Tomoyo tried to keep silent as they danced. If she ignored him, he would simply be disinterested and get bored like everyone else. It always worked.
Eriol simply watched and smiled. When he flashed that cursed dimple at her, Tomoyo averted her eyes and said, "My Lord, it is unseemly of you to stare."
"I am not staring, ma'am. I'm waiting for you."
"Waiting for me to what?" Tomoyo finally looked up at him, and caught the mischief dancing in his eyes. She sucked in a quick breath. He isn't going to make an indecent proposition here in public, is he?
"I recall you were going to tell me more about this Madame Taylor."
Tomoyo sighed in relief, and felt Eriol tense briefly. "She is a gifted seamstress, they say. She makes the finest dresses for the finest ladies of the Ton, but she keeps her identity a secret."
Eriol firmly kept his gaze from her decolletage, "Some prefer their good deeds unknown to the public."
Tomoyo was surprised by this. Most people would wonder or sneer when told she won't flaunt her success. He spoke as though he understood without being told why.
"It is easy to be great when you have the best resources to work with." Tomoyo eyed him carefully. She was playing with fire simply by saying that. She should have changed the topic from the start. People saw the beautiful gowns, never the maker. She couldn't help herself; she was curious.
"Thank you, Miss Daidouji, but I believe the credit goes to my hardworking tenants. I simply invest." Eriol dismissed it, but she could detect pride hidden in his gaze.
Duly humbled, Tomoyo dropped her gaze.
Because of her work, She knew Eriol owned mills in the north among other things. His mills produced some of the best clothing materials to be had. She also knew people in his employ who supply her, and they enjoyed benefits much better than others in the same line of work. He was wise and effective in his business, but no one gossiped about it except to say how much wealth he has amassed. Tomoyo now wondered if he had other qualities he hid under his mantle of scandal and sin.
The song had ended and the duke was escorting her to the supper table in curious silence. She was used to silence from her partners because most gentlemen only escort her to get closer to Sakura. But right now, Tomoyo was steadily getting annoyed. He should have refused outright earlier if he had no intention of even pretending to be in her company. Here she was doing her best to ignore the heat he radiated and the scent of sandalwood, clean soap, and spicy male he exuded, and he just sat there in silence.
After the main course was cleared, she couldn't bear it anymore. Tomoyo lifted her gaze to his, ready to set him straight, only to stop. He was watching her with the light of mischief back in his eyes. She distractedly wondered if this man always disrupted the flow of words with a simple look. Probably.
"What are you doing, Your Grace?" Tomoyo said looking back at her plate.
"I was wondering how you came to be Lady Avalon's chaperone at such a young age." Eriol said after a moment. Truth was, he had been distracted watching her eat. He never before thought a woman could look so scrumptious devouring delicious food.
"I'm already three and twenty. I have long been left on the shelf. As for how I came to be Sakura's chaperone… Our mothers were close friends, and even now, her family lets us reside with them every Season. Sakura lost her mother when she was young, so I act as her chaperone now." Tomoyo said evenly as sherbet was being served. For an unscrupulous scoundrel, the duke had rather normal conversation topics. She sighed in relief.
"Why doesn't Lady Daidouji chaperone her?" She paused her spoon at the question. Eriol watched as ice melted and dripped on her decolletage. She dabbed at the sweetened skin before resuming.
"Mama has become… weak through the years. She loves society, but she probably can't handle the demands of being Sakura's chaperone."
"You're not much older than Lady Avalon. Do you not have plans to marry?" He watched as another spoon paused, threatening to drip again. Eriol swore if it fell, he was going to follow it on the way down.
Tomoyo smiled a little sadly and dropped the spoon back down, "It seems I don't inspire enough passion in men to marry."
"Perhaps you just haven't met the right man. Would you do me the honor of standing by me for the next dance?" Eriol knew he was playing a dangerous game. He never dallied with innocents. The next dance was a waltz though, and he couldn't leave tonight without tasting Miss Tomoyo Daidouji's lips.