Page 31 of Unmasked By a Captivating Lady
The lady was attending the ball as well. She would be here, laughing and drinking champagne, dancing and chatting, as if what had happened between them had never occurred. How could he face her after what she had done?
Suddenly, he turned, striding out of the room.
For better or worse, he had made up his mind. And now he needed to find Andrew, and tell him.
***
Andrew gaped at him. “What? What did you just say?”
Miles took a deep breath. “I said, I cannot attend the ball.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I am sorry, Andy, but it is simply not possible.”
Andrew sighed heavily. “Brother, you are not yourself,” he said slowly. “Please, sit down, and we can work this out.”
Miles obediently sank down into the chair opposite his brother’s desk. With difficulty he suppressed the impulse to spring back up again and resume pacing the floor.
“You are a mess, brother,” said Andrew quietly. “You are so jittery you look like you might jump out the window. Take a deep breath and tell me what are the reasons you feel you cannot attend the ball.”
Miles sighed deeply, running another distracted hand through his hair. “I simply cannot, Andy.” He paused. “There is the matter of Miss Nott. She truly believes that I am the Duke of Lancaster, and I cannot face her deep disappointment and hurt when she finds out that I am not.”
Andrew nodded slowly. “I see. You have seen Miss Nott again, I take it?”
Miles nodded. “Yes. Against my better judgement, I called on her…and things progressed somewhat between us.” He hesitated. “She is a beautiful woman, brother. But it is not only her beauty which has captivated me. She is…simply wonderful. And she will be bitterly hurt when she discovers I am not who I claim to be. I cannot be here to see it.”
Andrew sighed. “You are in a pickle, are you not? The wager we made seems to have backfired slightly. I suppose you were not anticipating that you would meet a lady who you actually cared for.”
“No, indeed.” Miles took a deep breath. “It was…surprising, to say the least. Things have taken a very unexpected turn, in that way.”
“It will look bad if you are not there,” said his brother gravely. “As my brother, it is expected that you will attend and do your duty. You realise that, don’t you?”
“Do you think I do not know that?” said Miles fiercely. “All my life I have done my duty! It is just one ball, Andy. Can you not excuse me in the circumstances?”
Andrew gazed at him. “I will not compel you to attend. But I think you are making a mistake. Would it not be better to be honest with Miss Nott? Your conscience would then be clear, and the lady can make up her own mind as to whether she can forgive you and wishes to see you again.”
Miles gritted his teeth. “But that is just it, Andy! I cannot see her again. It is not fair to her, to continue what is between us.” He hesitated. “That is the other reason that I cannot go. Miss Lucy Edge is coming to the ball, as well.”
“Ah,” said Andrew. “Of course. Miss Edge.” He gazed at his brother curiously. “It has been years, Miles, since what happened between you. Is the feeling still so strong that you cannot face her?”
“After what she did?” hissed Miles, his eyes darkening. “We were lovers! I was in love with her, and she discarded me for a man who had more money than me. At least, that is what she told me. And now I find out the lady is still single. She broke my heart for nothing!”
Andrew sighed. “Then she is not worth your lingering feelings for her, is she? Why can you not put it behind you?”
Miles looked away. How could he explain to his brother how deeply she had hurt him? That Miss Lucy Edge was the reason he had vowed never to marry, or feel deeply for a woman again, so that he might avoid such feelings?
His heart twisted. He wished fervently he had never met Lucy Edge. If he hadn’t, he might be a whole man today. A man who still had a heart to offer to a fine woman.
A woman like Ara Nott.
His heart started to pound, just thinking of her again. The feel of her beneath his hands. The beauty of her before his eyes. She deserved so much more than him. She would realise that, eventually. Perhaps he needed to be a rake, so that she would cast him out of her heart and her life without a backward glance.
His resolve firmed. He was doing Ara Nott a favour.
“So be it,” said Andrew wearily. “If you feel you really cannot attend, so you can avoid both ladies, then you must do what you must.” He paused. “But I believe it is wrong, brother. You have the opportunity to explain to Miss Nott, and not be a coward about it. And you can avoid Miss Edge if you want. It is simply choice, in both regards.”
Miles squirmed slightly underneath the unflinching gaze of his older brother. He wasn’t proud of himself, not in the least. But the thought of Ara’s disappointment in him, and seeing Lucy again, all on the same night, was simply too much.
He stood up. Carefully, he put his hand in his pocket, getting out some coin. He placed it on Andrew’s desk.
“What is that for?” said Andrew, staring at the money.
