Page 40 of A Christmas Temptation for the Duke
No!She shook her head to dislodge such thoughts.I do not want to be here. The sooner that I can leave the sooner that I can forget what happened.
“I slept well, thank you.” She walked into the room, doing her best to appear nonchalant, only too aware of the way her knees shook with each step. “And you?”
“Well enough,” he said without looking.
She sat down at the end of the table, as far from him as she could. Watching him, Alison felt a pang in her chest at how dispassionate he acted. It should have been a relief, making her promise that much easier to keep.
What it did instead was remind her of what life was like before she met the Earl. A life in which she was ignored. A life in which nobody could see her or cared to try. And that the Earl had for a short time… that, beyond anything else, was what had drawn her to him in the first place.
“I…” Her voice cracked. “I hope to hear from my parents today.”
“As do I,” he said.
“With any luck, I will be on my way north by this evening.”
“Let us hope.”
She frowned at the top of his head, frustration growing. The urge to bait him, to say something that she knew would anger and lead to an argument just so he would look at her…
But Alison, as stubborn as she was, was no fool. What happened between them two times now could not happen again. So it was that she committed to her initial promise. To say as little as possible, while praying the Earl was of the same mind. It was, she knew, for the best.
They ate in silence.
It was not a companionable silence by any measure. The tension sat heavy between them, the type that suffocated so it was all that Alison could focus on. She would find herself constantly glancing at the Earl, unable to help but look at him. She wanted him to go on ignoring her, while she also wanted him to notice her and say something.
What is wrong with me? How can I wish for something that I know is so wrong? How can I even justify wanting that which I am right to avoid?
Alison supposed it came down to her stubborn nature. She refused to accept the Lord Grayhill was able to simply put aside what happened between them, and she could only assume he was doing this to test her. He wanted her to break the silence.
“What are your plans for today?” she asked before she could help herself.
“What was that?” he asked, looking at her finally. His expression was still disinterested, but at least he had noticed her.
“Today,” she repeated. “I assume you have made plans.” She smiled pleasantly. “For us.”
“For us?”
“I am still your guest, no? And seeing as you are not allowing me to return home, I thought you might have planned for a way to keep me entertained.” Her smile grew.
He studied her, surely knowing what she was doing. She raised an eyebrow, daring him to take the bait. Dammit, she needed him to. Her pulse was already quickening at the thought, and seeing as she would hopefully be leaving here today, why not see how far she could push things…
“I have not considered it,” he said. And then, before she was able to retort, he added quickly, “But if there is anything you would like to do, please feel free to inform me. I am sure I will be able to accommodate.”
“Should you not be the one coming up with ideas? Seeing as this is your home.”
“I would have thought you were far too independent to rely on one such as me for entertainment. I would not presume to treat you like a child.”
“Too late for that.”
He did not bite. He did not stiffen. He remained casual and removed, determined not to give in to her pestering. “I will confer with my valet, Godfrey,” he said. “See if he might have some ideas. Truly, I apologize for not thinking ahead.”
Alison narrowed her eyes at him, annoyed that he was being so congenial. It also hurt a little.
“Th – thank you,” she stammered stupidly, feeling like a fool for trying to bait him. “I look forward to it.”
She returned to her breakfast and the silence grew. Thankfully, it broke minutes later when Godfrey swept into the room. And he had with him a letter.
“My lord!” he hurried toward the Earl. “A letter has just now arrived. A response, I believe, from Lord Pemberton.”
