Page 53 of Five Nights with a Rakish Duke
He could very well imagine it around a certain lady’s throat, but it was not Lady Margaret he was thinking of.
“Perhaps you should look at some of these broaches, Asher,” Dorian said, trying to get his attention again.
“You think it is too much money?”
“Well, especially as you barely know the lady, as you just said; what if you spend all that money, and she doesn’t like it?”
“The lady I have in mind will like this; I am sure of it,” Asher said with confidence, trying not to give away any more of his thoughts. The emerald was a perfect match for Penny’s eyes. He placed the necklace back down on the counter and hurried to fetch some coins to pay the jeweler. “I will take it.”
“You will?” Dorian asked, picking up the necklace so he could admire the stones too. “I am not sure how well it will suit Lady Margaret.”
“I do not remember saying I was buying it for her,” Asher replied as he handed over the payment. The jeweler hurried off to note the purchase down as Asher did his best to ignore the way that Dorian had darted his head at him.
All fell silent between the two of them as the necklace was handed back to the jeweler to be placed in a velvet box. Once they were ready, they left the shop again. They were only a few steps outside of the shop when Asher could see his friend was ready to burst with words, his face turning increasingly red.
“Say it, Dorian, before you hurt yourself.”
“What exactly are you doing!?”
“What do you mean?”
“We came to buy a gift for the lady you are courting and instead you –” He broke off, looking around at the busyness of the street before he stepped toward Asher and whispered the rest quietly. “Instead, you have bought something for the lady you are having a secret tryst with?”
“Yes, I have,” Asher agreed, startled by his own confidence in the words. “She was the one who found me the other night. She got me home and arranged a physician. I am completely indebted to her and her kindness. Does that not deserve a thank you?”
“Indeed, it does. If this gift is truly intended as a thank you and not a declaration of affection, then I will say no more about it.” Dorian stepped in front of him, cutting him off before he walked any further. “So, tell me what the gift is meant to be?”
Asher slipped the box into his pocket, struggling to lift his gaze to meet his friend’s. It seemed the silence was all he needed to say.
“Asher, what are you doing?”
“She’ll like the gift, surely that’s all that matters?”
“I thought that once. Look what happened to me.” Dorian turned on his heel and walked down the street. Asher hurried up to chase him, so they were walking side by side again.
“You do not need to worry about me, my friend. This is merely a five-night thing.”
“Five nights and a gift,” Dorian corrected with an outstretched hand. “It is not merely a fascination you have with her anymore, is it?”
“What?”
“How do you feel about her?” Dorian asked impatiently. Asher didn’t answer for a minute. He walked alongside his friend as they left Bond Street and headed to their club for luncheon. On route, Asher kept scratching the back of his head, nervous at his own thoughts. “Well?” Dorian urged him on after a few minutes of silence. “You are falling for this lady, aren’t you?”
“I… do not know,” Asher answered eventually. He knew to say he felt nothing for Penny would be untrue. He did care for her, very deeply.
When had that happened?He couldn’t answer his own question, but what was clear was when he had woken up on that divan to find she was gone, he was crushed. He would have loved nothing more than to have found her there, still sleeping with her head on his shoulder.
“That means you are falling for her then,” Dorian said with finality. “I knew it.”
“You know nothing.”
“You have just bought her emeralds and diamonds! A man only spends such money on two occasions,” Dorian said holding up two fingers. “One when he’s very sorry for something he has done, and two when he cares for a woman. Maybe even loves her.”
“I never said I loved her!” Asher said hurriedly, the strength in his words bringing them both to a stop outside of the club. Dorian looked back at him with a small smile. “Why are you smiling?”
“Because the volume of your denial suggests you do.” Dorian shrugged with the words. “Why don’t you marry Lady Penelope, Asher? If you are falling for her, why not?”
“I can’t do that.”
