For a long moment they stood still, and he looked into those dark, beautiful eyes, thickly lashed. He wanted to memorize every aspect of her face … until he realized he already had. The straight, narrow nose that tipped up ever so slightly at the end, the full lips, the curve of her cheek, the way the light shone off her brown curls. She had left a lasting impression upon him.

A man cleared his throat, and they both turned away.

“Here they are.” Heinrich beamed down on Miss Victon. “And they seem to have fared as well as we.”

“Thank you for the dance, Your Grace.” She blushed, her voice barely above a whisper. “You are a very fine partner, and I appreciate that you have tried to make my first ball at Almack’s so pleasant.”

Daniel was proud of her. Miss Victon was shy, and most likely painfully aware that her father’s abrasive nature and newfound wealth put people off. She was smart too. Quick to pick up on the kindness of Heinrich and Juliette.

“The next dance is a waltz, and as debutantes, Anne and I are excluded.” Juliette flicked open her fan. “I propose that we make our way to the refreshment room for some punch and cake. The gentlemen may accompany us, or they may partake in the waltz, there being no strictures on which dances men are allowed to do.” She quirked her eyebrow in a way that was familiar to Daniel and said louder than words that she didn’t agree with the discrepancy in standards.

“I’ve no desire to waltz at the moment. I say we make it a foursome for punch and cake.” Daniel offered his arm to Anne. “Shall we report back to your chaperone first for permission?”

“That would be proper, would it not?” Anne nodded, then turned to Juliette. “My father hired Lady Cathcart to be my chaperone for events like this to which he and Mother are not invited. She’s really not very good at it, for she seems not to care what I do when we go out.”

“Which is not the case for Lady Juliette’s personal dragon, the Dowager Duchess of Haverly. She minds to the smallest degree everything Juliette does.” Heinrich smiled. “We shall make our intentions known to the dowager and receive her permission to enter the refreshment room. Perhaps we shall bribe her with promises of cake.” He held out his arm, and Juliette took it.

Daniel stomped hard on his envy. “Shall we meet in a few minutes?”

Daniel led Anne back to her duenna, and all the way, she chattered about how nice Duke Heinrich was, and how kind of him to dance with her, and people were actually smiling at them. Anne was like a different creature from the mouselike girl who had emerged from the carriage.