Page 42 of A Duke Reformed
But she was smarter than that. There was no way she would fall in love with a man like him.
"Have you ever wondered what it might be like to kiss a woman who always has so very much to say?"
Solomon's words hung in the air like a heavy mist, and Andrew's face went from confusion to pure astonishment in the span of a heartbeat. The words had been sitting on the tip of his tongue ever since his discussion with Emma at the park. He had found himself staring at her lips for far too long. And even now, during, and after their first dance, he couldn't seem to shake the thought.
Andrew's hand, which had been holding a glass of champagne to his lips, faltered as he tried to swallow, but it all went terriblywrong. He choked on his drink, spluttering as the champagne spilled out of the glass and onto his sleeve.
"By God, Solomon!" Andrew gasped, wiping his mouth hastily with his other hand. His face turned a shade of red that wasn't entirely from the drink. "That's..." He cleared his throat again, still fumbling for words. "That's not a conversation I'm having with you."
Solomon sighed deeply, leaning back against the corner of the room, his arms crossed loosely as he watched Andrew recover from the near-disaster with the drink. The words he'd spoken felt like a slip of the tongue, something he didn't intend to let out. He didn't even know why he'd said it. Emma had been plaguing his thoughts for days now, and he was caught in a strange whirlwind of confusion. His mind was so tangled, he couldn't untangle it no matter how much he tried.
"Sorry," Solomon whispered, rubbing his temple, feeling a strange weight settle over him.
Andrew, still visibly flustered, shook his head with a disbelieving grin. "Is it Emma?" he asked. "Is Emma the reason you are imagining... things?"
"No," he said before thinking. "Yes," he corrected himself, after giving it a second thought. "I don't know what it is. But lately, I think about her a lot, and I don't think it's ideal."
Andrew crossed his arms. "Solomon, when was the last time you courted someone? I know we are business partners and we rarely talk about our personal lives, but I'm curious."
Solomon paused, taken off guard by the sudden turn in the conversation. He leaned back against the wall, looking at Andrew with a slight chuckle. "I don't think I want to answer that."
"Answer the question, Solomon Miller. You're the one that made this personal. Not me," Andrew said.
Solomon shifted uncomfortably, his gaze briefly flicking toward Emma and back at Andrew. "I haven't courted anyone, Andrew," he admitted.
"Ever?"
"Ever," he answered. "I am not interested in that. Romance was never part of the plan. It still isn't. For personal reasons."
Andrew's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was trying to read between the lines of Solomon's statement. "Do you think you have feelings for Miss Lockhart? Because if you do, I can speak to my wife. She is–"
"No. Heavens no," Solomon answered. "Emma and I are... very different." Solomon exhaled through his nose, rubbing the back of his neck, trying to avoid Andrew's prying gaze.
"Your Grace, you just asked me an absurd question that almost sent me to an early grave," Andrew said. "I almost choked on my drink."
"Don't exaggerate," Solomon said. "I merely asked a question."
"Clearly, you feel something you are not willing to admit," Andrew said to him.
"Perhaps," Solomon said and turned to search for Emma in the crowd. "But I am a strong-willed man, my friend. Feelings don't affect me. I'm merely curious, that is all. But you don't have to worry. I won't do anything ridiculous."
Andrew opened his mouth, clearly about to say something, but Solomon quickly cut him off with a change of subject. "By the way, do you happen to know any Lord Pearlton?"
Andrew blinked in surprise, his curiosity piqued. "Lord Pearlton? What do you want with him?" he asked, his tone shifting.
"You know who he is?"
Andrew nodded. "He's an Earl. I don't think you have met him, but I can introduce you to him. The man tends to talk a lot, so I generally avoid conversations with him."
Solomon glanced back at him, his expression unreadable. "I would like to have a word with him," he said coolly, not offeringany further explanation. He could feel Andrew's gaze lingering on him, but he didn't meet it. Instead, he focused on scanning the room, instinctively looking for Emma.
"I'm afraid to ask why," Andrew pressed.
"You don't need to know," Solomon answered. "It's... personal."
Andrew's eyebrows furrowed, but he didn't press further, sensing that Solomon wasn't about to divulge anything more. "All right then. But it's one thing to be curious about a man, but if you're going to confront him..."
Andrew's words faded into the background as something else piqued Solomon's interest. Across the room, he spotted Emma again, but this time, she was standing with a man he didn't recognize. She was laughing at something he'd said, her posture was relaxed... her smile wide and genuine. She never smiled at him like that and for whatever reason, the knot in Solomon's stomach tightened.
