Chapter 4
Cora frowned at Blythe’s advice. He seemed uninterested in helping her, and more embarrassing, his words suggested that he didn’t approve of Christopher. She bristled, telling herself his opinion didn’t matter. Still, obtaining his help did.
“Your Grace, you are a known expert when it comes to flirtation and how to tempt someone.”
He said nothing but stared at her. She fidgeted with the tie of her wrap, realizing this meeting may be unwise. Blythe might tell Jeremy about the encounter. “I apologize. I shouldn’t have sent you the note.”
She headed toward the door but stopped when he said, “Why Bellamy?”
Cora turned back to him. Confusion marred his face as if Christopher wasn’t a suitable husband. She stepped closer to Blythe. “We are neighbors and dear friends.”
He shook his head. “What does that have to do with marriage?”
She flushed at his question. Cora’s response, she felt, explained exactly why she and Christoper were well-suited.
“It is a strong foundation for a happy union.”
Blythe strode to a small table with wine and glasses, pouring them both one. He handed her a glass. “Sit.”
Hope filled Cora that he might assist her.
She sat on the sofa, and Blythe settled into a wingback chair across from her.
Gone was the charming man from earlier this evening, and in his place was a far more serious person.
Her gaze flitted down him. His large frame filled the chair, and he sat with his legs spread, a glass resting on his knee.
She swallowed nervously, more uncertain he’d help.
She took a sip of her wine as he asked, “Besides being your neighbor and friend, what makes Bellamy ideal?”
Cora frowned, not sure what he meant. “I can still visit my family often, and we have complementary interests.”
“So, you and Bellamy plan to travel more?”
She would love to see the world, but knew that Christopher regarded his recent travels as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity rather than something he’d do again.
“No, he will be busy with his family's estate. His trip was his last hurrah before working more closely with his father. Still, he supports my love of geography.”
“I’m a duke and have traveled and plan to do it again in the future. Going abroad isn’t so far-fetched for Bellamy and you if he plans accordingly. Do you want to see the Mediterranean Sea or even the Euphrates River?”
“It isn’t common for ladies to do a grand tour.”
“That isn’t what I asked,” he said, interrupting her. “Where would you go if given the chance?”
“The Mediterranean and the Americas. My favorite maps are from those regions.”
“You should do it. Would Bellamy be supportive?” Blythe asked.
Cora never considered traveling anywhere. Maybe someday to France, but with the country still dealing with so much turmoil, she suspected it might be later in life. Would Christopher ever want to do a grand tour again? Stop. Blythe was confusing her goals. Traveling wasn’t one of them.
“Whether we choose to go abroad or not doesn’t matter to me.”
He smiled sadly at her. Cora didn’t like it. “Lord Bellamy is a catch and would make a sufficient husband.”
“Explain to me how?”
Annoyance surged in her. “We have been friends for years. He understands everything about me.”
Blythe nodded. “That is a good point. Friendship with your partner is an admirable thing to want.”
“Since before we could walk,” Cora added.
Sipping his wine, he said, “What about desire?”
Her eyes went wide. No one besides Abigail discussed such topics with her, not even Christopher. “Of course, we will desire one another.”
He smirked as if he understood something she didn’t. “Are you attracted to Bellamy?”
She blushed. “Yes.”
Blythe took another sip of wine. “So, Bellamy heightens your senses and makes you tremble when he is near.”
Cora wasn’t sure she had ever thought about such things. Still, she was confident he would once they spent more time together. “Of course.”
“Have you kissed him?”
They’d shared one kiss before he left. It had been a quick one. She nodded. His eyes darkened. “How did it feel?”
“Maybe we shouldn’t talk about these things. It seems improper.”
“No more so than sending a rogue a note to meet with him late at night,” he retorted.
She found herself missing the charming Blythe from earlier today. This man was far more grumpy. “It was only for your assistance.”
“Here I am helping you,” he said, placing his wineglass on the table next to him.
“Attraction means something different to everyone and has nothing to do with what makes a suitable husband. I imagine many ladies are attracted to you, but you wouldn’t be their ideal spouse.
He grinned at her soft jab. “You are right, Lady Cora. Attraction can happen between anyone, but it would be a damn shame not to have it with your husband.”
“I do have it with Lord Bellamy,” she bit out.
Blythe stood and pressed one of his hands on top of the sofa, next to her head. Shocking Cora, he dipped his head down so his mouth was a breath away from her ear. “So, when he leans in, you yearn to touch him.”
“Of course,” she said breathlessly.
His fingers traced down her throat. “Your pulse flutters rapidly when he touches you.”
“Very fast.”
He shifted back so his face was inches away from hers. Cora, for a mad moment, wondered if he would kiss her. She clenched her hands, finding herself wanting to grab onto him. His gaze moved to her mouth, and an ache flared in Cora’s body, shocking her.
They silently looked at one another. Her heart hammered, but finally Blythe released the sofa and stepped back. “Don’t settle, Cora. You should want a friend, lover, and champion. I’m sorry I can’t help.”
Before she could say more, Blythe left the library. She remained seated, drinking her wine. His words stayed lodged in her mind. You should want a friend, lover, and champion.
***
Damion stared across the Stanton Country Estate lawn, forcing himself not to search for Cora.
He’d left her last night in the library with the best advice he had.
He clenched his jaw, remembering her request. Damion couldn’t teach her how to tempt Bellamy.
The young man, honestly, seemed too enthralled with being adored by everyone.
Stanton sighed. “How does one find a bride? Did you just know?”
No, Damion's choice of Lily had been similar to how Cora selected Bellamy. They’d been neighbors and grown up together.
He proposed because they’d talked about being an ideal match as they became adults.
He grimaced. “I think it is different for everyone, but my best advice is if you have any hesitation, don’t propose. ”
“Unfortunately, I’m hesitant about every woman.”
“You should be right now, but as you spend more time with specific ladies, you will know,” Damion said. “Listen to your instincts.”
He hadn’t when he was younger. Truthfully, Damion had pushed any concerns aside and even reassured Lily that it was fine to be nervous. He didn’t realize until far too late that just because they seemed like the perfect match didn’t mean that was the case.
“What is my sister doing?” Stanton asked, chuckling.
Instinctively, Damion glanced where he was staring. Cora stood near Bellamy. She leaned forward and smiled at him. Bellamy looked back at her, puzzled. Damion tilted his head and studied her further. There was something familiar about her behavior.
Two other ladies giggled as she dramatically fluttered her eyelashes. Damion cringed. Cora was openly attempting to keep Bellamy’s interest. The young lord seemed confused by her actions. She grinned again, and it felt familiar.
Stanton shook his head. “I wish she’d spent more of her Seasons engaging with other suitors. She is so set on Bellamy. I’m not sure he is the right fit for her, to be honest.”
“Don’t let her marry him then.”
“The heart wants what the heart wants.”
Damion knew what Cora was feeling had nothing to do with the heart or even desire. He’d been young like her and understood why she was fixated on her friend.
“Her behavior kind of reminds me of you.”
He lifted a skeptical brow at Stanton. He laughed. “Look.”
Damion fixed his gaze on her again and frowned. She smirked in a way that was supposed to be amusing but roguish. Stanton was right. He used similar facial expressions, but on Cora, it appeared ridiculous and awkward.
Bellamy excused himself and joined Lady Clark and a few other guests in a game of lawn bowl. Cora marched toward the refreshment table. Stanton sighed. “I was afraid I would have to go interrupt her attempts at flirting. That was damn uncomfortable.”
“Your Grace, will you join us for a game?” Lady Hannah asked from another area of the lawn.
Stanton looked as if he might refuse, but his mother appeared. “Yes, of course, he will.”
The Dowager Duchess of Stanton beamed at him victoriously as he joined Lady Hannah. Damion said, “Remember, any hesitation, don’t continue forward.”
Stanton grinned at him but did as his mother said. The dowager duchess turned her gaze on Damion. “How are you doing, Your Grace?”
“I’m well and behaving myself, too.”
She didn’t feign confusion but nodded. “Wonderful. My son assured me that you would be. Shall I introduce you to some ladies?”
He shook his head. “No, thank you.”
A sigh escaped the older woman. “I suppose I should just be happy with the fact that both my children are creeping closer to marriage.”
Damion laughed, and she continued on. He turned back to the area he’d last spotted Cora. She stood by the refreshment table, practicing various facial expressions. Stanton was right. The lady was mimicking him. It didn’t suit her at all and was awkward.
He walked to her, even though it was probably the most unwise choice. Damion reached her and the refreshment table but remained silent, choosing to grab a glass of punch before he said anything. Her eyes widened at his arrival, but she offered him no greeting. Instead, they sipped their drinks.
Eventually, he murmured, “What were you doing with Bellamy?”
She frowned at him as if he were daft. “Flirting, of course.”
He shifted closer to her and said, “Were you copying me?”
Her cheeks turned red. “You are widely regarded for your skills with the opposite sex.”
“You can’t flirt like me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Why not?”
Was Cora really that clueless? “Because you look absurd.”
“No more so than when you smile or stand inappropriately close to a lady.”
Damion’s neck went hot. He couldn’t deny it. He enjoyed the art of tempting someone. Even if it went nowhere, it was fun. “You need to still be yourself.”
She nodded toward Meredith, who was flirting with a gentleman. He suspected it was also innocent fun, but she was very good at it. “I tried some of the things Lady Clark does. I don’t know how she flutters her eyelashes like that.”
“Again, you should flirt in a way that complements your personality. If not, you look strange and awkward.”
“Then teach me. Lord Bellamy is surrounded by far more skilled ladies than me. I have no chance unless I improve my flirting skills.”
Damion’s gaze darted toward Bellamy. He didn’t understand why she was so fixated on the man. He turned back to her, and she watched Bellamy with hurt in her eyes. Against his better judgment, he said, “Meet me tonight in the library, an hour after everyone goes to bed.”
Cora’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Call me, Damion.”
She smiled. “See you this evening, Damion.”
Cora excitedly rushed off as Damion took another gulp of the tepid punch. Why was he drinking the awful liquid? He placed his glass on the table and continued to stand there. Damion would help Cora, but hopefully, he could also make her understand she needed to look beyond Bellamy.