Page 69 of How to Seduce a Duke this Autumn
Her lips twitched. “Not even a little.”
He huffed a quiet laugh. The situation had certainly spiraled out of control. Control… Adam inwardly shook his head. He needed to get them back into that ballroom. She was too close. Too tempting. Too much.
He had two choices—step away or give in.
And stepping away felt impossible.
He forced his gaze upward, away from temptation. “If we follow the street line, we should reach the house without any more encounters.” They’d also probably reach a different side of the house, which brought along more sets of troubles, but he couldn’t think about that now. The biggest trouble was staying here.
Because he realized with heart thrumming clarity. Control? It wasn’t slipping. It had already shattered.
Chapter Sixteen
Charlene narrowed hereyes on Maddie, who in return narrowed her eyes on her.
“Don’t think I don’t know you disappeared with the Duke of Rotheworth last night,” her friend said. “And for ages at that.”
Charlene scoffed and broke eye contact first, turning her attention back to her orchid. Last night had been… well, she couldn’t quite explain. It had been magical in the sort of way that had been freeing. Like at long last, shackles had unclasped and fallen from her ankles. But she didn’t know how to explain that to her friends. It’s not that they wouldn’t understand if she tried; it’s just that she didn’t understand what it meant either.
At least for the future.
She was attracted to Adam. No secret there.
She fell deeper with every encounter. No secret there either.
But he was a Cross. Most certainly not a secret.
And while he kissed her at the fireworks and kissed her back yesterday, it still wasn’t clear what he wanted.
Wasn’t it?
Urgh. That little voice! But she’d almost been engaged to his brother. Yes, there, she finally allowed the thought to surface. Engaged. While that didn’t mean they couldn’t kiss and whatnot, his brother was still the one who hurt her.
How to navigate that tempest?
She didn’t know. The only thing she did know was that his brother left England and stayed away. For which she was thankful. She didn’t know what she would do if he ever returned. She would never have reconnected with Adam if he had. And speaking of that, Adam had left, too.
What if he left again?
And while some part of her rational mind knew he wouldn’t just leave again, it was time to admit there was a small fear in her heart that he would. Perhaps not leave England, but what about leaving her for Miss Martin? Or someone else? Leaving, after all, didn’t have to be physical.
On the other hand, since his return, he’d seen her. Listened. Touched her like she wasn’t some broken-hearted person but someone worth holding onto. Worth kissing under fireworks, worth holding a conversation with under the stars, worth dashing through a garden.
It made her want things. Things, things. Adam things.
Like another moment with him.
And then another.
And then another.
And never stop another’s. Did that even make sense? Her heart certainly thought so. As did her head. Her brother would certainly not, however. He had no time for a Cross, which was why she’d been thankful he hadn’t trailed after her to events. Also, then there was Mr. Henry Grafton staying with them. He hadn’t escorted her either. It seemed those two were neck deep in business transactions. That suited her just fine.
Charlene loved her brother, but she didn’t need him breathing down her collar and fighting her on her choices. She needed to discover her heart on her own, even if it broke again.
“What are you thinking about?” Maddie asked, breaking through her musings.
Charlene blinked. “Orchids.”
