Page 34 of Lily and the Duke

Did Gabriel’s lack of contact with her and his absence this evening mean that he had already grown tired of her?

Possibly because she had beentoopassionate in her responses to his lovemaking?

The first possibility made her heart heavy, and the second caused her to inwardly cringe with embarrassment as well as dismay.

It had been impossible for hernotto respond to Gabriel’s lovemaking as wholeheartedly as she had, and the thought of never being alone or intimate with him again caused a painful heaviness in her chest.

“Are you just going to continue sitting there or join me and your sisters-in-law in the other room for refreshment before the second half of the entertainment?” her mother prompted waspishly.

Lily looked up and realized the piano recital had come to an end and her mother was now standing beside her, impatiently snapping her fan to and fro.

The absence of her sisters-in-law indicated the two ladies had already gone through to the adjoining room. The four Tremayne women had attended the musical soiree together. Goodness knew what entertainment the Tremayne men were enjoying this evening.

Lily believed the only reason the other two younger women had decided to attend the soiree with them this evening was because it had been widely rumored that the Duke of St. Albans would be attending, and they were curious to see whether or not the duke would once again single Lily out for his attention.

She was unsure which was worse, the fact that Gabriel had not appeared at all, or the possibility that he might have done so before then cutting her completely.

On reflection, she decided the first was preferable.

Lily felt ill at the thought of joining her mother and sisters-in-law and possibly having to answer their probing questions as to why Chloe and her father had decided not to attend this evening after all. “It is so hot in here tonight,” she answered her mother. “I think I will step out onto the terrace and take the air for a few minutes. I will join you if there is time after that.”

“Very well,” the countess snapped, obviously impatient to be gone. “But take care you do not catch a chill. I do not want to be kept awake all night from hearing the servants running around catering to your needs because of your silly whim to go outside in the cold evening air.”

As if a chill would be lurking outside on the terrace, just waiting to ambush Lily and so put hermotherto suffering such an inconvenience!

“Of course, Mama,” she replied obediently as she stood and made her way to where one of the doors onto the terrace had been opened when the room became too hot for the comfort of those both playing and listening to the music.

It was much cooler outside, as was to be expected for late February, but Lily felt so numb inside, she barely noticed it as she walked along the length of the terrace lit by the glow of several lamps.

Her evening had started out with such high expectations and excitement at the thought of seeing Gabriel again. Only for those feelings to slowly dissipate throughout the evening when he had not arrived. Now all Lily felt was that cold lump lodged in her chest, which she believed must be her bruised and aching heart.

There was also the knowledge of the pitying stares she would have to suffer from the other members of thetonduring the rest of the evening, when it became even more obvious that neither Gabriel nor Chloe intended to join them for the second half of the recital.

That realization caused her to consider exactly what she was doing by indulging in any sort of intimacy with a man who was known to be opposed to love and emotions.

How stupid she had been to think entering into a relationship with Gabriel could ever end happily. For her, at least.

It would not.

It could not.

Nor was she sophisticated enough to deal with such a situation with any continuing degree of detachment.

There was also her pride to consider. Which, she now realized, was desperately in need of attention. She could not, would not, allow herself to be any more of a slave to her emotions, the love she felt for Gabriel, than she had already been. Not when she knew there was not the remotest chance of him returning those feelings.

The tears felt hot on the coolness of Lily’s cheeks, and it truly felt as if her heart were breaking as she finally accepted that as her reality.

Her despair at that acceptance was now such that she had no idea how she was ever going to be able to find the courage to face Gabriel again, even socially. Let alone continue to have a friendship with Chloe, when she would constantly feel in dangerof meeting the person who was now the reason for her feelings of humiliation. She—

“What on earth are you doing out here alone and in the cold?”

Lily gasped as she spun sharply on her slippered heels to see Gabriel removing his jacket as he quickly strode down the length of the terrace toward her.

He looked magnificent, as always. Even more so than usual without the tailored evening jacket he now draped about her shoulders. His shoulders were wide in his fitted shirt, his necktie gleaming snowy white in the moonlight, his silver brocade waistcoat fitted to the flatness of his abdomen. The salt and pepper of his hair was slightly ruffled by the softness of the cool breeze.

The inside of his jacket was warm from the heat of his body, and it smelled slightly of the cologne he favored, that heady mixture of citrus and sandalwood.

“Lily?” he prompted sharply, hands lightly gripping her shoulders.

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