The Art 0f Pleasuring A Duke (Steamy Historical Regency Romance)

by Scarlett Osborne

  The rest of the ballerinas were getting changed all around her, chatting to one another about tonight’s performance, the upcoming party, what they would do in the interval before rehearsals began for the next show. No one spoke to Anna about any of these things, leaving her to remove her makeup and costume without interruption.

  Even Bridget did not speak to her, though Anna could only assume that this was because she was seated at a mirror on the opposite side of the room. Anna had been too distracted to notice where she was sitting when she entered the dressing room.

  After several minutes, the woman at the seat next to Anna’s stood up, having finished with the mirror. Almost as soon as the woman had departed, Bridget sat down in her seat.

  “Oh,” Anna said, startled by her friend’s sudden appearance. “Good evening, Bridget, I didn’t see you there.”

  “I can see that,” Bridget said with chuckle. “You really are in your own world this evening, aren’t you?”

  “I suppose that I am,” Anna admitted. “I am sorry, I do not know why that should be…”

  “No need to worry,” Bridget said, “it happens to everyone from time to time.”

  Anna simply nodded, knowing this was true, but feeling a bit foolish all the same.

  “Were you thinking about the party?” Bridget asked. She sounded excited and continued speaking too quickly for Anna to answer her. “I think it will be a great success. Who knows who we might meet there? Everyone will be on their best behavior since all of the patrons will be there, not just gentlemen.”

  “Yes,” Anna agreed, feelings slightly better for this reminder. “Mr. Bamber was very clear about that, so I expect that there will be quite a bit less flirting than usual.”

  “Well, perhaps…” Bridget said, sounding less certain now.

  “You do not think so? After everything we were told about acting appropriately?” Anna asked, surprised by this.

  “Oh, I am sure that everyone will behave appropriately, but that does not mean there will be no flirting,” Bridget’s voice sounded coy. “Only a…different sort of flirting.”

  “Oh,” Anna said, not fully understanding what this might mean, “that sounds rather complicated. How does one know if one is doing the right sort of flirting?”

  Anna felt suddenly nervous all over again. She had not been to this sort of party before and realized that she did not really know what was expected of her. She had witnessed quite a lot of flirting at the informal gatherings after each performance, and had not been aware that there was any other kind.

  “What other sort of flirting?” she asked, her voice low so as not to be overheard by the other members of the company. She trusted Bridget not to laugh at her inexperience, but she knew that if Camilla heard about this conversation, she would never be allowed to forget it.

  “Nothing you need to worry about, I promise,” Bridget said, taking Anna’s hands in her own and squeezing them. “I’m sorry that I mentioned it at all.”

  “No, I am glad that you mentioned it, I need to know what is expected of me, or else I am bound to do something wrong.” Anna was still whispering, but she could hear a note of hysteria creeping into her voice. With an effort, she took a deep breath and returned to a calmer tone. “Please, Bridget, please tell me what I must do or not do—just a few simple rules are all I need.”

  “All right,” Bridget said, looking into Anna’s eyes and talking in a quiet, soothing voice, “any flirtation that happens at this party will be quite subtle. You may not even notice it at all, that is why I said I ought not to have mentioned it.”

  “So, I should not flirt, then?” Anna asked, feeling relieved. “That will not be hard.”

  “Good, then this will be quite easy for you. You need not flirt at all, simply be courteous to anyone who speaks to you, whether they are a gentleman or a lady. You will likely need to dance with at least some of the gentlemen, but I know that you can do that.”

  “Yes, I can,” Anna said, though she did not relish the idea of this. She had fantasized about dancing with a handsome gentleman when Maisie had suggested it the other day. In her imagination the gentleman had swept her off her feet, and nothing else had mattered. In reality she knew that this was not possible.

  “Good,” Bridget said, her voice firm now, but still kind. “Now, will you help me with my laces?”

  Anna stared at Bridget, and realized for the first time, that her friend had been sitting with her, calming her down, with her gown on, but not properly laced for the last several minutes.

  How could I have possibly failed to notice such a thing?

  “Oh, Bridget,” she said laughing out loud, “of course I will help you with your laces. I’m so sorry I didn’t notice that you needed help right away.”

  “That’s quite all right,” Bridget said, laughing along with Anna.

  “No, it is not all right,” Anna said, still laughing. “This is why you came over here, isn’t it? Not to comfort me in my foolish anxiety. And you have been sitting here with your laces undone for all this time? Come now, stand up and turn around so that I can fix them.”

  Still smiling, Bridget did as she was told, and Anna pulled the laces of the gown tight, tying them securely at her friend’s back. Both of the ballerinas turned to face the looking glass, and each one made small adjustments to their sleeves and skirts. Standing side by side, Anna thought they looked quite beautiful in reflection.

  Chapter 13

  When the curtain had fallen after the final bow, Nathaniel and his mother stood up from their seats and followed the rest of the audience out to the lobby. Many people were collecting their coats from the cloakroom and setting off for home, or possibly to other social engagements. Those who remained behind were the most important patrons of the ballet company, and Nathaniel recognized several friends and acquaintances.

  From across the lobby, he saw his friend, David, Marquess of Swinton, accompanied by his wife who was looking happier than Nathaniel had seen her in quite some time. From this he gathered that she must not suspect her husband’s affair. David looked remarkably calm, considering that his wife and his mistress were about to come face-to-face in the same room.

  “Excuse me, Mother,” Nathaniel said. “I must go and greet the Marquess and Marchioness of Swinton.”

  “All right, dear,” the Dowager Duchess replied, “but do not be too long about it. I want to introduce you to Lady Elaine, as we discussed.”

  Nathaniel could not entirely hide a sigh of frustration as he said, “And as we discussed, I am already acquainted with Lady Elaine.”

  “Of course you are,” his mother replied, as though this in no way contradicted her previous statement. “And you must become reacquainted.”

  Seeing that it would do no good to argue this point, Nathaniel agreed to return in a few minutes, and his mother favored him with a smile as he walked over to greet his friend.

  “Nathaniel.” David’s voice was loud and jovial as he called out a greeting to his friend.

  “Good evening, David,” Nathaniel replied. Then turning to David’s wife with a slight bow, “Good evening, My Lady.”

  “Good evening, Your Grace,” she said, curtseying back to him. “Did you enjoy this evening’s performance?”

  “I enjoyed it very much.” Nathaniel said, his voice full of enthusiasm.

  “Yes, a wonderful performance as always,” David said with a smile, and then turning to his wife, “Darling, Nathaniel and I have a bit of business to discuss, would you mind excusing us for just a moment?”

  Nathaniel thought that he saw the barest hint of frustration in the Marchioness’s expression, but it passed so quickly that he could not be entirely certain.

  “Of course,” she said, “I shall leave you to it.” And she walked off in the direction of a cluster of young ladies who seemed quite happy for her to join them.

  “Feeling a bit nervous about tonight?” David asked Nathaniel in a low, conspiratorial tone.

  “Nervous, ex
cited, perhaps a bit foolish…” Nathaniel trailed off, unsure of how even to express all of the things that he was currently feeling.

  “There is nothing foolish about pursuing your heart’s desire. In fact, I have found that quite the opposite is true. It is failing to pursue one’s desires that is foolish.”

  David had always been a bold sort of person, and Nathaniel had envied him his ability to feel so certain of everything. Perhaps if he were a more decisive character, like his friend, he would not feel such anxiety about his upcoming introduction to Miss Conolly. On the other hand, he could not imagine how anyone, even someone so bold as David, could truly feel comfortable having his mistress and his wife at the same party.

  “If failing to pursue one’s desires is foolish, then no one can accuse you of being a fool,” Nathaniel said, chuckling slightly.

  “Indeed not,” David agreed, a note of mocking solemnity in his tone. “No one has ever called me a fool, and I do not expect that anyone ever will.”

  “Do you not worry, though?”

  “Worry?” David sounded genuinely confused by this question. “Why should I worry?”

  “Well, for one thing, your wife and your mistress will both be present at tonight’s party. What if your wife should find out about your arrangement with Miss Rowley?”

  “My wife, like all well-bred ladies, is well trained in seeing only what she wants to see. I can see no reason why she should find out about my relationship with Bridget.” David said this as though it were so obvious, he could not believe that Nathaniel had not known it already.

  “But what if Miss Rowley should say something to the Marchioness?” Nathaniel asked, his stomach beginning to hurt at the mere idea. “Perhaps in a fit of jealousy or rage?”

  “Bridget would never do that,” David said, sounding as calm and sure of what he was saying as ever. “She knows perfectly well that if the nature of our relationship should be revealed to my wife, the scandal will hurt her far more than it will hurt me. She is too smart to risk anyone finding out about our relationship.”

  “That seems rather unfair, don’t you think?” Nathaniel said, considering what David had said.

  “What seems unfair?”

  “That the scandal should hurt her more than you,” Nathaniel said, knowing that this would in fact be the case. “You are both responsible, why should you not face similar consequences?”

  David looked nonplussed, as though he had never considered this before. “That is simply the way of things, Nathaniel,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “Surely you must know that.”

  “Yes, of course I do,” Nathaniel said, “but until recently I had not thought much about it, having little cause to consider the implications of extramarital affairs.”

  “Well, now you know,” David said, his tone jovial once again, “and a good thing, too. You will need to understand these things soon enough. Surely your mother is eager to see you wed.”

  “She certainly is, but I do not think she will be pleased if I marry a ballerina,” Nathaniel said. Too late, he realized that he ought not to have given voice to this particular thought. David was looking at him with a mixture of shock and confusion.

  “I should think not.” David said, as though Nathaniel had suggested something truly outrageous. Which, he now realized, was exactly what he had done. “Besides, who said anything about marrying a ballerina?”

  “Oh, I…I didn’t mean…” Nathaniel stammered, and then, collecting himself, continued in a calmer tone, “I only meant that my Mother has very high expectations for my future wife, and I doubt that any woman I should wish to marry will live up to her standard.”

  “I see,” David said, sounding rather skeptical. “Well, in any case, if you are compelled to marry a wife who is not to your liking, there is always the prima ballerina. I’m sure you could come to an arrangement that would suit you.”

  “No.” Nathaniel felt, for once, as sure and decisive as David has always been. His voice was firm but showed no hint of emotion.

  “No?”

  “No,” Nathaniel repeated. “I will not have Miss Conolly as a mistress. Nor anyone else. Especially not now that I understand how a potential scandal would put her at risk. I would not risk harming her.”

  “Perhaps you ought to let her decide what risks she is willing to take,” David said, his tone much cooler now. “If there is one thing that I have learned from Bridget, it is that the ballerinas understand their circumstances at least as well as we do, and they make their choices with eyes wide open.”

  “Yes, of course,” Nathaniel said, inwardly cursing himself for being so careless with his words. “I must apologize, David, I did not mean to imply anything about you or Miss Rowley.”

  David only nodded his head briefly in acknowledgement of his friend’s apology. It looked as though he might be about to say something, but at that moment, the Dowager Duchess approached the two friends.

  “Good evening, My Lord,” she greeted David.

  “Good evening, Your Grace,” David said, bowing slightly. “It is a pleasure to see you this evening.”

  “Thank you, it is a pleasure to see you as well. I have just been speaking to your wife, such a lovely young lady.”

  “Thank you, Your Grace,” David said, offering her a winning smile, “I am quite lucky.”

  “Indeed. Now, I apologize, but I must steal my son away for just a moment before the party begins in earnest. Come, Nathaniel.”

  She did not wait for a response from her son, but began to walk to the other end of the lobby. Nathaniel knew that he had no choice but to follow her, and set off at once, all the while thinking about what he and David had discussed.

  The Dowager Duchess was as good as her word, and had summoned Nathaniel to this end of the lobby in order to reintroduce him to Lady Elaine. She was a short, plump young lady with a pretty, round face. Nathaniel supposed that she would make some gentleman a perfect wife, with her fine manners, and her unassuming looks, but he could not think of a single thing that he might want to discuss with her now.

  “Lady Elaine,” the Dowager Duchess said, as they approached her, “I believe you have met my son, the Duke of Yanborough?”

  “Yes, Your Grace,” Lady Elaine replied, quietly. She curtsied smoothly, keeping her eyes cast downward.

  “Good evening, Lady Elaine,” Nathaniel said, bowing slightly. “It is a pleasure to see you again.”

  “Thank you, Your Grace,” she said, her eyes still downturned, and her voice still quiet. Making conversation with her was not going to be easy, and Nathaniel shot a reproachful look at his mother. He was sure that she knew what was frustrating him, but she looked back at him without any indication that she understood.

  “I believe that it was at a hunting party at your father’s estate that we met?” he said to Lady Elaine. “Last fall, was it?”

  “Yes, Your Grace.”

  Nathaniel waited a moment to see if she would elaborate any further, but it soon became clear that she would not. A sigh of frustration nearly escaped his lips, but Nathaniel stopped it just in time.

  “I did not realize that you enjoy the ballet.”

  “No, Your Grace,” Lady Elaine said quietly, still not looking at Nathaniel as she spoke. “I mean, yes. I mean—yes, I enjoy the ballet, but no, you would not have known that about me, as I did not think to tell you when we met previously. I am sorry that I failed to mention it.”

  Nathaniel would have felt sorry for the poor young lady, if he had not been so frustrated by his mother’s absurd attempt at matchmaking. No doubt there were plenty of gentlemen who would not mind a quiet and retiring wife, but when Nathaniel considered the possibility of making conversation with Lady Elaine for the rest of his life, he could not bear it.

  “That is quite all right, My Lady,” he said, hoping that his tone sounded kind rather than frustrated. “The topic did not come up, that is all. In truth, I was only introduced to the ballet very recently by my mother. So, I would not have be
en able to speak about it at any length last fall.”

  Lady Elaine nodded her head and favored Nathaniel with a very brief smile before averting her gaze once again. “That is kind of you to say, Your Grace.”

  Just then, the double doors from the theater opened, and the ballet company walked into the lobby. Nathaniel felt relief washing over him. Surely this would be the end of his conversation with Lady Elaine. At least for the moment he did not need to speak to her. Everyone in the lobby had gone quiet and turned to watch the company enter.