Chapter 8
Cora sipped her punch as she watched couples swirl around the dance floor.
Tonight, her family was hosting a grand ball, the main event of the week.
Over the next few days, all the attendees of the estate party would depart.
Her brother, to her mother’s complete disappointment, still remained unattached.
She glanced at Christopher, frowning. He danced with another lady, but truthfully, he’d been more attentive than usual. Cora danced with him twice so far this evening. She should be delighted, but she was distracted. She glanced to where Damion stood with her brother and others. Stop it.
They hadn’t spoken since she left him in the library the previous night.
Who was he to tell her what love should look like?
Damion turned her way, and her stomach clenched.
She yanked her gaze away immediately. Cora wouldn’t focus on a man who knew nothing about love.
Everyone acted as if he did, but she knew his secret.
It was an awful one, but still it made him no expert.
“I think he may ask for you,” her friend Abigail said, joining her.
She forced herself to smile. “He’s been more attentive tonight.”
Abigail frowned as she looked back and forth between Cora and Christopher. “Does he make your heart flutter?”
She turned her head to study Christopher. He happened to look her way at the same time and beamed. Cora smiled back; years of true friendship existed between them. Shouldn’t that be a solid basis for marriage?
Cora sighed, wondering if she should feel something more physical for him. Still, she wasn’t a heart-fluttering type of girl. Liar. With Damion, Cora had felt the very emotion Abigail was hinting at.
“He makes me happy.”
“Has anyone made you feel more than that?”
Yes, Damion, but Cora would never admit it aloud. It wasn’t real, she told herself. He was a rake and probably made every lady feel the same way.
Abigail’s eyes widened at her lack of response. “Someone has.”
“I plan to kiss Christopher tonight. I’m sure that will change everything.”
It needed to. She needed to stop thinking about Damion. He’d taken up too much space in her thoughts. Cora could not and would not fall for a man so drastically different from what she always envisioned. It wouldn’t do.
“He is coming this way,” Abigail whispered, nodding to their left.
Christopher walked toward them with a large smile on his face. Yes, he was the man for her. “Lady Cora, would you go for a walk with me in the gardens. The weather this evening is exceptional, even better than the last few nights.”
Her family gardens had been popular during the week-long party. She nodded. “I would love to.”
Cora placed her arm on his. After saying goodbye to Abigail, they strolled toward the terrace. She glanced around the ballroom, instinctively searching for Damion. Cora forced herself to stop.
They continued down the terrace stairs and into the gardens. Laughter and conversations swirled around them. Christopher was right. It was a lovely night, and Cora wasn’t surprised that multiple people were out and about.
“I’m glad we have some time to ourselves. I apologize that so many people’s interest in my trip has taken up most of my time. It will settle down.”
Without thinking, she asked, “Do you think you may want to go abroad again?”
He frowned. “I’m not sure that is something that is an option. I planned my travels now to get them out of the way.”
They walked down a quieter path. “I would love to visit some of the places you’ve been to.”
Christopher chuckled. “It is very different in person than reading about it.”
She stiffened at his words, sensing his remarks were an insinuation that she shouldn’t travel.
His opinions were so different from Damion’s.
He’d encouraged her to explore the world.
They reached a grassy clearing with a fountain surrounded by tall hedges.
It was a romantic setting. They stopped, and Christopher stared at her intently.
He was going to kiss her. And she suspected it wouldn’t be like the chaste one they’d shared before his travels.
Determination filled his face. She’d never seen him so serious before.
Shockingly, Cora was tempted to avoid kissing him, but curiosity got the better of her.
Maybe with this one act, passion would grow between them.
She did as Damion taught her and leaned closer, but not too near.
Christopher dipped his head down, watching her.
She asked softly, “Christopher, would you kiss me?”
He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. His soft lips pressed against hers. She grasped his shoulder, holding onto him. Christopher slid his tongue along her lips, parting them. The kiss was nice. He deepened it, leisurely exploring her mouth.
Eventually, they broke apart. She stared into Christopher’s eyes. They weren’t clouded with passion, but at least glowed with warmth. Maybe that was enough? Why was she even questioning it?
“I would like to speak with your brother,” he said softly as they continued on their walk.
Cora wanted to discuss the kiss. What did he feel? Suddenly, she missed the openness of her conversations with Damion. Wasn’t Christoper curious how it made her feel?
She stopped and faced him. “Do you desire me, Christopher?”
He turned bright red. “Of course, I do.”
Cora bit her lip, uncertain. “Truly.”
Christopher laughed awkwardly. “Yes, I wouldn’t be about to propose marriage if I didn’t. We talked about this before I left. We are perfectly matched.”
Yet, Cora was concerned that they weren’t. No, this was Damion’s fault. His lessons had somehow muddled her thoughts. She wanted to marry Christopher, and she wouldn’t let some wayward duke change her mind. “I hope your conversation goes well with my brother.”
He beamed at her as they re-entered the ballroom. Lord Hawley waved them over to a group he stood with. “Join us. Bellamy, we want you to tell us about your time in Tuscany.”
Christopher nodded, grinning, but Cora released his arm. “I think I will fetch some punch.”
“Shall I go with you?” Christopher asked, but it was clear he was more interested in joining the group waiting on him.
She forced herself to smile. “Go.”
Cora needed to be alone and away from the crowd. Annoyance flared in her that even though Christopher appeared to be on the cusp of proposing, she was distracted by the Duke of Blythe. She hurried not to the refreshments but to the gallery, needing a quieter space than the ballroom and gardens.
***
Damion stood in the gallery with Meredith.
He was surprised they were the only ones in the room.
Still, it was a nice night. He supposed most of the revelers would venture outside when they needed a break from the ballroom.
He clenched his jaw, remembering when he spotted Bellamy escorting Cora to the terrace.
The overwhelming urge to plant his fist in the man’s face had consumed him. He was lucky Meredith requested he walk with her.
“Why are you glaring at that scenic landscape? It isn’t the best I’ve seen, but I’m not sure it deserves the glower of the Duke of Blythe.”
He took a deep breath. “It is nothing.”
“You can like her, Damion. Rest assured, my heart isn’t breaking.”
Damion turned to her, surprised. She smirked. “Lady Cora. The stares between the two of you are filled with so much longing.”
He tugged at his cravat, not responding. Meredith laughed. “We are friends. You don’t have to deny it to me.”
“The lady and I are acquaintances.”
“I wish my acquaintances looked at me in such a way,” she said, amused.
“Plenty of men look at you,” Damion said. An unusual sadness hung over his friend.
He stepped closer to her. She rolled her eyes. “I’m fine. Still, you and I are a lot alike, but do you know what the main difference is?”
Damion shook his head.
“While we both loved and married someone who didn’t return our affection. I’m still wedded to mine. You, Damion, the Duke of Blythe, are free to love again. You shouldn’t deny yourself the chance.”
He was stunned by her words. Meredith presented a carefree facade to the world. She never once acted as if her husband’s actions bothered her one way or another. Still wounded souls understood each other. He saw the pain his friend kept hidden from most.
“Don’t look at me that way. I don’t want your pity,” Meredith said firmly. “I’m only pointing out that you are not stuck in my situation.”
He would not open his heart again. Once was enough. “You are misinformed. The lady's affection is for Bellamy.”
An unladylike snort escaped her, and she playfully swatted him on the arm. “You are such a liar, Damion.”
“And I’m sorry you are married to a fool. You deserve more.”
She sighed. “He and I are both fools. Long ago, I thought we might work, but not anymore. Damion, stop avoiding the topic! Pursue her.”
Damion shook his head. He’d decided long ago that one marriage was sufficient for him. Plus, Cora was focused on Bellamy. He would never fall for someone who loved another again. Why was he even thinking of any of this?
He was the roguish Duke of Blythe. No one expected much from him when it came to marrying. All the mothers in London society, years ago, ceased trying to set him up with their daughters, labeling him a lost cause. “I made my decision long ago. Plus, Lady Cora wants Bellamy.”
Meredith looped her arm through his and leaned her head on his shoulder as they walked toward the entryway of the gallery. “Why do we as humans make things so difficult?”
“We don’t—”
He didn’t finish his words because Cora rushed into the room, almost crashing into them. Her cheeks were flushed. Her gaze narrowed on him and Meredith. “I’m sorry, Your Grace and Lady Clark. I didn’t realize anyone was in here.”
“It is fine,” Meredith said.
Cora’s gaze darted to where she held on to Damion’s arm. Her eyes flashed with surprise and something else.
“Excuse me,” she said and spun around, departing from the room.
Damion said, “I need to check on her.”
Meredith laughed. “But there is nothing between the two of you.”
Damion didn’t respond. He ignored his friend’s laughter as he went after Cora. He reached her as she neared a small alcove. He tugged her into the space. “Did Bellamy hurt you?”
Concern and anger sizzled in him. He would tear every limb from Bellamy’s body if he did something to Cora.
She stared at him, confused, and glanced at his hand that still held her arm.
Yanking away from him, she said, “Christopher did nothing to me. He’s been wonderful and kissed me.
The moment contained everything I hoped for. ”
His eyes narrowed. “It was that good?”
“Exceptional.”
Anger wafted between them. He’d been worried about Bellamy, but now all he could think about was the man touching Cora. Had he been wrong about the attraction between them?
“Cora,” the Dowager Duchess of Stanton called out from somewhere in the hallway.
They both stiffened. Footsteps passed them, and then Meredith said, “I think I saw her on the terrace, Your Grace.”
“Thank you, Lady Clark.”
Both their footsteps continued toward the ballroom. Cora turned to leave, and he gently pulled her back. She said, “I must go. I’m sure Bellamy is looking for me. I imagine you and Lady Clark will find another private setting. Sorry for the interruption.”
His brows shot up. “What is going on with you? Meet me in the library tonight.”
“Your lessons have been a smashing success. I no longer need your services.”
Annoyance surged in him. She was dismissing him. Through gritted teeth, he said, “Tonight, an hour after everyone goes to bed, meet me.”
Damion released her and walked down the hallway. He was fucking furious. Shockingly, it wasn’t at Bellamy or Cora but at himself. He didn’t want to feel anything. Damion took a deep breath. He would not allow himself to.
He and Cora would have it out, and he’d be done with watching someone he cared for fall for a man unworthy of her.
Care for her? His thoughts disconcerted him.
Still, he justified that he could care for Cora without falling for her.
He shoved the thoughts away as he entered the ballroom, refusing to delve into them.