Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
T hat was exactly what Felix would have said to her if he’d had the chance. He could not help but grin at her the ferocity of her determination. He enjoyed the fire of irritation in her eyes and the fight in her spirit. It excited him even though he would never admit it.
“You are too stubborn for your own good,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement as he caught up with her.
She shot him a glare, but the corners of her mouth twitched. “Stubborn? You are one to talk. I saw you flirting with that woman at the musicale.”
He raised an eyebrow, unbothered. “Our bet was about bedding women, not flirting. Surely, you are not keeping tabs on me, are you? Or do you possess a greater interest in me than you care to admit?”
Eloise scoffed. “Of course not. I only care about our bet.”
Felix’s smirk deepened, a playful glint in his eyes. “Maybe you would prefer to be in her shoes, flirting with me.”
She looked skyward in exasperation although her glare faltered momentarily, and he caught an unreadable expression in her eyes. “Do not flatter yourself.”
He laughed under his breath. There was something about her obstinacy that provided him with endless hours of amusement. She was so determined to win this ridiculous bet. Yet, the more time they spent together, the more intrigued Felix found himself.
“So,” he said, glancing at her sideways, “Mozart aside… how is the grand seduction of Mortcombe going?”
Eloise pursed her lips. “Slowly. Too slowly.” She hesitated then lowered her voice. “I need something more effective.”
Felix raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “What are you saying?”
“I have to secure an offer from him, and I am not making sufficient progress,” she muttered, glancing around to ensure no one overheard.
“You really are in a rush,” he said, tilting his head a little to take a closer look at her. He could not understand why she was in such a hurry. “You know, there are ways of cooling that insatiable fire in your belly, if that is why you are in such a hurry.”
When she gaped at him, clearly horrified by his suggestion, Felix winked at her. “It is not like that,” she insisted.
“If you say so.” Felix also glanced around, realizing they had stopped in front of a sweets shop. “Come on,” he said, gesturing inside. “Let us discuss this over something sweet.”
Once inside the shop, they joined Lady Brimsleigh and Hannah, who were already sampling the various confections. Felix grabbed a small, delicate sweet and popped it into his mouth. As he chewed, he leaned closer to Eloise, his voice lowering again.
“Next time you are with Mortcombe, especially if food is involved, you will want to be more… intentional.”
Eloise frowned. “What do you mean by that?” she asked as she stuffed her mouth with a sweet, chewing clumsily.
Felix winced and chuckled. “Well, to put it bluntly, you eat like an animal.”
“It really is a wonder that you have any friends at all, Felix. You are rude to say the least.”
She glared at him, but he merely grabbed another treat.
“Oh, come on,” he said, staring at her.
This time, he ate the sweet slowly, his lips deliberately brushing against it as his tongue darted out, savoring the taste. His movements were calculated, every touch of his lips drawing attention. He glanced at her through half-lidded eyes.
Eloise became hypnotized. She couldn’t take her eyes off his mouth, her own hanging open. He looked so delectable, so delicious, that an involuntary squeak escaped her lips.
Felix was decent enough to pretend he hadn’t heard it, but he couldn’t deny it excited him. She was lustful, he was certain of it, and a lustful woman made for an obedient one.
“Like this,” Felix said, offering her a sweet, his voice sensual. “Try it. Slowly.”
Eloise hesitated then mimicked his movements, taking a small bite. She went slow, trying to make her lips and tongue move as Felix had shown her. It wasn’t easy at first, but she caught on rapidly.
Felix gulped, suddenly aware of how close she was. He had not expected her to pick it up so quickly, nor had he expected to feel a strange heat creeping down to his groin as he watched her.
“My, my, Eloise. You are a very apt pupil,” he murmured, his voice rougher than he intended.
He wasn’t sure what surprised him more: the sudden heat in his nether regions or the fact that Eloise of all people was the cause of it. To his growing frustration and undeniable arousal, he realized he was no longer simply teaching her. He was drawn to her, utterly mesmerized by the sight of her sensuously eating that sweet, and he cursed himself for his weakness.
Eloise blinked, seemingly unaware of the effect she had on him, but Felix felt the heat of his desire as it churned in his blood.
He cleared his throat before continuing, “Just remember that confidence is key. Mortcombe needs to believe you know exactly what you are doing.”
Eloise straightened up, determination flashing in her eyes. Whatever had occurred between them had disappeared, and they had resumed their business-like relationship. “I will show him. He will not know what hit him.”
Felix grinned, the challenge sparking something in him. “That is the spirit. Just do not trip over your own feet in the process. You would not want to embarrass yourself again.”
“Ha! As if you are one to talk about embarrassment,” she shot back, and he felt that same rush of exhilaration at their banter.
He leaned closer, his voice low and teasing. “Just remember, if this doesn’t work out, you will always have a future as a professional eater.”
Eloise laughed, shaking her head. “I will keep that in mind. But first, let us get back to work on my seduction skills, shall we?”
Felix nodded, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. “Onward, then. The world of wooing awaits.”
Just as Eloise was about to delve deeper into her newfound strategies, Hannah’s voice cut through their playful exchange. “Eloise! We need to head back.”
Eloise turned, forcing a bright smile as she saw Lady Brimsleigh approaching. “Of course, Hannah. I was just?—”
“Chatting with His Grace, I see,” Hannah interjected, her tone teasing. “You two seem rather intimate.”
Felix raised an eyebrow at Eloise, a smirk playing on his lips. “Intimate? I assure you, we were merely discussing the intricacies of sweets.”
Lady Brimsleigh chuckled, the corners of her eyes crinkling with amusement. “Sweet talk, I presume?”
Everyone burst into a chuckle at her witty comment, but at the same time, Eloise felt her cheeks heat up. “Yes, quite literally,” she replied, attempting to deflect any implication of a deeper meaning.
Hannah glanced between them, her curiosity tempered by a hint of concern. “We should really be going, Eloise. It is getting late.”
“Of course,” Eloise replied, her tone steady. She turned to Felix, a touch of regret in her voice. “Thank you for the… insight.”
Felix nodded, his expression turning earnest. “Anytime, Lady Eloise. I look forward to our next lesson.”
As Lady Brimsleigh began to usher them back, Eloise felt a flicker of disappointment at their time being cut short. She couldn’t help turning back to Felix one last time, her heart racing at the prospect of their next meeting. “Until next time.”
“Until next time,” he echoed, watching her with an intensity that made her pulse quicken.
Both duos went their own separate way, and as Hannah and Eloise walked home, Hannah spoke with curiosity. “So, is something taking place between you and the Duke? You two seemed rather… friendly back there.”
Eloise felt her heart skip. In an effort to maintain her composure, she took a calming breath. “Oh, it is nothing, really. Just discussing the latest fashion in sweets, you know how it is.”
Hannah raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Is that all? Because the way he looks at you?—”
“Oh, that is utter nonsense, Hannah,” Eloise interjected a bit too quickly. “He is a friend of Jeremy’s otherwise he would never even look at me twice.”
Hannah hesitated, her tone shifting to a more serious note. “Eloise, I know you think he is just a friend of your brother’s, but he is a rake, and rakes are dangerous. You should be careful around such men.”
Eloise nodded though a twinge of uncertainty nagged at her. “I appreciate your concern, but I can manage him. He is not interested in me in that way, I promise you. More to the point, I am not interested that way in him.”
Hannah studied her for a moment then sighed. “I just do not wish to see you get hurt. He has a reputation, and it is not just idle gossip.”
“I understand,” Eloise replied softly. “I just need his help with Mortcombe. That is all.”
“Oh yes. Why are you so intent on charming him? He is hardly the catch of the season.”
Eloise sighed, knowing her friend could never understand. “Hannah, it is not just about his charm. He has wealth, and I need to secure a future for my family. I would have thought you knew my true intentions.”
“But what about Jeremy?” Hannah pressed, her brow furrowing. “He is your brother. I thought he was coming to help?”
Eloise hesitated as her worries nearly spilled out. She wanted to explain everything—the creditor, the looming threat of losing their home—but held herself back by a thread.
“Jeremy has his own life to lead,” she finally said, her voice steady. “He is far away, and although he has promised to help, I cannot continue to burden him with our problems, and it will take so long for him to return. I need to deal with this myself if I am able.”
Hannah frowned again, sensing the resolve in her friend’s tone. “I just do not want you to get hurt in the process. Lord Mortcombe is not worth the risk if it means that you will be compromised.”
Eloise shook her head, determination sharpening her features. “He is not so bad, and I will not compromise myself. I just need to play the game, and if that means using my wits to charm someone like Mortcombe, then so be it. I owe it to my mother to try.”
Hannah sighed, still unconvinced. “I just hope you know what you are doing. It is a dangerous game.”
“I do, and I know, but I promise to exercise caution,” Eloise replied though a flicker of doubt crept in. “Right now, I cannot afford to think about anything else.”
She locked arms with Hannah, pulling herself closer to her friend, who immediately understood that Eloise no longer wanted to talk about it.
“Did I tell you about the latest book I am reading?” Hannah asked sweetly.
“No, do tell,” Eloise smiled gratefully as the two ladies started talking about their favorite topic in the world.