My eyes grab his lower lip, and I drag my teeth across mine.
You love him.The thought pierces my heart like the ill-timed arrow it truly is.
I shake my head. No, I can’t do this. Not now. Aunt Camille told me to give my heart to someone who could match me, and I gave it to the one man incapable of ever sharing his back, the one man I have no shot in hell with. What’s worse, I gave it to a man that freaks out and leaves when women get too serious. I’ve lost too many people in my life to navigate that.
I won’t be strong enough to handle another heartbreak.
So, I do the only logical thing in this situation. I thank Bridget for her offer, and then I turn around and run.
My feet patter down the long hallway, through a pair of grand doors into the parlor decked with green pastured wallpaper.
I pace with my hands on my hips, tears threatening to break through again. Everything is a mess. How could I have fallen for Jack Parker? What the hell was I thinking?
The swinging doors bust open, and I jump. Jack stands, gasping. “Jesus, Dessy, you’re fast.”
Alyssa’s fingers flying over the ivory keys waft in through the oak barrier.
“What are you doing here?” I all but shriek. “You should be dancing.”
“No one is going to miss my two left feet, trust me.” He rolls his eyes. “What’s going on with you?”
I just realized that I’m in love with you.“Nothing.”
“So you just sprinted from the ballroom for fun?” He shifts toward me, and I step back on my heel.
“Thought I’d spice up the storyline.” I laugh nervously.
“You know we could speed it up. I think people finding us here would be pretty risque, right?”
“Sure, but then we’d ruin the game, and who would really—” Jack puts a hand around my waist and pulls me against him. “What are you doing?” I ask in a breathless daze.
“What my dad used to do when my mom was upset. Sway with me, Dessy. It’ll relax you.” Gently, he grabs my hand and guides it to his chest. For whatever reason, all the chaos and panic spiraling inside calms. As long as we’re touching, as long as we’re close, I will be okay, even if it’s the last thing we should be doing.
“Better?” he asks, adjusting his grip on my waist and tugging me tighter against him. Slowly, he moves his hips. This isn’t close to a proper Regency dance, but it’s exactly what I need.
“Yeah.” I breathe in, resting my head on his shoulder. “Thank you for everything. I appreciate how seriously you’ve taken today. It means a lot to me.”
“Whatever makes you happy, Dessy. You know I’d do anything for you,” he whispers as the soft piano music from the other room accompanies us. It’s a classical piano version of “Yellow”by Coldplay. Alyssa’s been into playing modern songs like that sinceBridgerton, and people seem to like it better than going full-on classical.
I let myself collapse into Jack’s hold, swaying on the antique rug in the parlor. Everything is quiet for a second; my heart settles close to its owner, and I bask in the glow of the perfect moment.
“Thank you for being my friend,” I say, to remind myself that this right here is more than enough. I should be happy with the now. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Jack clears his throat. “Anytime, pal.”
ChapterTwenty
Aulie Desfleurs
Play:Then He Kissed Me by the Crystals
“You’re such a silly little thing.” Sabrina-as-Caroline Bingley flashes me a condescending grin, towering over me on the hill in her yellow silk gown. The terrible part of me hates how well she can pull off the high-waistline and puffed sleeve look, but Sabrina is the picture of regency elegance. Even I have to admit that. Apparently, she’s still going with her belittle me as much as possible strategy today, too, the second day of the fair.
It’s fitting, given that Caroline is supposed to be a snooty woman with aristocratic airs, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more behind her characters’ interactions.
It shouldn’t bother me, not as much as it is, anyway. Lydia is a silly character, so mission accomplished. Still, something about that name makes me feel like a failure.
Letting Lydia out to play near Jack was a bad idea. He’s the only one who could have me fumbling around a fountain basin, desperate to keep kissing him instead of dashing away like I knew I should.
