Read Online Susanne Marie Knight by A Noble Dilemma - Free Book Online

dignified pattern of a minuet. Her face was aglow with pleasure as she gazed at her nobly born companion.
    Prince Augustus was in rare form tonight.
    David sighed. Perhaps he should have remained in Paris. There was nothing for him here in England. Nothing but duties and responsibilities.
    “Lud, man. You’ve a countenance more suited for a funeral than a gala fête, don’t you know?” Penning also stood by the window. He slapped David on the back. “Someone die while I wasn’t looking?”
    It would not do to bare one’s innermost thoughts to a gabster like Henry Penning. David darted his gaze around the confusion of activity gathered inside the Duchess’ ballroom for something, anything, he could use as a decoy.
    The blue ostrich feathers in his mother’s toque gave him the diversion he sought.
    “How can I smile, Penning? You see the Countess’ inappropriate behavior with that bounder, Fenwick. She is near twice his age, yet there she stands, flirting like a seasoned coquette well past her debut. When is my mother going to act her age?”
    Blast, it truly was embarrassing to watch his mother flutter her fan, simpering like a schoolroom miss.
    “Perhaps when you finally enter the parson’s mousetrap.” Penning reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out that accursed handkerchief. He put it to good use on his forehead. “I’ve a feeling the Countess will mend her ways once the Ingraham nursery is filled.”
    For a moment, the ballroom came to a standstill. A shaft of insight penetrated David’s thoughts.
    Good God, Penning has perceived the right of it. My mother is unfulfilled. She needs a grandchild.
    It was a thunderclap of the obvious. He turned to his friend and shook his hand. “My thanks, Penning. I do believe you are correct. Perhaps it is time for me to get on the scramble for a wife.”
    First Penning nodded in agreement, then suspicion shadowed his jovial face. “Hold on, Ingraham. What the deuce are you planning?”
    David scanned the rows of dancers until he spied Miss Branford’s shiny dark-haired head at the end of one of the minuet lines.
    He was in luck; the slow, stylized dance was almost at an end.
    “No need to fly into the boughs, Penning.” David smiled as he walked toward his objective. “I should be mindful of my responsibility to new protégée, wouldn’t you agree? A turn about the floor with the angelic Miss Branford will adequately serve my purpose.”
    Penning’s handkerchief worked overtime as he followed behind. “Stap me! You cannot mean to say that you are intending to declare yourself to — ”
    “Declare myself?” David stopped halfway to the dance floor, then lifted his eyebrow at his friend.
    Penning reddened. “I mean to say, offer marriage to Miss Branford?”
    “Offer marriage, old fellow?” David stood on the sidelines, patiently waiting until the minuet was over. “You do mistake me, my friend. I confess to wanting to dance with Miss Branford, nothing more.”
    Nothing more…yet, he silently added. Providence had dropped the alluring Bethany Branford into his lap, so to speak. He did not know her well, of course, but what he did know bespoke of her honesty and purity. She was a female completely without guile.
    David’s smile deepened. He hoped a lively country dance would be next.

    The Prince was a gentleman.
    As Bethany made the ending curtsy of the minuet, she smiled at her royal partner. She’d thought dancing with one of the King’s sons would’ve been intimidating, but the Duke of Sussex exceeded her expectations on several fronts.
    Not only did he dance with graceful movements and a sense of style, but he also spoke knowledgably on a great many subjects. He was well versed on literature, took an avid interest in politics and supported several charities.
    “Miss Branford, I am most delighted to have had this chance to dance with you. I shall endeavor to — ”The duke glanced over her shoulder. “Ingraham! Upon my honor! What a