DESIRES AND DEVOTION

CHAPTER 2- DAMSEL IN DISTRESS

Savannah scanned the room looking for Seraphina. She had seen no sight of her all through the night. She promised to grace the queen's invite, how could she not honor it?

She wondered what could be keeping her beloved friend, she could not bear having to dance with another boring man.

No one she danced with tickled her fancy, they were all bland and had nothing more to them than a title.

She hissed under her breath remembering the expression on their faces when they realized she was well read. They were intimidated by her intelligence she could tell. A part of her was disgusted, another took pride in it.

She really wished Seraphina was here, not only because she was missing the companion of her friend but also because she was missing out on a lot of things.

She loved things like this, big ball, nice food, great music and she loved to dance. They had talked numerous times about nights like this, this was a night Seraphina couldn't miss for anything, their first outing.

Savannah turned around startled by a cough. She was met by a tall young man that looked like he was in his early thirties.

He had a lovely blue coat that matched the color of his eyes. A nice cravat that fit him, his boots, they looked new, probably yet to be launched. He looked good; she gave him that.

Taking a closer look at his face, she looked at him suspiciously, he did not look familiar. Not that she knew most people, but he dressed like a nobleman, she knew most of them thanks to papa and Richard. When he spoke, his accent confirmed her suspicions, he was not from here.

"Care for a dance Lady Savannah?", he had this cocky smile plastered on his face and for a moment she thought, rake.

To her surprise she agreed, she needed one more dance to complete her dance tag and also, she was beyond curious to know the identity of this man who knew her by name.

She curtseyed accepting his offer, holding her by her hand he led her to the dance floor. In the midst of their dancing, he finally introduced himself, "I am Lord Felix Wynne, Duke of new castle". He said it with so much pride, she hated proud men.

"Nice to meet you my Lord, and if I may ask how do you know my name? "She was really inquisitive. Not many people knew her by first name talk more of a stranger.

"A certain whisperer told me", she believed not a word he spoke. She was not going to press further on the matter but what he said next caught her off guard. "How could I not know the diamond of the season?"

She knew fully well that was the nickname she had adopted after the queen took a liking towards her but that came with so much weight she did not want to bear.

They talked about a few things; she concluded the man was no different from the rest. He too believed females were inferior and should not invest in learning since their only purpose was to bear babies.

His words triggered her, but she tried her best to be calm, she has had enough of ignorant London men for a night. She could not just wait for the dance to be over, and he gave her another reason for that.

While dancing his hands slipped from her hands and griped her bum, she had become livid. She could swear this was no mistake.

"Lord Duke-, stop please"

"Stop what?", mischief could be seen in his eyes.

"Stop touching me in such manner I do not like it"

"But if we were to marry, I would have to touch you ", she looked at him confused, his grip on her bum still firm.