Page 30 of Unmasked By a Captivating Lady
Ruth smiled faintly. “Oh, I do not know about that, Ara. I tremble so whenever a young man approaches me for a dance, and become so tongue tied I look very foolish, indeed.” She paused. “I wish that I had your confidence, my dear. You do not care what anyone thinks of you…”
Ara stiffened slightly. “I do not know about that,” she said. “There is one whose opinion means something to me…”
Ruth turned around to face her. “The Duke. He is the reason you have been so quiet, and hardly eating, staying in your room so much. Am I right?”
Ara sighed deeply. “Oh, Ruth! I do not know what is wrong with me! But I must admit, I cannot stop thinking about him…”
“I think you are already a little in love with him,” said Ruth quietly. “You fight against it so, Ara, but it is what it is. And I believe that he is half in love with you, as well.”
Stunned, Ara stared at her. Was that why she was so morose, and confused, and mooning over the Duke? Was this love?
There was another knock at the door, but before she could say anything it had already opened. Her mother was standing there.
“Here you both are,” she beamed, staring at them wide eyed. “Oh, my dears, I am so pleased you are trying on your gowns! You both look simply ravishing!” She stepped into the room, closing the door firmly behind her.
“Not long now, my pets,” said Mrs. Nott, circling them both, pulling at stray threads. “The ball is almost here, at long last!” She gazed at Ara. “I daresay you are eager to see the Duke again, daughter. I am sure there are very good reasons he has been absent, and he will make it up to you…”
Ara nodded, feeling another shiver of longing fall through her. “Perhaps, Mama.” She bit her lip, looking away. “I must admit, I am looking forward to the ball…”
Her mother stared at her, almost glowing with pleasure. “What shall you do, if the Duke proposes, Ara? What are your feelings about matrimony now, with such a handsome, charming man circling you?”
Ara gazed back at her mother, who was staring at her avidly.
“I must admit,” she said slowly, “that the idea is not as distasteful as it once was…”
“I knew it!” said her mother, beaming. “I knew that you were coming around to the idea! I feel that you have been a little lovesick, this week, have you not?”
Ara slowly nodded her head. Yes, perhaps Ruth and her mother were both right. These strange, mixed up feelings she had been experiencing…were they love? Even just a little?
Chapter 15
Miles walked slowly around the ballroom. It was a cacophony of activity, and no one had any time or inclination to acknowledge him. They were all too busy to attend to him, or inquire as to why he was there.
He stared at the masses of flowers, which the staff were expertly arranging in tall crystal vases. Above him, men were on ladders, weaving flowers, spray and green leaves around the ceiling. Candelabras were being deposited in every corner, complete with fresh white candles.
He kept walking, staring at the Cook, who was deep in conversation with the butler, no doubt working out the arrival of the food into the assembly. In a far corner, the musicians that had been hired were tuning their instruments for a practise run. The conductor was staring down at his sheets of music, a distracted expression on his face.
His heart seized, feeling frustration coursing through him. Tomorrow night was the ball. It had sped up on him this week, even while he had agonised about it, knowing that with each passing day it loomed closer. And he was still no closer to knowing what to do about it.
He kept pacing the ballroom, deep in thought. Time was running out, as inexorably as sand through an hour glass. Tomorrow evening she would arrive here, flushed with excitement, expecting that she would be formally introduced to the Duke of Lancaster. To him, not his brother. And in the moment when that happened, she would know that he had lied to her.
Every day, since he had been with her in the stable, he had told himself he would go to her, and explain. And every day he had found a reason why he could not.
I am a coward,he thought fiercely.She deserves more than this.
He knew that she was waiting for him. He knew that she needed to see him, so that he could hold her in his arms again and reassure her that what she had done with him was not a sin. She was a well brought up young lady, and he knew she would be agonising about it.
He felt his loins stir, picturing her again for the thousandth time. Picturing her pressed up against that stable wall, in her moment of ecstasy. Ecstasy that he had unleashed through his hand. It had taken all of his self-control to stop himself taking her in that moment. The only reason he hadn’t was that he knew it was too soon, and he wanted to do it properly.
The thought of holding her in his arms again, and pleasuring her in the same way, overwhelmed him for a moment. He had always suspected that she was a passionate woman, but still he had been surprised and deeply gratified by her response to him. It enflamed him, just thinking about it. And his own response to her was deep and true. Even the thought of kissing her soft lips again made him ache with need.
He gritted his teeth in frustration. He should go to Ara now, and confess the truth. She was responding to him, as a man, and not his supposed title. He knew that what she felt was genuine. She would forgive him, surely?
He kept pacing the room, in an agony of indecision. What did it matter, anyway? He had nothing to offer her. Even as he craved her, he knew that he could not marry her. His heart was dead, broken and battered. It would be a blessing if he just stayed away from her. For her, as well as for him.
He took a deep breath. Ara would recover in time. She was strong and forthright. One of the strongest women he had ever met. She would soon forget about him and carry on. But even as he told himself that it was for the best, guilt gnawed at him constantly, like a mouse on a wheel of cheese.
He took another deep breath. And then there was the matter of Lucy Edge.
