Page 58 of Matters of a Duke's Heart
“Really?” He arched a brow.
“Hmm. I do believe I met a very rude duke while lost there. Perhaps he might like to take me for a turn around the Lovers’ Walk to rectify his old mistake.”
“Ah, I see.” His grin broadened, going along with her teasing. “I did not know you were interested in such scandalous places. I do hope we are not caught walking alone.”
Felicity only laughed harder and let him catch her properly around the waist. Against her cheek, he murmured, “I would love to take you back there. This time, I will not walk away.”
“I do hope not,” she grumbled. “You were ever so rude.”
“I looked for you afterwards. When the crowd gathered at the Orchestra, I searched for you.”
“Did you need to absolve your guilt that your dismissal had not caused me to get lost or captured or—worse, death?” She feigned a terrible gasp.
“Heavens, you ought to stop reading your fiction books, Felicity.” Spencer grimaced, shaking his head in mock disappointment. “I fear you are becoming too dramatic.”
“I believe I learned it from our meeting with Lord Wexley yesterday. You respond very well to his sarcasm, so I thought I ought to try it.”
“Hmm.” Spencer’s eyes narrowed. “I know it was a mistake letting the two of you meet.”
Felicity only giggled again and pulled away, fixing her necklace and ensuring her gloves were secured around her elbows. “I have heard that Lord Wexley intends on asking Daphne for a dance tonight.”
Something about her light-hearted comment had Spencer straightening sharply and looking at her. But whatever concerned him about the comment was gone, composure replacing it.
“What is it?” She pressed.
“Nothing,” he answered too quickly. “I just… I did not think you would support the match.”
“I support anything that gives my sister happiness. She confessed to me that Lord Radcliffe is still lingering around her at times, and Lord Wexley seems like a very capable man. I am certain he can look out for her whenever I cannot.”
Spencer paused, frowning. “Felicity, do you ever wish to move to London more permanently? I know you like it out here, but if you ever wanted to be closer to Lady Daphne we can relocate.”
Felicity shook her head and smoothed down her skirts. “Daphne has her life, as I have mine. I want to be there for her during her engagement when it happens, with whomever it happens with, but… ah, as selfish as it might sound, I waited a long time to escape the ton, and my mother’s slightly overburdening ways. I adore her—I adore my whole family, really—but sometimes the fact that I am far away makes me feel as though I am finally in control of my own life. I am not boxed by their expectation.”
The nod Spencer gave her in response came paired with a secret smile as he moved closer. From behind, he embraced her, and she swore she felt the barest brush of his lips just below her earlobe. It sent a shiver through her, and she leaned back against him.
“It also helps to be far away so that we are not forced into propriety every moment we leave the house.” He gave a quiet laugh, and Felicity spun in his arms.
“Considering you are a man who holds himself so highly in terms of being proper, I am surprised you would make such a comment.”
“Something has changed within my heart,” he confessed. “I find myself unable to stop thinking of kissing you every moment I see you.”
The admission came as a surprise, even now, even when they had spent the last week or so growing ever closer.
Their breakfast on the terrace became an almost-daily routine, looking out over Langdon Village in the distance, and dinner with Alexander had become permanently engraved in their evening as well. Felicity finally knew where she fit within this house, with Spencer and Alexander, and she could not be happier.
“So then you must do it,” she challenged. “Kiss me every moment you see me.”
“I shall,” he murmured, and then did exactly that. He kissed her so breathlessly that Felicity thought back to the decision she had made that morning. She felt ready to take their marriage further. She knew it had stopped being a marriage of convenience a while ago, had developed into more, and she ached with a new desire she had not felt before.
After the Farriers’ ball, she had every intention of asking him to come to her room through the night so they might lie as husband and wife did.
***
The Farriers were a newlywed earl and countess who were hosting their first ball as a married couple. Felicity and Spencer walked in, arm-in-arm, and were immediately distracted by Lord Wexley.
“Well, look at the two of you!” he called out, spreading his arms as if to embrace them both. Felicity felt too awkward to hug back, and Spencer simply glowered at his friend. Lord Wexley cleared his throat, averting his gaze. “Anyway,” he looked at Felicity. “Your Grace, you look as beautiful as ever,” he said then turned to Spencer. “And you Your Grace, appear very brooding, veryintense, but there is this lovely little glimmer in your eye. Dare I say it is love?”
“Dare you walk away instead?” Spencer countered, but Felicity laughed at the sour expression on his face as he tried not to laugh at himself. Lord Wexley only dismissed his comment and signaled for a waiter to bring over enough wine for them all.
