Page 20 of Winning Her Duke

“Whoever would I be looking for at a ball?” Hale answered vaguely in a way that kept him from lying to his dearest friends.

“Don’t think I dinna notice you haven’t denied looking for someone. Who is she?” Julian began looking around the room as well, as if he could help without any direction as to who he was looking for.

“Whyever would you assume it was a she? Perhaps I have business to attend to with one of the gentlemen.”

The only reply was a snort.

“Very well,” Hale gave up. “Her name is Gia Landon. She has the most beautiful, well-formed, statuesque…” The three men leaned closer, identical smiles growing on their lips. Until Hale finished with, “…horse.”

“Of course,” Kit deflated while Hale chuckled at his friends’ disappointment.

“Apologies. I couldn’t resist.” He slapped Graham on the shoulder and froze when Gia entered the ballroom with Lady Tomison.

“Ow.” Penbrook twisted out of Hale’s grip. “What the devil—oh.”

They all stood staring at the newest arrivals.

“I don’t know about her horse, but she is lovely indeed. Perhaps you would introdu—”

“No,” Hale cut Julian off as he left his friends standing there and went to approach Gia.

She curtsied when she saw him.

“Good evening, Your Grace. So wonderful to see you again,” she said with a sincere smile. “I was afraid you might need to retire early after such an early start to your day.”

Lady Tomison leaned in and whispered something to Gia. Hale only picked up part of it, but it was something about how speaking to a duke about his sleep schedule was inappropriate.

Gia frowned and gave a quick nod to her mentor. Something about the action irritated him. He understood what were and weren’t appropriate topics for young ladies when conversing with men. But for whatever reason, he felt Gia should be immune to these silly restrictions. They didn’t suit her. And, lord knew, no one expected a Scot to be held to such exacting standards.

Gia was a force. She was meant to be free and uninhibited by propriety. He didn’t want society’s inane rules to change her. She was quite perfect the way she was. Who she was.

A small frown had chased away her earlier smile and Hale felt he needed to do something to bring it back.

“Fortunately, I was able to take a nap before coming out this evening.”

They both laughed at his joke, and he was glad to see her smile return. Lady Tomison offered a stiff smile as she glanced around. No doubt making sure no one was listening to their improper conversation.

“Lady Tomison.” Hale bowed. “Thank you again for your hospitality today. I apologize if I overstayed my welcome. Again.”

“Of course not. It was wonderful to have a visitor.” She pressed her lips together as if she wanted to say something else but refrained.

Turning back to Gia, he glanced down to her wrist to see she had no dance card dangling there like the other ladies. He knew she hadn’t danced the night he’d first seen her, but he wanted to talk with her further, and dancing was the easiest way to do so.

“Might you honor me with a dance, if you have one available?” he asked.

She failed to hide her surprise if she’d tried to hide it at all. Knowing Gia the little that he did, he didn’t think she hid much.

“She would be delighted,” Lady Tomison said. “I’ll just get you a dance card, dear, since you must have missed them when we entered.”

Lady Tomison scurried off to secure the needed card with a smug smile on her face.

“You dinna forget your card?” he said quietly.

She waved her hand dismissively.

“It seemed a waste of paper.”

“Obviously not.”