wallingham paused and bowed to each other, signaling the end of their set. “Shall we be ready to take our places?”

Miss Waters blushed and nodded enthusiastically. They drew stares and hushed whispers before they even reached the dance floor. A pair of heiresses standing with Lady Fuller glared daggers at Charlotte as he skirted around them.

“She must have forced him to dance with her,” Lady Fuller assured the heiresses all too loudly.

Teddy reached for Charlotte’s hand and placed it upon his sleeve, just to annoy the woman.

Charlotte’s eyes were round by the time they took their places. “You chose a wallflower over an heiress?”

He smiled down at Charlotte. “Yes, I did indeed.”

Charlotte beamed and patted her blushing cheeks. “I’ll never forget the look on their faces for as long as I live. Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

Their dance was a waltz. Charlotte was very good, but the difference in height and length of leg meant she had to tilt her head up unnaturally to look at him, and he had to shorten his stride considerably. He also found he had a clear view down her tiny bodice as she bounced along in his arms. By the end of their dance, he felt his face must be flaming. It seemed indecent to see so much of Miss Waters’ figure than he had a right to, even if it was by accident.

As he was walking with Miss Waters from the floor, an acquaintance approached and asked for an introduction so he might ask Charlotte to dance with him, too. This particular acquaintance hadn’t been part of Teddy’s scheme, and his interest in Charlotte seemed quite genuine. Teddy performed the introductions and gladly excused himself so that Charlotte and her new admirer might speak without him towering over the pair.

And since the ballroom had become stuffy, and he was feeling overly warm from his exertions on the dance floor, he stepped out of the first set of open doors he found for a bit of fresh air to cool himself with.

“Why did you do it?”

Teddy spun around at the unexpected question.

Eugenia Hillcrest stood in the shadows, watching him, her back to the wall. She appeared to be quite alone.

Mindful of stepping unwittingly into a marriage trap or scandal, Teddy remained at a distance in the light. “You got me thinking about all the things I never do anymore.”

“Such as?”

He shrugged. “Before I came to London, I would have danced every dance with any woman in want of a partner. Now I’m a duke’s heir, I’ve become more reserved than I once was.”

“So, you did this for yourself?”

“Isn’t everything we do at some point self-serving?”

“Not always,” she murmured.

Teddy leaned against the balustrade, keeping an eye on the guests inside in case any thought to join him. But no one appeared to notice he was outside and apparently alone, yet. He hoped it stayed that way. “No one will be hurt, no one imposed upon, I swear.”

“You recruited your friends to dance with wallflowers?”

“Who better to ask than friends?”

She hmphed. “Who better indeed. Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

He sauntered a little closer to the shadows she lurked in so he wouldn’t have to speak so loudly. “Should you not be dancing?”

“This was my only empty set. You saw that when you looked at my card.”

“Did I?”

“I assumed that was why you followed me out now.”

“I was warm, and I didn’t follow you,” he promised. He couldn’t see her clearly in the shadows, so he took another step that way. “Why are you out here alone?”

“I was warm, too,” she laughed softly.

No one inside seemed to be looking in this direction, so Teddy took another step, and then another, until he stood in the shadows with Eugenia. He could see her face better now. Eugenia was grinning at him and, yes, quite alone and lovely by moonlight.

He grinned, too. “So, I am not interrupting a romantic rendezvous?”

She lifted her chin. “That depends on what you say next, sir.”

Teddy approached her slowly. “Am I wrong to assume you might like the attention of a bachelor unwilling to marry you?”

Eugenia turned to glance into the ballroom, where they could just see the dancers promenade through the sheer curtain. “You’ve made a lot of ladies very happy tonight.”

Teddy moved to stand behind her. His attention was not on the dancers but upon her slender neck. What had she said? Kisses could be stolen without uttering a marriage proposal. He hoped that was true…because he was tempted. “Might I do something that may please one more lady tonight?”

She turned her head toward him a little. “You could try.”

He dropped his lips to the skin of her neck and nibbled a little on the softness he found there.

Although Eugenia gasped, she didn’t dart away. In fact, she tilted her head to allow him better access.

But he couldn’t linger too long in the shadows with her. She might be missed. He might be, too. Reluctantly, he raised his head after all too brief a tasting of her soft, warm skin.

“That was lovely,” she whispered.

“All stolen kisses are meant to be,” he whispered, and then he placed his hands lightly on her upper arms. He wished he wasn’t wearing gloves so he could feel how soft her skin might be with his hands, too. Reluctantly, he withdrew them as well.

She turned to look at him. “Feel free to do that again, sir. At any time,” she told him in a husky tone that hinted at desire, carefully banked.

He might have fanned the flame of that desire if their location had been different. More private. As it was, he was restrained by concern for her reputation.

But there could and might be other nights in the future where they could meet again. “I might be tempted, but you’ll never know when I want to be wicked,” he teased, then stepped back. He’d lingered out here too long, but he’d done as intended. A dance, a stolen kiss, and that was enough to be going on with. “I do hope the rest of your evening is as enjoyable, Eugenia.”

“Doubtful, unless there’s another handsome bachelor I can lure into the shadows.” She grinned. “Sir, before you go, I have an impertinent question to ask of you?”

“You can ask me anything.”

She cocked her head to one side. “Do you have any particular interest in my cousin?”

Teddy shook his head. “None. It’s not my way to hunger for a lady who belongs to another.”

“I meant my other cousin.”

“Nor her, either. Besides, I think she has another admirer.”

Eugenia approached him. “Your friend Scarsdale’s attentions to Aurora are entirely unwanted.”

Teddy nodded, unsurprised. “I’m interested in you.”

He grazed her cheek with one finger and then quickly slipped back into the ballroom, none the wiser that he’d misbehaved.

He found Scarsdale loitering around Aurora Hillcrest and, mindful of Eugenia’s comment, headed in that direction. He liked Aurora purely as a friend. Scarsdale knew of her hesitation and yet continued a pursuit. It wasn’t right.

Teddy inserted himself between them.

“I thought you were dancing,” Scarsdale complained.

“The music has stopped,” he answered, smiling down at Aurora. “How are you enjoying your evening?”

“Better, now that you’re here.”

That wasn’t a flirtation. It was relief. He leaned toward Scarsdale. “Would you see if you can spot a footman with a tray of champagne, Scarsdale?”

While Scarsdale’s back was turned, Aurora slipped away.

When Scarsdale finally turned back, two glasses of champagne in hand, he began speaking almost immediately. “I say, Miss Hillcrest, how about we have another drink together, and then we’ll take a turn…” He looked around, his expression stunned. “Devil take it! She’s gone? Oh, a merry dance she’s leading me on tonight.”

Teddy took the glass meant for Aurora as Scarsdale started craning his neck in search of the missing Hillcrest cousin.

“She’s long gone,” Teddy warned him.

“Where?”

“Anywhere you are not, I expect.”

Scarsdale huffed.

“If you continue to harass the chit, Wharton will notice and put you in your place,” Teddy warned him yet again.

“He wouldn’t lay a hand on me. I’m his best friend.”

Teddy shook his head. “I wouldn’t be too sure if he discovers you’re bothering an unwilling woman. Neither would I be, either.” Not that he expected his disapproval carried much weight. But Wharton…he was a man few wished to cross—even his friends.

Scarsdale frowned. “I just can’t figure her out.”

“Forget her and go find another lady to dance with. There are plenty more ladies keen for an enjoyable night. Consult the list I gave you and see if I’m proved right in the end.”

Scarsdale grumbled some more under his breath but consulted his list at last. “Yes, Miss Waters probably hasn’t been asked yet.”

“Last seen on the dance floor with Wallingham,” Teddy noted.

“Really?”

“Yes. Really.”

Scarsdale scoffed as if he didn’t believe it and then hurried off looking for her. At least Teddy hoped so.

“Thank you,” Aurora whispered, suddenly reappearing at his side again, her hand patting his arm in thanks.

“You’re very welcome,” Teddy said with a wry smile. “If he’s any more of a bother, do let me know, and I’ll take him aside.”

She beamed. “I hope it will not be necessary for you to thrash him on my account, but thank you for the offer.”

“I didn’t—”

Aurora started to laugh. “I’m pulling your leg, sir.”

Eugenia returned, her face flushed as she strolled beside Lord Hurlston, laughing. She met his gaze, and then hers slipped down to where Aurora clung to his arm still. Her lips pursed in resignation.

Teddy handed Aurora the champagne that had been meant for her all along and put some distance between them. “I’m afraid, as much as I’d prefer to remain in your exceptional company, ladies, I’m off to find a new dance partner. Excuse me.”

“Oh, too bad,” Hurlston added hastily, casting an admiring glance at both Eugenia and Aurora Hillcrest before engaging the latter in conversation.

Teddy brushed his hand against Eugenia’s where it hung loosely by her side, as he shuffled around her and Hurlston. He’d promised to have no interest in Eugenia’s cousin, and he certainly did not. Aurora was nice enough, but he was much more attracted to Eugenia. Which was unexpected.

Perhaps it was merely her invitation to steal a kiss without consequences that had caused him to view her in a completely different light. There were not too many spinsters who would offer a bachelor such an unlooked-for boon, especially one destined for a duke’s title.

But it was a boon he would not exploit to her detriment.

He chose not to dance for the next set so he could keep a watchful eye on Scarsdale’s behavior. He was pleased to see the man had taken his second warning to heart and steered clear of the Hillcrest cousins entirely. Innocent or not, every woman deserved to feel safe in the company of friends and family.

Eugenia caught his eye later in the night. He discovered her watching him with a tiny smile twitching her lips. He winked at her and discovered the experience of knowing he was being admired from afar was rather fun.

Eugenia smothered a laugh and immediately turned to whisper something in her cousin’s ear. He hoped it was about him.