Duke Augustus Leopold was a man of high stature. And as such, he always dreaded the first day of the courting season. Though if he was honest he dreaded the entire season. He knew the courting season only meant that he would be chased down by crazed mamas and their marriage hungry daughters. He couldn’t stand it, what all of those women were willing to do to have their daughter marry a Duke. He found it all so disgusting. He would much rather be back at his home, caring for his tenants and village. He had only been in his London home for a night and he was already tired of it.

Augustus stood in a ballroom, watching women being spun round and round by the men on the dance floor. The women laughed too hard at jokes he was sure did not come even close to humor. He knew there were plenty of women staring at him, waiting for him to ask them to dance. He tried to avoid making eye contact, narrowly escaping conversations with mothers who were trying to sell off their own daughters. Then he saw her. She smiled largely at something one of her friends had said. She laughed with her whole heart and not the polite little laughs that was meant to attract a suitor. She laughed as though no one was watching, it was like she had become a beacon in a storm. She was stunning and so… improper. The exact type of woman he needed to stay far, far away from. So then, why was he walking towards her?

“Dance with me.” He says, interrupting the conversation with people he had deemed of much less importance. It wasn’t a question but more of a demand, one she would be wise not to turn down.