Chapter 6
Cora sat at her vanity, not in any rush to join the guests in the drawing room. They were halfway through the country estate party, and she was already ready for it to be over. Today had been a day of leisure, with most relaxing in their rooms, including herself.
She wasn’t hiding, she insisted silently. Cora touched her fingers to her lips. Her mind flashed to Damion’s fingers gripping her body and his mouth teasing hers open. She squeezed her legs together. It was just an attraction. Damion himself said it could happen to anyone.
Cora hadn’t seen Christopher today either.
He’d joined some of the other gentlemen for a ride through the estate grounds.
She wondered if Damion went with them. Stop.
She shouldn’t be thinking of him. Maybe the lessons were a bad idea?
Honestly, Cora wasn’t sure they could even be called that.
He’d told her to be herself and use words and actions to increase yearning.
Those were not clear instructions. He also showed you what attraction was.
“How is my lovely daughter?” her mother said, entering her room.
Cora rose and forced her thoughts of Damion and Christopher from her mind. “Fine.”
Her mother beamed. “Did you enjoy your rest today?”
“Yes.”
They walked toward the stairs and the drawing room. Her mother tucked her arm through hers. “It sounds quite lively down there. I think a day of rest benefited everyone. Respite at a week-long house party should be a requirement.”
“Agree. How is the bride hunt for Jeremy?”
Her mother groaned. “It is so hard. Your brother reveals nothing. I wish he were emotional like you. You’ve followed after Christopher your whole life.”
Cora flushed. “I have not.”
“Well, the two of you have always been grouped together at every event, especially away from London. I suppose because the Bellamys are our closest neighbors in the countryside.”
“Does that make him a suitable husband?” she asked.
Her mother stopped as they reached the drawing room doors, startled by her question. “You have always thought so. Has that changed?”
“No, of course not.”
A frown marred her mother’s face. “I want you and your brother to wed and soon, but I also want you to be happy. I believe Christopher intends to court you this year. His mother mentioned it. Still, you need to make sure that is what you want. Marriage is filled with ups and downs, and with the right person, it is all worth it. But I suspect with the wrong partner, it can be lonely.”
Cora didn’t want her mother to worry. “I’m fine and would be delighted if Christopher expressed those intentions to me.”
Her mother nodded. “Come, let’s enjoy ourselves.”
They went their separate ways as they entered the drawing room. Cora stopped and chatted with Hannah and Eliza. The twosome always seemed to be together. She sensed Christopher's appearance behind her because their bearing changed.
Cora turned, and Christopher beamed at her. “Good evening, Lady Cora. Your mother has opened up the gardens. I thought we could stroll for a bit before dinner.”
Her childhood friend looked at her so endearingly.
Happiness filled her because it was the first time he seemed focused on her.
Hopefully, that meant all the excitement of his return had died down.
Her gaze drifted to another part of the room where Damion stood with Lady Bennett.
He laughed at something she said. Cora’s stomach clenched.
She turned away and took Christopher’s arm. This was the man she wanted and was thrilled to have a moment with him. They departed for the gardens from the terrace stairs. It was just as busy as the drawing room. Her mother had all the pathways lit with candles.
Christopher said, “I’m glad to have time with you. I didn’t realize how fascinated people would be with my travels.”
“It is intriguing. I can’t blame any of them,” she provided, but was unsure how sincere her words were.
“Yes, but know I don’t enjoy speaking with anyone as much as you.”
Cora stopped and placed her hand gently on his. “Thank you for saying that.”
“Have you acquired any new maps since I departed on my adventures?”
She laughed. “I have. I wrote you about most of them. My favorite is one that measures distance by color. The symbology expands across the globe.”
Cora noticed Christopher's attention had pivoted to a group of people laughing on the terrace. She had lost his interest. “Shall we go join them? I’m sure they would be interested in hearing more about your adventures.”
His eyes lit up. “Do you want to?”
She smiled. “Of course.”
He guided them to the terrace. They joined the group, and Cora laughed and smiled as Christopher shared another story about his travels.
He kept her close, and that should delight Cora, but she found her gaze drifting back to the windows of the ballroom.
Damion stood inside now with both Lady Bennett and Lady Clark.
They were engaged in a lively conversation, but it didn’t seem to be dominated by one person. He glanced her way and their eyes connected. Damion nodded towards Christopher and held his glass up in salute as if he felt she was doing well.
She smiled and turned her attention back to the group she was with. Damion appeared to be having a grand time with the other ladies. Cora doubted his mind lingered much on their kiss.
The bell rang, announcing dinner was ready. Christoper held his arm out. “May I escort you?”
“Of course.”
Cora forced herself to smile. She was on the cusp of getting everything she wanted. The nerves she felt were normal. Didn’t everyone become a little anxious when they were about to select their life partner? She and Christopher were well-suited, she assured herself.
***
Damion joined the other men on the terrace.
Some smoked cigars while others sipped on brandy.
The night was growing late, and he wondered if Cora would go to the library later this evening.
He’d already decided not to meet her. Their kiss last night was a line they shouldn’t have crossed. She was Stanton’s sister after all.
He was supposed to be here to help Stanton find a bride.
Kissing Cora wasn’t acceptable, and nothing further could happen.
Yet, she wasn’t far from his thoughts since their time in the library.
It had taken everything in Damion not to go to Cora when she stood with Bellamy on the terrace.
He didn’t think the young lord was a horrible person, but he was oblivious that discussions shouldn’t always revolve around him.
He guessed that was something that came with age. Damion likely had been that way before the tragedy with Lily. A pain pierced his heart, remembering how clueless he’d been about his wife's emotions.
“I’m not sure I have found her,” Stanton said to no one in particular.
“You have at least fifteen marriageable ladies at your party. Pick one and move on,” Lord Hasting stated.
Both the man and his wife had lovers. Damion didn’t judge them; he was no saint. Still, Stanton expressed to him that he wanted something different. He wouldn’t be so hesitant to wed if that weren’t the case.
Quietly, he said, “Don’t rush it. You will find your future duchess when the time is right.”
Hasting rolled his eyes. “Take my advice. Who is married and who isn’t?”
The group went quiet. No one ever mentioned Damion’s marital status or lack of one. Hasting must be in his cups. Damion shrugged. “Take whoever’s advice you like.”
Bellamy decided to wade in with his opinion. “Find someone who complements you and will fit into your life. That is my advice.”
Hasting nodded in agreement. Damion should let it go and depart, but he didn’t. “What about love and desire? Are those not important too?”
Hastings snorted. “Those emotions will fade. You want someone who fits into your life.”
“My parents were a love match, and I want that,” Stanton stated.
Hasting said nothing else. Instead, he smoked on his pipe. Damion glanced at Bellamy, who seemed to have grown bored with the conversation. He still didn’t see Cora marrying him. Didn’t she want a love match like her brother?
Stanton was a duke and wanted love. Yet, his sister was focused on all the things Hasting mentioned. Maybe that was enough for some people, but the idea of that kind of marriage for her irritated him. Perhaps because he’d lived that life once and seen how awful and lonely it could be.
Damion wasn’t a romantic and certainly wasn’t one before his marriage, but he wanted more for Cora. Christ, what was going on with him? He barely knew the lady. He finished his brandy. “Good night. I think sleep is beckoning me.”
They all nodded, and he made his way back inside. He went upstairs and shockingly found Cora in the hallway, still dressed in her evening gown from dinner. She smiled tentatively at him. “Hello.”
“How did the flirting go?”
She shrugged. “I think I’m learning that being attentive to Christopher’s interests helps.”
“Your interests matter too.”
“Of course,” she said.
“A lifetime is a long time to spend with the wrong person. Are you sure he is right?”
Cora was quiet for a moment; perhaps she was having doubts. She confirmed she wasn’t when she said, “Yes.”
“We choose spouses for all types of reasons. I wish you all the happiness. I mean that, Cora.”
She frowned at him. “Will you not assist me any longer?”
He sighed. “Cora, I’m not sure it is wise.”
“It is helping me,” she said, placing her hand on his arm.
Damion should refuse. Yet, he was discovering that Cora was hard to deny. “Tomorrow. It is already far too late tonight, and your brother and others are still up.”
She nodded and walked to her room. Before Cora entered, she looked at him. “Thank you, Damion. I’m not sure what I would do without your help.”
He strode to his room, unsure how much assistance he’d truly been. Damion had simply told Cora to be herself. She was amazing, and Bellamy would be foolish not to see it. Maybe her future husband would mature with age. He hoped so for Cora’s sake.
Damion sat on his bed and willed himself to stop thinking about Cora. She wasn’t for him. Hell, he didn’t even want a wife.