Introduction

Read PART 1 and PART 2
A Regency Romance in seven parts.
Part 3/7
When they reached Lady Weston’s house, Charles was already past the threshold of his tolerance. He had smiled and conversed with many girls to appease his mama. He had not succeeded to meet the green-eyed beauty whom he was seeking at the parties they had been to, Lady Weston’s was the last stop. It was already past midnight, but the party at the Weston house was in full swing.
Amidst music and sound of giggling girls, the mother and son duo entered the ballroom and was warmly greeted by Lady Weston.The sudden silence that spread upon his entry confirmed his worst fears. The occupants in the ballroom had become aware of his presence. Within minutes, the hunting instincts of the females would peak and they would flock to him in pairs, fluttering their fans and eyelashes.
Olivia turned to see what the sudden commotion was all about, only to find her new friend Eloisa staring at someone who had just entered the ballroom.“Oh my God, it can’t be him. My sister will rue forever that she missed this party. Oh my God,” cried Eloisa Westborough, with her fingers touching her parted lips.
“Who has arrived?” asked Olivia, unable to understand the sudden change in attitudes of the ladies around her. Most of them were busy smoothing down their gowns, patting down their hair and pinching colour onto their cheeks.
“Duke of Wentworth, the most handsome and the most sought after bachelor in all of England. Oh my God, I can’t wait to tell my sister this,” cried Eloisa.Olivia sniggered and then noticed that Lady Weston was frantically gesturing to her to go to her.
“Come Eloisa, aunt Lucy is calling. Let us go,” she said and dragged a reluctant Eloisa towards Lady Lucy Weston.
Lady Weston then dragged her towards where most of the other ladies were headed. Towards their new guest.
Olivia gazed at the new entrant and was surprised about Eloisa’s reaction. The man in question looked around with an icy stare as though he wished everyone around him would freeze forever. He was seething with anger, and he barely managed to hide the fact.
“Mama, I have met enough smiling and simpering debutantes. Please not anymore. I told you, I am not interested,” hissed Charles to his mother who swatted him on his arm with her fan, to shut him up.
Most of those gathered around him heard his remark but ignored it and continue to smile at him expectantly. Olivia suppressed a chuckle, dragged Eloisa with her towards one of the nearby balconies, and then laughed until her stomach started to ache.
“The poor man, I pity him. He looked like a deer caught in front of a pack of wolves,” she said, finally after she was able to stop her laughter.
“Why did you run away from there? See Lady Weston and Lady Wentworth is dragging him over here. After all, this is your coming out ball. You should meet all the guests,” said Eloisa and started to smooth down her gown eliciting another snigger from Olivia.
“Please meet my niece, Miss Olivia Bradbury, Lord Wentworth. Olivia, meet his grace, the Duke of Wentworth,” said Lady Weston droning out the introduction.
Olivia controlled her snigger and bowed low to the Duke. He looked at her out of courtesy and then froze. Olivia was taken aback when the frown on his face was replaced by a devastating grin that unsettled her whole being. Instead of the set down she had expected, the Duke came near and took her hands and kissed it. Didn’t he kiss it a little too longer than was proper?
“It is a pleasure meeting you, Miss Bradbury,” he said,” May I have the pleasure of the next dance, please?”

Taken aback by the question, Olivia glanced at her aunt who was vigorously nodding at her.
“Yes, your Grace,” she said and the Duke walked away leaving all the four women staring after him with their mouths hanging open.

Continued in next Part: Joy and Jealousy

 Linking this to APRIL A-Z Challenge.