Chapter Four
Nobi was rattled, so perhaps it wasn’t the best line of conversation to pursue, but her curiosity couldn’t be assuaged.
“Who was the woman hunting you down?”
At Chris’s widened eyes, she momentarily thought she had overstepped.
And of course, she had. She didn’t know this man, and prying into his personal affairs was akin to asking him to undress before her.
Not that she would ever ask him to do that for her.
But the thought of it sent a flush of heat up her neck.
She could only hope he didn’t see it in the darkness.
“I-I am sorry. I shouldn’t have asked—”
“It’s quite all right. There’s really no harm in discussing it. You would probably recognize her back in the ballroom anyway.”
But she didn’t correct him. Really, there was no point in telling him that she had been too overstimulated by the heat of his body and his fresh soap scent to take a look at a random woman lurking in the gardens. No. She would definitely never admit that to him.
He rubbed the back of his neck before continuing. “That was Lady Evelyn.”
And she wanted to wait in the silence. Let him provide further information only if he wanted to…but—
“Has she been pursuing you for a long time now?” popped out instead to burst the small bubble of silence.
A throaty chuckle emerged from his lips, sending tingles down her spine. “Let’s just say that it’s been a while longer than I’d like it to be.”
“Have you taken any measures against her?”
His cocked eyebrow urged her to explain.
“Perhaps you could…”—and even though she knew it was a terrible idea, she threw it out into the universe anyway—“fake a relationship? You’ve already faked a tryst.” More warmth soaked into her cheeks.
She wasn’t sure how much more heat they could bear.
They were about to burst into flames on the spot.
“Are you offering yourself for the position?”
Oh. And that was it. Her hands flew to her cheeks. If she didn’t do it, she was sure they would combust. “I-I…oh—”
Another rumble of laughter swept through him. “Ah, dear Nobi. You are good for the soul.” He brushed his hand along her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’m not asking. I wouldn’t put you through that. Can you imagine how complicated that would be?”
Yes. She could imagine all the complications. Feigning attraction. Spending too much time with him. Feeling the pull of his body. It would, undoubtedly, be the simple, most complicated task she could attempt to take on in her lifetime.
“It would be complicated,” she offered. And then, because apparently she had no filter this evening, she added, “But I would do it. For you.”
His hand landed on her shoulder again with a light squeeze. “You know, Nobi, I believe you would do that.”
Something crackled in the air between them. It was like she was trying to see the fire but was only able to hear it.
And then, perhaps because he wanted to avoid being singed by any of the sparks flying, or perhaps (sadly) he didn’t notice any of them, he said, “Let’s just hope she finds another duke to hunt.”
And because Nobi wouldn’t have known what to do about wayward sparks, she simply agreed. “Yes. It’s a wonder that any women do that. I can’t imagine ever trying to snare a duke.”
“You wouldn’t have to,” she thought she heard him say. But he was plodding on. “Some women have goals in life. Whether due to personal values, societal pressure, or financial afflictions. You never know what life may bring.”
She hoped it would never bring her to that point of desperation.
“Look at this ball, for instance. Would you ever think you might live to be one hundred?”
“Oh, is that what we’re celebrating this evening?”
“You didn’t notice the signage? Hear the toast?”
She giggled at her cluelessness. “I must admit I’ve been a touch less observant than I normally am. All the balls are merging into one giant event of which I’ll have one memory.” Except this one. After having met Chris, she knew this ball would stand out.
“It’s actually my grandfather’s birthday.”
“My stars! I should let you return to the festivities.”
“Please,” his hand moved to her shoulder again and slid down her forearm, “don’t go. My family understands my need to slip away on occasion.”
“All right.” She swallowed. She could see herself settling down with a man like him. Or him…exactly. “If you’re sure you won’t be missed.”
“Only by Lady Evelyn. She’s probably already devising plans for me though.”
“To snag you or to make a doll of you to stick pins in?”
“My, my, my, Nobi. Is there a dark side to you?”
She shook her head playfully as her lip curled up into a smile. “I would never do that. But Lady Evelyn seems like that type.”
Vibrations of laughter rippled through the air.
“She does seem the type, doesn’t she?” After the laughter settled, filling the air with mirth, he said, “My grandfather almost got caught in scandal. But thankfully he found the love of his life, my grandmother. They were married after only meeting one time. He knew the instant he met her that they were destined to be together.”
“That’s lovely.”
“Yes. It took him a while to find her, but once they did, they never looked back.”
“It sounds like you have a very loving family.”
“My grandfather is a great man. He has lived a full life, and I can only hope to live a life half as honorable as him.”
She could see the admiration in his eyes, but she also sensed a touch of melancholia. “Are you worried for him?”
“I wouldn’t say worried.” He shook his head, stopping the flow of his admission. “This is too much to be sharing with a stranger, isn’t it?”
“Sometimes it’s nice to open up to someone who doesn’t know you. It’s a fresh start.”
He hummed his agreement. “Well, in that case, I wouldn’t say I’m worried. I would just say that I’m not sure how my father is feeling. To see his father growing older. Taking over the dukedom. And then one day that will be me.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “It’s a lot to think about.”
“You have time to prepare for it.”
“I know that to be truer than anyone else. It’s all my life is about. Preparing to be a duke.”
“On that front we are similar.”
“How so?”
“All my life is about preparing to be a lady and find a husband.”
“It’s a wonder you’re not on the prowl for a duke. You aren’t, are you?” he waggled his eyebrows.
“I assure you, I am not. A duke…is a bit…reaching for me.”
“I don’t think so.”
“What kind of duchess would I make, if someone were to find me hiding out while hosting my own balls?”
“The same kind of duke I’ll make when I hide during the balls my duchess hosts.”
And Nobi could see it. It was a brightly painted picture of her being a duchess, to him.
But she had no right to dream that big. She should end this wishful thinking now before her heart dared to hope too much.
Before her heart soaked up too much of him that it would be impossible to wring him out of her system.
“Well, I should go back inside before someone notices my absence.”
His face fell, and she thought perhaps he might be a bit disappointed. If he felt anything for her, she wanted to let that hope take root.
“Is there anything I can do to entice you to stay?” he asked.
Yes. There were several things she could think of, but none she could voice. Her stomach decided to speak for her with a growl. Her hands flew to her face in mortification.
Between her fingers, she mumbled, “I should go inside to eat.”
“Wait.” He held her in place with his hands on her hips. And if that didn’t light a fire on the spot and blaze down between her legs. “Let me grab us a snack. Give me a few more minutes before we go back and face the crowds.”
She couldn’t have gone inside if she wanted to. The internal inferno building inside of her was quite possibly externally visible now. So she simply nodded, needing the time to understand the heated liquid pooling between her thighs.
She watched, rooted in the spot, as he rushed away.
Earlier, all she had wanted to do was escape the crush for a few minutes to catch her breath. Little did she know she would find herself anchored to a tree, nearly anchored to a man, and never wanting to return so long as this man was with her.
She had never believed in love at first sight before. But the thought of it now made her lightheaded. It couldn’t be possible to find someone so perfect. He must have a flaw.
Within minutes, Chris was jaunting back to her with a wide grin on his face and hands casually clasped at his sides.
“I grabbed what I could, but I didn’t want to make a scene. So I had to take what was on the first tray. I tucked them into my palms.” he chuckled. “Hopefully no one noticed.”
He was so sweet, giddy like a little boy who had just stolen cookies from the kitchen. Or snagged a second dessert from the cook before going to bed. With his dark sandy hair and blue eyes, she was sure he was not one to be denied. Especially if he put one of his charming grins on his face.
His palms were out in front of her. “Which one do you want?” His face screwed up in a tight knot before laughing. “Yipes! You probably want neither of these.”
The treats were mangled, smashed, wilted…altogether not a shape a dessert would normally take.
And she had to giggle at how adorable he was to even bring a treat to her.
“I’ll take that one,” she said and pointed to his left hand unsure of what was in it. But it looked creamy.
She reached for it, but before she could grab it, he whispered, “Wait.” Then he shoved his right palm in his mouth, devouring the first dessert.
Smatters of custard landed around his lips.
She almost brushed the crumbs away, but it was far too intimate a gesture for her to feel comfortable doing it.
Surely he would wipe his own face. And he did… only…he missed a spot.
Before she could point it out, he stepped closer to her, “Let me.”
“Oh…um…what? Why?”
“It’s very messy. I don’t want you to get your hands dirty.”
Her eyes widened as he lifted a portion of the treat to her mouth.
But she was incapable of doing anything other than being submissive to his kind control.
Involuntarily, her mouth opened. And God, his fingers were brushing against her lips, the corner of her mouth.
Then he placed the most decadent dessert in all of England on her tongue.
And she couldn’t stop from closing her eyes and letting out a soft moan.
She let herself savor the soft texture. The sweet flavor. The moment. With him.
When he cleared his throat, she hadn’t realized her eyes were still closed until they flew open to catch him studying her.
“Do you like it?” The intensity of his eyes burned into her, searing a path to her heart.
She nodded and her tongue darted out along her bottom lip.
She thought she caught a sound coming from him, but she wasn’t sure.
And then the last bite was placed before her.
She opened her mouth and he placed the bite inside.
His finger lingered at the corner of her mouth and she could taste him.
She wanted more. Her heart was pounding so hard she was sure it was going to flop right out of her chest.
And then he took his treat-encased fingers and slid them into his own mouth, licking off the rest of the dessert.
Her head felt light. Her knees buckled.
“Nobi?” His arm latched around her waist. “Are you all right? We should get you inside. Perhaps you need more than a little petit four.”
“I’m fine,” she murmured, though she was the furthest thing from it. He was a god among men. Her heart, her mind, her soul, her entire body could feel it. It was thrumming through her, louder, longer, heavier, than any musical note had ever rung.
She should say something. But what would he think of her? After all they had discussed about snagging a duke. She couldn’t’ say anything. About her feelings at least. So she kept it safe.
She grasped onto something in reality instead. The first thing that came to mind, she blurted out. “Petit four? Little cakes? That sounds French.”
“Yes. They’re little French desserts. I can’t wait to travel there one day and try them.
In fact, I plan on traveling the world one day and trying as many desserts as I can from every country.
Beyond desserts, of course, I’ll visit museums, the pyramids, cathedrals, the theater.
I want the adventure…” his excitement trailed on.
And there it was. The flaw. He was a restless soul, looking to flit from place to place. He wanted adventure. She wanted to settle. There was no future there. She knew how that kind of soul lived. And she wanted nothing to do with it.
“I think I had better go inside.” Her legs were wobbly again, for an entirely new reason.
“Are you going to faint?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“I can find some smelling salts, if you’re going to swoon.”
His kindness was a stab of pain inside her. Twisting. Relentless.
Besides, she needed something a whole lot stronger than smelling salts to wake up from this sudden darkness.