“You will not,” Thornstock replied. “I’ve already danced once with Gwyn. She’s your problem now.” Then the man waggled his fingers at Beatrice. “Come, Miss Wolfe. We’ll start with my showing you the steps, and then Mother will play the slowest minuet over and over until you can master it.”
Grey crossed his arms over his chest. “I thought you didn’t even want to be doing this. Go have your ride. I’ll take care of teaching Beatr—Miss Wolfe.”
Mischief gleamed in Thornstock’s eyes as he apparently caught the slip. “I’ve changed my mind. I’d be delighted to instruct Miss Wolfe in . . . all sorts of things.”
Grey began to look as if he might throttle the man when Gwyn breezed over to take Beatrice’s arm. “Good Lord, I will teach her the steps, thank you very much. Why don’t you two go call for some tea to be brought? I daresay we’ll need it if you intend to keep snarling at each other.”
“The only thing I’m calling for, Sis,” Thornstock muttered, “is brandy.”
Gwyn drew Beatrice closer to the piano. “If you want to be foxed by noon, go ahead. I would like some tea, and I’m sure Mama and Bea could use some, too.” She made a shooing motion. “Go, both of you. Give us a while to ourselves. No woman wants a male audience when she’s just learning a dance step.”
Grey glanced at Beatrice, then grabbing his brother forcefully by the arm, he led him out the door. Beatrice released a long breath.
With a rueful smile, Gwyn patted her hand. “How does it feel to have two dukes fighting over you, my dear?”
“If they weren’t using me merely to provoke each other, I might enjoy it.”
Gwyn shot her a considering look. “I’m not entirely sure that’s the motivation of both of them.” Her expression turned enigmatic. “But we’ll see.” She turned to her mother. “Mama, can you play the first bars of that piece very slowly?”
Nodding her approval, Aunt Lydia did so. And thus began Beatrice’s first minuet lesson.
Chapter Ten
As soon as Grey left the ballroom, he released his idiot brother and gave instructions to a footman to have refreshments brought for the ladies. Then he headed for the study to see what Sheridan was up to.
Thorn followed him. “Sheridan mentioned that you might have an interest in Miss Wolfe, and I didn’t believe him. Apparently, I was wrong.”
“You’re both wrong.” Grey fought to keep his temper in check. “My interest in Miss Wolfe is the same as I’d have for any relation of Maurice’s.”
He only wanted to make sure she wasn’t hiding something concerning her uncles’ deaths and thus determine if her brother was the murderous fellow Sheridan had made him out to be. It was purely a matter of doing what Sheridan had asked him to. Nothing more.
“Then why are you so eager to dance with her? And to keep me from dancing with her?”
Grey lifted an eyebrow. “I merely wish to make sure you don’t toy with her. She’s not your mouse to bat around like a tomcat before he goes in for the kill.”
Thorn cocked his head. “Has it occurred to you I might actually be looking for a wife?”
“No, it has not.” Grey faced his brother. “You see women merely as conquests to add to your score. You ought to respect the fact that she’s Sheridan’s cousin and stay away from her, if only for his sake.”
“For Sheridan’s sake?” Thorn laughed. “That’s not why you want me staying away from her. Actually, I see Miss Wolfe as an entertaining way to drive you mad. Admit it, you fancy her.”
“Don’t be absurd.” The last person to whom Grey would admit his fascination with Beatrice was Thorn, who would try to seduce her just to get Grey to acknowledge that he wanted her. And while the woman was obviously hiding something concerning her uncle, she was doing it poorly enough to convince Grey that she wouldn’t know the first thing about fending off a determined philanderer like Thorn.
Best to ignore Thorn’s remark and proceed with caution by appealing to the man’s reason. “You must understand—Miss Wolfe isn’t worldly wise, and your tactics aren’t in her limited experience of men. I’m merely doing what any true gentleman would—protecting an innocent and respectable woman from a blackguard like you.”
All Thorn’s amusement vanished. “A ‘blackguard’ like me.” He advanced on Grey. “‘Let