Chapter 7 #2
After another moment of hesitation, Beatrice followed him and sat down as he lifted the silver cloches from the tray.
It was strange how in the days past her body made no reaction to the food Mira had revealed.
Yet as Algernon did so presently, her stomach seemed to roar to life, and her mouth watered as she took in the heavenly scents of spiced meats, roasted vegetables, and sweet raspberry tarts with whipped cream.
Her appetite back in full force, Beatrice picked up her fork and began to eat.
For her first several bites, Algernon said nothing but instead watched her lips closely, as if making sure that she was actually swallowing every bite.
She supposed that she should feel awkward being watched so closely, yet instead, she felt satisfaction unfurl through her veins.
The feeling surprised her, but with so little moments of satisfaction in her life, she chose to merely accept the feeling.
It was only when she was halfway through her plate of spiced meat and roasted vegetables that he finally seemed satisfied and began to speak.
“What do you recall from your lessons?” Algernon asked, breaking the silence.
Beatrice paused mid-chew and furrowed her brow. Algernon simply looked on at her expectantly. Slowly, she swallowed and cleared her throat.
“What do you mean, Your Grace?” she asked. “Do you speak of my lessons in reading and history and such?”
“No,” Algernon chuckled.
Beatrice’s lips twitched toward a smile as the tips of his ears grew red. Was… was the domineering Duke embarrassed?
“Is something the matter, Your Grace?” she asked.
“No,” Algernon quickly replied, his nervous expression quickly shifting into a more serious one. “Nothing is the matter. I do not mean academic lessons, Beatrice. I mean the lessons that most mothers teach their daughters. In terms of how to catch the eye of a desired gentleman and such.”
It was now Beatrice’s turn to blush. No longer hungry, she sat down her fork and folded her hands on her lap.
“I am afraid I did not receive such lessons, Your Grace,” she confessed. “My mother passed away when I was nine, and my father and stepmother had no wish to continue raising me.”
Algernon’s brows dipped in confusion.
“What do you mean ‘no wish to continue raising you’? A parent cannot simply decide to stop taking care of a child,” he argued.
Appreciation for such a thought rose up in Beatrice, and she gave Algernon a sad smile.
“I am afraid they certainly can,” she countered. “Once my father remarried, they chose to make me a servant. I received no education after that other than how to clean a household.”
Beatrice watched as Algernon’s jaw twitched, and his gaze hardened. Sure that he was regretting choosing her to buy at the auction, Beatrice lowered her gaze and turned inward on herself.
“It is shameful that you were put through such an ordeal,” Algernon stated after a long, tense silence. “Absolutely shameful.”
Beatrice glanced up at him, surprised at the clear disgust in his tone.
“It is?” she asked warily.
He nodded gravely as he rose from his chair. Beatrice watched him carefully as he came around the table and kneeled in front of her. Heat rushed through her as his fingers caressed her cheek before his palm settled there.
“You did not deserve such treatment, Beatrice. No child does.”
Gratitude poured through Beatrice at his words, and she allowed herself to lean into his touch. It was the most comforting sensation she had ever felt in quite a long time, and to her surprise, the gentleness of it made tears prick in her eyes.
“Thank you for saying so, Your Grace,” she said, her tone suddenly thick with emotion.
“I can give you a better life, Beatrice,” Algernon said, his deep tone calm and gentle as he stroked her cheek.
“Those people that were supposed to be your parents may have ignored their duty, but I can teach you the things you missed. How to dance. How to flirt. How to get a man to notice you. If we work together, I am sure we can get Henry to change his mind about the marriage. And once you are married into our family, I can protect you for the rest of your life.”
“That all sounds so nice, Your Grace,” Beatrice agreed. “But why? What has happened with Henry that you feel you must make this marriage happen? If he is in love with another woman, I am sure no amount of lessons can make him change his mind about her.”
“There is no other woman,” Algernon quickly answered. “I assure you that that will most likely never be an issue.”
Beatrice raised a brow, more confused than ever.
“Will you tell me why the urgency to have him marry me then?” she asked.
That gentle look in Algernon’s eyes suddenly hardened. His hold on her cheek then shifted to her chin, and he brought her face toward his. Before she could stop him, Beatrice felt his chiseled lips seal over hers, sending a deep shock of pleasure rocking through her body.
She pulled back, gasping in surprise, but Algernon caught her by the neck and brought her lips back to his. Again, she stiffened, but as the pleasure immediately returned, a whimper tore from her throat, and she sagged toward him.
Pleasure sizzled through her veins as Algernon’s lips slowly pressed and nipped against hers.
Time faded as she began to follow his lead, and she found herself wrapping her arms around his neck.
A heady groan rumbled in Algernon’s chest as she did so, and his hands dropped to her waist, and he pulled her into his lap on the floor.
She gasped as his tongue left a trail of fire over her bottom lip, and she immediately parted her lips wider.
The moment she did so, his warm tongue gently thrust into her mouth and slid sensually over her tongue.
She tentatively flicked her tongue against his in response, and in response, Algernon groaned once more and tightened his grip on her.
With each swipe of Algernon’s tongue, Beatrice lost not only time but also her sense of propriety. Nothing had ever felt as good as his kisses.
Beatrice wasn’t sure if it was hours or minutes or even seconds, but eventually, Algernon pulled away from the kiss, and they both opened their eyes.
Another bout of heat poured through the center of Beatrice’s body as she took in Algernon’s dazed and dilated pupils.
In fact, he looked almost as lost and confused about the kiss as she did.
Then with a sudden quickness, his gaze sharpened, and he had her back in her chair with movements so fast, they made her dizzy.
“Your Grace, what was…?” she began to ask.
“It was an example,” he stated hastily, taking the seat opposite of her again. “Of what I can teach you. I can show you what men like so that you may change Henry’s mind.”
Beatrice’s cheeks heated with sudden embarrassment. It had been her very first kiss, and it was nothing more than an example?
“I see,” she replied coldly.
Not meeting her eyes, Algernon waved a hand toward her half-eaten plate of food.
“Finish your meal,” he instructed, his tone once again short and demanding as it usually was. “And no more fasting. I will not allow it.”
Though greatly annoyed with the way he gave her orders—not to mention the way he kissed her so passionately for a mere example—Beatrice found herself picking up her fork and cleaning her plate.