Chapter 5

A fter waltzing with Lady Mansfield, Holbrook tried to turn his attention to the task of finding a bride. The undertaking wouldn't be easy, but he wouldn't succeed if he allowed himself to become distracted from his mission.

And after their dance, it was obvious she had the potential to be a very large distraction.

That reality was made abundantly clear when he found himself watching her as she flitted from one dance partner to another. And each time another man so much as smiled at her, he grew increasingly irate.

At first he attributed the emotion to annoyance with her brother. Everyone knew exactly why those men were going out of their way to dance with a widow who was newly out in society again. So why was Clarington allowing it?

But as the hours crawled by, he came to the uncomfortable realization that Lady Mansfield was the only woman in the room who'd captured his romantic interest.

It was deuced inconvenient.

He watched as her most recent dance partner bowed to her. Before someone else could demand her attention, she rejoined the duke and duchess. He felt a measure of relief, knowing she'd be in good hands with her brother.

He forced himself to turn away and make another circuit of the room, nodding to acquaintances as he passed. He'd already spoken to anyone worthy of more than a few minutes of his time.

When he approached the exit that led to the other open rooms on this side of the large town house, he considered escaping to the card room. It would be easier on his increasingly agitated nerves if he didn't have to watch the sharks who were circling the duke's sister, looking for an opportunity to approach her again.

The strains of another waltz began to play, and he cursed under his breath. He needed to make sure she wouldn't be forced to dance with someone who was entirely inappropriate, and he wasn't sure he could trust Clarington to guarantee that wouldn't happen. He imagined that several men had already leaped into action, hoping to take advantage of the opportunity the dance would provide to have her in their arms.

He scanned the couples who were making their way to the ballroom's dance floor, looking to secure a private spot for themselves. The men bowed, the women curtsied, and then they moved into each other's arms.

He was aware he was clenching his jaw but couldn't force himself to relax, especially when he couldn't find her. He did see the duke speaking with a group of older men whom Holbrook knew were trying to gain Clarington's support for a bill that was about to be introduced in Parliament.

Where was the duchess? Perhaps Lady Mansfield was with her sister-in-law. If not, someone might have already spirited her away through one of the open garden doors.

He supposed it was possible she'd already retired for the night. He knew she stayed with her brother when she was in town, so she might have gone upstairs.

Dammit, he shouldn't have taken his eyes off her. He turned toward the garden doors, determined to search the grounds in case Lady Mansfield needed assistance.

"Lord Holbrook."

He wanted to curse, but when he turned and saw it was the duchess who'd sought his attention, he felt a measure of relief. He looked past her, expecting to find Lady Mansfield with her friend. But the duchess was alone.

"Are you looking for someone, my lord?"

The Duchess of Clarington was an imposing figure. Her red hair was styled elaborately, diamonds winking throughout the mass. She wore emeralds at her throat and ears and a dark green gown that accentuated her coloring.

She was quite tall for a woman, and that height should have made her seem aloof. But despite her lofty stature and status in society, the woman was approachable. Unlike other duchesses, who thought themselves superior to those of lower status, Clarington's wife was universally liked.

There was a gleam in her eyes, and he realized that somehow the duchess was aware of his interest in her friend. There was no point in hiding it. Besides, every second he delayed here could mean someone was taking advantage of the beautiful widow.

"Have you seen Lady Mansfield? I thought she was with you."

Her eyes narrowed as she examined him. "My sister-in-law has retired for the evening."

Relief swept through him. Thank God.

The duchess lowered her voice. "Ask me to dance, my lord. I wish to speak with you."

The waltz was already underway, but there was nothing to stop them from joining the other couples, something that would have been impossible if the dance had been a quadrille.

He swept into a low bow. "Your Grace, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?"

Her eyes were sparkling as she dipped into a curtsy before taking his arm. She wasted no time in coming right to the reason she wanted to speak to him. "What are your intentions with respect to my sister-in-law?"

That was the question, wasn't it? He didn't know what his intentions were. He only knew that he liked Lady Mansfield a great deal. That he wanted to get to know her better and had an irrational desire to call out every man who'd danced with her that evening.

He decided to turn the question back to her. "Have I been inappropriate in my attentions?"

She let out a soft sigh, and unless he was mistaken, he thought he detected a hint of disappointment. Perhaps his invitation to dinner last night had been a matchmaking attempt after all.

"So you don't feel any romantic attraction to Lady Mansfield?"

Good heavens, this woman was direct. He'd give her the same honesty in response. "I would be lying if I said I didn't find her intriguing. But given how much attention she's received this evening, I don't think I'm alone in that sentiment." He'd tried to keep his voice even, hoping he wouldn't betray his earlier annoyance.

The way the duchess's lips turned up in satisfaction told him he hadn't been successful. "I'm not surprised. She has much to recommend her."

"Lady Mansfield is beautiful—no one here would deny that. But she's also the duke's sister, and I would never presume?—"

"You should."

He almost faltered. Instead, he turned the near misstep into an exaggerated sweep, weaving them through a few of the more staid couples who were barely moving.

The duchess's brows rose a fraction. "You are a very good dancer, my lord. That bodes well for other activities."

What was happening here? Surely the duchess wasn't trying to encourage his inappropriate interest in her sister-in-law. "I sincerely hope you're not about to proposition me."

The duchess laughed. "Good heavens, no. I think we both know that wasn't what I meant."

"I'm almost afraid to continue this conversation."

The duchess examined him for several long moments that had him wondering just how long this waltz was going to last.

Finally, just as he'd begun to think she was going to let the matter drop, she spoke again. "Tell me, my lord, is there anyone on whom you've set your sights this season?"

He might as well be honest. It seemed that the duchess was determined to satisfy her curiosity. "Prior to this evening, I would have said no. But now…" He began moving toward the edge of the ballroom dance floor, which was less crowded. "But now there might be someone."

"Lucy? I mean Lady Mansfield?"

There would be no denying it after tonight if he decided to pursue her. "Perhaps."

"Excellent. I'm going to help you." Her satisfaction was clear.

He wanted to groan. For a heartbeat he wondered whether he was actually ready for this. It was one thing to consider searching for a wife but another entirely to commit himself to the task.

But then he remembered all those other men who'd swarmed around Lady Mansfield all evening and realized it didn't really matter whether he was ready. Time was a luxury he didn't have. The one thing he did know with a bone-deep certainty was that he couldn't stand the idea of Lady Mansfield with one of those other men.

"I wasn't aware she was looking to marry again so soon."

The duchess sighed. "She insists she isn't ready to entertain that possibility."

He felt a pang of dismay that surprised him. "So there is no point in continuing this conversation."

Was he actually disappointed that he wouldn't be able to court the duke's sister? Hours ago, he'd told Hargrove that any kind of relationship between them would be complicated since it might lead to him being barred from receiving future invitations that might include the Claringtons. And even if he weren't banned, it could very well make social situations more than a little awkward. But now he found that he didn't want to just know Lady Mansfield better. He actually wanted to court her.

"I would like the opportunity to become acquainted with the baroness. But I won't force my attentions on her if she's not looking to marry again." He'd just have to devote his time to keeping the sharks away from her.

The duchess beamed up at him. "You'll need to tempt her to change her mind."

He'd always liked this woman, but now she was fast becoming one of his favorite people. "What did you have in mind?"

"I've known Lucy my whole life, and she can be a little stubborn once she's settled on a course of action. But I have reason to believe she wouldn't mind receiving your attention."

The duchess and Lady Mansfield must have spoken about him. Her Grace was happily married, and the Claringtons were widely considered to be one of the few couples that proved love in marriage could be more than just a fairy tale. Surely the duchess wouldn't be encouraging him in this way, against her friend's stated desire to remain unmarried, if she didn't know that Lady Mansfield also felt the simmering attraction that was brewing between them.

He hadn't thought it was one-sided, but it was gratifying to have his suspicions confirmed.

Somehow he kept from laughing out loud when he thought of all the other men who were preening about, hoping to gain her favor even if only for just one night.

The duchess had made it known she was willing to help him, and he wasn't too proud to accept her assistance. "How do you suggest I proceed?"

"I spoke with Lady Mansfield before she retired for the night. She informed me that she is willing to receive your call tomorrow."

He was so fixated on their conversation that he almost missed the couple that was barreling toward them. A young man and an almost-painfully-young woman who were so occupied with each other that they weren't paying attention to the other couples moving around them.

Holbrook turned the duchess to the left, and the oblivious pair swept past them with only inches to spare. Unfortunately, another couple wasn't quite so fortunate, and there was a huff of indignation and hastily murmured apologies before the young couple moved off at a more sedate pace.

The duchess laughed. "That was a near miss. Who would have thought a waltz could be so hazardous?"

He managed to smile in reply, but his thoughts were already occupied with the next obstacle in his path. "Should I speak with the duke tonight and let him know I'm interested in courting his sister?"

The duchess shook her head. "Good heavens, no. For now it would be best if we don't inform my dear husband about this matter." He was about to protest, but she continued. "Trust me. Call tomorrow afternoon and speak to Lucy first. There are matters the two of you need to discuss before my husband can be made aware of your courtship."

He would have to take her word on the matter, but keeping the duke in the dark didn't sit well with him. It made Holbrook feel as though his interest in Lady Mansfield wasn't honorable. "The duke won't wonder why I'm calling?"

She shook her head. "He has several appointments tomorrow afternoon. Don't worry—I have faith that everything will work out as it should."