Chapter 21

Dancing with The Duke

"Iapologize," the Duke said with a hint of melancholy in his eyes. "You should not have to listen to me talk about my problems."

"I don't mind," Bridget assured him.

"It is a beautiful night, and I only brought sadness to it. That was not my intention at all. I very much enjoy being out here so late with you, and I would like you to remember these times as happy ones," the Duke expressed.

"I will remember them as such," Bridget told him. "I have enjoyed our time together. You are wonderful company."

The Duke did not say a word, and when Bridget looked at him, he had a sly smile on his face. It was then that she realized she was still holding his hand. She gasped, quickly pushing his hand away.

"Oh, you are a rogue! I always knew you were. You tricked me into saying nice things about you."

Nicholas laughed. "I have done no such thing. You were the one who took my hand."

"Only because I wanted to comfort you," Bridget stammered.

"Well, I am thoroughly comforted," the Duke replied. "You called me wonderful company. Does that mean you do not think me a complete rake and rogue?"

"I, well…"

"Either I am not, or you were lying." The smile remained on his face.

"I suppose you can be pleasant when you are on your best behavior. Let us see if it will last."

"Yes, indeed," the Duke agreed.

There was another silence between them, and Bridget was the one to break it.

"Mr. Peaches is a good judge of character, so there must be good in you. I do not wish to stroke your ego, but perhaps I misjudged you when we first met. Or, perhaps you try to hide who you really are. Does your personality change after dark? The man I have spent time out here with at night is entirely pleasant."

"And the man you have spent time with during the day?" the Duke asked.

"I shall defer my full judgment until later." Bridget sighed. "I can judge your brother very easily. There is no doubt he is a good man and a fine match for my sister."

"I agree with you fully," Nicholas admitted. "Soon, they will be wed and start a family. I know my brother will be in no way like my father—you have my word on that. I am like my father, but Michael is more like Mother."

"I have no concerns about Lord Michael," Bridget admitted. "I know he will treat my sister well. I am more concerned about the wedding."

"I know there is a lot to do, but there is still time. Michael assured me that everything is under control."

Bridget looked up at the stars above. They twinkled in the blackness, and she could not look away.

"That is not what I am worried about." She continued to stare at the stars above. "I feel foolish to even talk about it."

"Don't feel foolish on my account."

Bridget could feel the Duke staring at her, and she could not meet his eyes.

"I did not go to as many balls as other young ladies. I did not understand at the time, but as I matured, I believe it was my father's fault. He was not invited to as many balls as his peers because of the trouble he caused. When I attended the balls, I did not dance with as many gentlemen. I found myself making excuses or hiding away. I did not like how they expected me to dance with them just because they asked me to. So, that means…"

"What?" the Duke prompted.

Bridget finally tore her gaze away from the stars and turned to face him. "I'm nervous about dancing."

She quickly looked away from Nicholas and out toward the black sea near the horizon.

"Nervous?" he echoed.

"You must not poke fun at me," Bridget said. "Yes, I am nervous about dancing at Margaret's wedding celebration. I have not danced in so long that I must have forgotten how."

"Tosh." The Duke laughed.

"Oh, please don't laugh at me, Your Grace. "

"I'm not laughing at you," he assured. "I only don't believe that you have lost the ability to dance. I have seen the way you move on your horse and when you play charades—you hold yourself with poise and grace. I imagine you will be a fine dancer at the wedding."

The waves gently roared in the distance, almost interrupting them. A cricket or a frog made a croaking sound from close by.

"I still have time," Bridget said. "I just want everything to be perfect for Margaret. Everyone will be dancing, and as her sister, I will be front and center. Oh, I should have paid for lessons long ago. I am running out of time."

The Duke hopped off the wall and held out his hand. "I shall give you a lesson right now."

"Please," Bridget moaned. "I am in trouble, and you only mock me."

"I do nothing of the sort. I see a woman in trouble, and I'm offering my help. I am something of an expert in dancing."

The Duke spun slowly around as he moved away from Bridget, stepping lightly on his toes, his arms held out with his palms facing up. Bridget watched him move around, dancing the waltz by himself. She smiled a little at first but could not hold back as he thrust his hip to change direction. He moved back toward her and spun again before bowing.

Bridget burst into giggles. "I will admit that you are a fine dancer," she said.

"Then let me help you," the Duke urged. "We are doing nothing more than dancing together, so you are ready for the wedding."

"First, it is meeting at night, then dancing. I shouldn't…"

Bridget had sought him out, so she could not suggest he had taken advantage of her. But dancing? It was a much more intimate proposition.

"Would you feel more comfortable if we were dancing during the day in a room back at the house?" the Duke asked.

Bridget glanced out toward the sea before looking back at him. "Of course."

"Yet, we will do the exact same thing. We shall practice some footwork, and there will always be space between us. I might have a reputation, but I have never taken advantage of a woman. I am offering my help and nothing more. If you wish to wait until tomorrow, then we shall wait, but I know your sister is already having thoughts about us."

Bridget knew that was true.

"Alright," she relented. "We can practice tonight under the moon and stars, and I will discover just how awful I am."

"You shall not be awful," the Duke maintained. "I can see the elegance in you." He held out his hand again.

Bridget's heart beat faster now that the prospect was becoming a reality. She took a step away from the wall and took the Duke's hand. The warmth from his fingers ran up her arm, and it caused her heart to flutter. She should not have felt such things when they were only dancing together, but they had almost kissed, and now they were getting closer again.

Bridget knew she should wait until the next day and dance with the Duke back at the manor, but now that her hand was in his, she was unable to let him go.

The Duke was gentle but strong. He held her hand tight and pulled her from the wall toward himself.

"But we have no music," Bridget protested. "How can we dance without music?"

Am I looking for an excuse to put an end to this folly? The most delightful folly I have ever been engaged in?

"Dum, dum-dum, dum-dum, dum dum-dum-dum-dum." The Duke hummed a waltz as he pulled her closer to him.

She thought he might take her in his arms, but he stopped her just short. Bridget was so close that she could breathe in his sandalwood cologne and see the depth of his green eyes in the moonlight. She was close enough that it was hard to look away from him, so she studied his face, her eyes roaming over his strong chin and chiseled cheekbones. She had seen a sculpture of a Greek warrior once in a museum in London, and his handsomeness reminded her of that.

The Duke took her free hand and placed it on his shoulder. It broke her trance. There was nowhere else to look but his face, but she had still been staring. Now that her hand was on his shoulder, she was startled by the feel of his strong arms but relieved that they had overcome some barrier, and when she looked into his eyes again, she did not feel she was staring.

When the Duke placed his hand on her waist, it felt daring. A thrill of excitement ran through her body, but she felt safe and secure. She submitted to his grip, knowing she should not be in his embrace in the middle of the night but welcoming it.

"I presume you know how to dance a waltz?" the Duke asked.

"I do," she replied. "Still, it has been some time."

"Follow my lead," the Duke instructed.

He began humming again, and on the eighth beat, he stepped to the side, bringing Bridget with him. They moved together, and she found it easy to know where to step, with the Duke leading. It had been some time since she had danced with anyone, but it felt like slipping into a warm bath—enjoyable and familiar.

Bridget had been looking down at her feet, and when she looked up, the Duke was smiling. She returned his smile. It was impossible not to.

"You are doing fine," the Duke praised. "You know the steps, so trust yourself with them. Hold your body as you are doing now, but relax a little."

Bridget nodded. She did not know how much she could relax while dancing alone with a man in the middle of the night, but she tried her best. She did not feel any change in her body, but the Duke nodded approvingly, so she must have done something right.

The Duke quickened his step and spun them around. Bridget let out a happy gasp.

"You were worrying about nothing," the Duke said. "You are a wonderful dancer, Lady Bridget. You will make happy any man you dance with at the wedding."

I want to dance with you at the wedding.

The night was beautiful for Bridget. The sea sloshed in the distance, a frog croaked from a nearby patch of water, the stars twinkled above, and the moonlight bathed them in a warm glow. The green of the Duke's eyes had a silvery glow to it. The way he looked at her made her feel something she had not felt in a long time.

"I do not want this dance to end," she said suddenly.

The Duke smiled at the statement. Bridget could only blush for blurting out the words. She had meant to think them and not state them aloud.

"All good things must come to an end," the Duke told her. "Although, some can be extended."

He hummed a few more notes before ending their dance. Yet, he did not let her go. He kept his hand on her waist, and she did not remove her hand from his shoulder.

Everything told her to break the embrace and return to the manor, but that was not what her heart wanted.

"You dance very well, Lady Bridget," the Duke murmured.

Bridget heard the words, but the meaning was something different. She could hear a hint of something behind those simple words. It was something she needed to explore.

The moonlight bathed his face, accentuating his features. She did not know how, but her face was closer to his. Her chest rose and fell as she tried to maintain her composure.

The Duke took Bridget's hand and placed it on his face. His skin was warm and a little stubbly. She gently stroked his cheek with her thumb.

A tingle ran up her spine when his hand cupped her cheek. His other hand cupped her other cheek, and she closed her eyes. She did not need to escape; she only needed to block out some of her senses, or she would become overwhelmed.

A warmth fell on her lips—the Duke's breath as he leaned closer to her. Logically, it was all wrong, but logic was thrown firmly out the window when romance was involved.

My goodness! Is this romance? Have I developed feelings for this man? Am I going to let him?—

All thoughts were lost as the Duke pressed his lips to hers. Bridget gasped lightly, and her lips parted ever so slightly. The Duke slightly leaned back before bringing his lips back to hers, and Bridget stretched out eagerly for him. Their bodies were closer now, and she did not dare open her eyes for fear of how scandalous they were being. If she kept her eyes closed, she could fool herself into thinking they were doing nothing wrong.

The Duke ran his hand through her hair. The kiss was gentle, calm, and pleasant. Their lips came apart again before he leaned in one final time, changing the angle of the kiss. Bridget squeezed his shoulder.

Then it ended.

No, I want more!

Bridget took a deep breath through her nose before opening her eyes. The Duke was haloed in silver light, and she did not know if she had ever seen a more handsome man in her life. She did not know what the mixed emotions inside were. She wanted him to kiss her again—that was the only thing she was sure of.

"I must bid you goodnight," the Duke said. "I believe your dance lesson was a success."

"Yes," Bridget breathed.

"Shall I walk you back to the house?"

The Duke wore a smile that made her heart skip a beat.

"No, I shall walk back myself. I would like to stare at the sea a little longer," Bridget replied.

And I need a moment to compose myself.

"Very well. I shall see you in the morning for breakfast," the Duke said.

"I look forward to it," Bridget told him.

As she watched him walk back toward the house, all she could think about were his strong hands running through her hair and his supple lips on hers.

What am I doing?!