Page 8 of Enslaved to the Seduction of a Lady
“Your sister is well?” he asked finally, forcing himself to look away. He did not like the lustful thoughts he had of her and shook his head to rid himself of them. She was too angelic, too perfect for all that.
“She is,” she said, turning from the horse to face him. “I know I’ve said it several times, but I’m so pleased she is returned to us.”
“Several times?” he asked, eyebrow raised at her. “You mean severalhundredtimes.”
“Perhaps,” she said, laughing. “But I cannot help it. It’s the truth.”
“I know,” he said, softer this time, smiling at her. He knew how happy she was to be reunited with Teresa and he felt so pleased for her, only ever wanting the best for her.
“You know,” Alison said, “I cannot help but feel this garden party will be a great success.”
“And the first of many, I believe,” Luke said, sitting on the mound of hay in the corner of the stable, settling himself and looking up at her. “You are going to do this every year on the anniversary of your sister’s return?”
“I hope so,” Alison said. “It is certainly something that needs celebrating. It has been such a wonder to have her back, to rediscover each other. I am extremely lucky to have such a sister, even though I have missed a great deal of her life.”
“It was not missed,” Luke said, “merely delayed. You have time to catch up, now.”
“And thank goodness,” Alison said. “We have missed her dearly.”
“I know,” Luke said. “I remember.”
He remembered the days and nights she spent crying, of the time they spent searching for Teresa. He remembered the gossip among the servants—that she had been taken, that she was dead. He remembered that, even then, he would have done all he could to see Lady Alison’s smile, even just one more time.
“Of course you remember.” She smiled at him and joined him, squirming until her bottom half was surrounded by hay, with barely her feet sticking up from out of it. She rearranged her skirts in a proper manner, then looked at him. “You’ve always been here for me. I’m incredibly grateful for that.”
“I’ve tried, My Lady,” he said with a reassuring smile. He would be there for her until the end of time, if that was what she wanted, but he couldn’t say that, he couldn’t admit it, and so he simply said, “It is my duty.”
“Is it…” she trailed off and he could see she was wary of the words to come, “is it evermorethan duty?”
His breath rushed out of him—half-sigh, half-laugh that she could even ask that. It wasalwaysmore than duty, and it always would be.
“You know it is,” he said softly, and looking at her made him fall for her all over again. “You and I, we are… we are friends, are we not?”
The word felt like a dagger within him, but he couldn’t admit to feeling anything more. Not to a lady, not to Lady Alison, not then. She shuffled her position, uncomfortable, and he feared he had said the wrong thing.
“Yes,” she said, not looking at him, “we are friends.”
He looked away, not wanting to fall into her eyes, or lose himself in his love for her. He didn’t want to be lost in the thought that they could be more than friends, because he wasn’t sure they ever could. All he knew was that being with her feltright. It felt natural and easy, as though they belonged together at least in conversation but perhaps, with time, in more.
“Will there be many people attending?” he asked.
“Enough,” Alison said, her voice dry and droll. “I believe Mother has invited half of London.”
“At least she didn’t invite the whole of London,” he said, snorting at the thought.
“There is that,” Alison said. “Although I wouldn’t be at all surprised by that, either. You know, I wish you could join us.”
He felt the truth of his situation cast a shadow over him, darkening his mind and soul. He would love to go to the party, more than he could ever say. He wanted to wander around, drink in hand, his glance going all too often to his beautiful lady. He wanted to dance with her, to let the music infect their souls and send them pirouetting, as the other guests watched on, in awe of their love and their union.
He had no desire to become a member of theton. But he did want Lady Alison, and he knew he could not have her without having everything that came with it.
“I’ll watch from afar,” he said eventually. “I shall take pleasure in seeing you dance and talk and enjoy yourself.”
“That is not the same, and you know it,” Alison said, looking down at her hands. His heart broke for the sadness in her, and he wished more than anything that he could fix it.
“No, it’s not the same,” he said. “But it’s good enough for me.”
