Regency Romance: Dancing with the Duke (2 page)

The Hawthorne Ball arrived; the festivities and cheer encapsulated the entire hall. The environment was abuzz was music and the steady hum of conversation as the people intermingled and enjoined. At one far end of the ball room stood Sebastian, straightening up the bowtie to his suit. A man stood in front of him trying to engage him in conversation but he just distractedly stared out ahead of his, his eyes flitting around the corners of the room.

The truth was that Sebastian was on the look-out for a certain brunette. After the conversation with Sophia, the fact that his charm had not worked its magic on this girl was sitting at the back of Sebastian’s mind. He could  not properly identify the name of the feeling it invoked in him but it felt like an annoying scratch at the top of his mouth – a spot he could not reach, try as he may, but a place where he wanted to get the most desperately.

Sebastian usually did not pine for the steady approval of other people; he simply did not care much for validation outside of himself. But there was a part of him that almost desperately wanted to impress this woman he had just crossed paths with. He did not want to overanalyze this urge of his but he was suddenly very vividly and completely aware of it.

His eyes scanned the room for any signs of her and then figured he would find better luck finding her on the close circumference of the dance floor. So he bid adieu to the company who he wasn’t paying much attention to anyway and trotted off to the distance to go seek Elizabeth.

A twirl and a pirouette later and he had spotted her. However, his earlier anticipated and excitement faded to a blur as he noticed that she already had company.

Sebastian watched from a distance as Elizabeth danced and twirled with her dance partner; a man who Sebastian recognized to be one of the members of his Gentleman’s club. He could not help but stop the burning sensation emerging from the pit of his gut as he watched her laugh and put her hands over his shoulders.

Sebastian raked his mind for the name of this man who suddenly- without ever even had spoken to  him – had just become his least favorite person in the room.
William.
The name suddenly sprung up to his mind. Unable to shake off the uneasy burning feeling the encounter between the two made him feel; he turned to his heel and stormed right off outside the ballroom.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth and William had finished dancing. He had asked earlier on while she had arrived with Sophia and her mother; never one to turn down a chance to dance, she had agreed. Their moments cavorting around to the rhythm of the music had been enjoyable but now as Elizabeth was now getting a chance to speak to her dance partner properly; she was not as amused.

In the course of the five minutes they had stood together in conversation, the majority of the words came from his side. In five minutes, it seemed she had learned an awful lot more of him then she would ever have cared to ask.

In the span of five minutes, she had learnt that William Davison Borough was born to a father who had German and English descent and his mother was a great artist. His father owned a large oil mining industry and thus his family had accumulated a large sum of wealth because of it. He spent a few years abroad, starting out his own business venture he swore would have been larger and more successful than the East India Company if he only had thought it worthwhile to pursue with his whole heart and soul.

After about five minutes of this incessant chatter, Elizabeth had almost begun to tune him out. He sounded like a thorough narcissist who did not want to hear a word from the other person unless it was statement about his praise.

Elizabeth found herself thoroughly bored. In fact, she had almost had to stifle a yawn.

“Why – I have travelled all over the world,” William started again, “but might I just say, never have I ever seen a woman as beautiful as you. My lady, you are as lovely as the grace and elegance you exert in your dancing,” he said solemnly, with his voice dropped low.

“Ah, thank you, my Lord,” Elizabeth said, sheepishly, her eyes glazing over with overcome boredom.

This was the usual pattern her encounter with members of the opposite gender went. First, they would launch into a monologue of how wealthy/superior/noble their lineage is and how much money they themselves earn. Then, after sufficiently ensuring that Elizabeth had been exposed to all minor details of their finances, they would then play flattery card. They would passionately pour out verses and verses explaining how beautiful they think Elizabeth is and how privileged they feel in her presence. A few days day later, they would send a proposal for marriage.

It was all roads and all patterns leading up to the same conclusion each time; it had been so since she had turned eighteen. Now; Elizabeth was not naïve and cognizant of the real reason for all these men fawning over her incessantly.

The reason was her father. Her father was a well renowned wealthy Lord of their town. To marry into his lineage would a source of extreme pride and honor for these blokes. And since her sister was already spoken for, Elizabeth was the only option.

However, Elizabeth was far from being naïve enough to fall into the sweet verbal traps set out by these men who had little interest in her and more interest in the accumulated wealth of her father.

It was a repetitive pattern Elizabeth had grown accustomed to now but sometimes it grew tiring. She tried to rake her brain for the last time someone had attempted to strike up a conversation with her without the concealed intention of trying to impress her.

And then her mind reeled back to Sebastian. For the first time in a long while, he had been the only one who had asserted his opinion without worrying much of what Elizabeth might think. Thinking back now, she realized that she might have been annoyed, thinking of his as haughty, but now, she realized at least his interactions with her had been genuine.

He had been a man who had not been scared or cautious to offend; a breath of fresh air amongst all the people that put on a façade for her approval each day. She suddenly remembered that he had promised her a dance this evening and then promptly began to go out and look for him.

Sebastian found himself in the balcony of the Hawthorne mansion. He had slipped away from the main party for a bit to enjoy a moment to himself in solitude. His mind was still reeling as he tried to piece the events that had just taken place and the reaction that it elicited in him. 

What was this burning sensation that arose in him when he saw Elizabeth in the arms of another man? It was unlike an emotion he had ever experienced. His usual guise of stoicism had never let a sensation such as this pass through. Could it really be? 

Was Sebastian experiencing a tinge of jealousy at the expense of this woman who he had sworn he thought unpleasant in the beginning? What was this even about?

Sebastian could not deny the feeling was indeed the work of the green eyed monster, arising from inside of him. The realization that he had of being jealous seeing her with another man brought up to the surface another ordeal for Sebastian.

Apathy inspires no feelings such as this; apathy was the emotion he was certain he felt for this woman. That is, until now. This sudden realization that he had been indeed jealous made him start to analyze other aspects of his feelings towards her.

Could it be? Had the unconventional brunette snuck his way into his heart without his permission?

His thoughts intertwined and looped around each other; he found himself at the hands of a mental conundrum. Sebastian was notorious for being a flirt and a man popular amongst the ladies; his charm and wit had always enchanted them. But he had never encountered once who inspired such feelings of envy inside of him; he had rather felt a sense of vapid apathy towards the rest. So; how come had this woman so easily pranced into his life and made him feel such a way?

Sebastian shook his head; he could not believe. He had developed feelings for this woman!

As he sorted out these conflicting emotions inside of him, he decided that he must head back downstairs. He had to see her again.

Sebastian came down the stairs immediately began his search for Elizabeth. He had only begun his search when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

Of course, it was the smiling face of the brunette who had refused to get out of his head.

“Where were you?” she inquired, “I was under the impression that you owed me a dance,” she said bluntly.

Traditionally, it was not considered fit for a woman to go out and approach a man herself for a dance. But of course, this was Elizabeth and she did not care much to conform to societal norms. Sebastian found himself almost smiling at the thought.

“Of course, Elizabeth,” he breathed out and struck out his hand for her to take, “may I have the distinct pleasure of leading you to the dance floor?”

Elizabeth grinned and took his hand; her newfound appreciation of his genuineness making her giddy.

Sebastian led her to the dance floor and the music began to play. He discovered that indeed uphold her reputation very well; she was an excellent dancer. She grooved and synched her movements with his as they collide and separated. Elizabeth was pleased to see that even though his skills as a dancer did not even early matched hers but he still did not show hesitation to let her lead and quickly imitated her actions.

As the dance was drawing to a close, Sebastian leaned in close against Elizabeth’s ear. He found himself whispering, “Come with me outside to the gardens. I need to speak to you.”

Elizabeth agreed promptly as he took hold of her hand to lead her outside.

Once outside, Sebastian spoke up; his voice serious.

“Elizabeth,” he started, “I am not certain of how to say this, I’ve never been in a situation such as this before.”

Elizabeth encouraged him to continue, her own heart thumping wildly in her heart, anticipating if the thing he wanted to tell her was the same thing she had been feeling since her encounter with William.

“You – you’re unlike any person I have ever met,” he breathed, “it both infuriates me and brings a strange feeling of ecstasy that I cannot explain myself. I am fascinated by your all your unconventional whims and idiosyncrasies. My God, woman, do you even realize how special and rare you are?”

Elizabeth found her cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson, ‘I feel the same way about you. Of all the men I have encountered, you have been the only one who did not go to grandiose heights to impress me,” she admitted, “and I do have to admit that is a quality that I like very much.’

Sebastian grinned, “Elizabeth Baines, I believe I have developed an attraction for you that I am afraid just refuses to die down. I wish to be with you!” he held out his hands for her to hold.

Elizabeth blushed yet again, “oh, Sebastian Ilham. I’m afraid I reciprocate all of those feelings,” she laughed, her laughter infectious as she grabbed hold of his hands. This would be the start of their journey together forever and they both knew it.

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