Chapter one
Thisisit.Mylast chance to have a decent life. If I blow this moment. I blow everything.
The ballroom goes all blurry. Sound goes all fuzzy. The only thing I can hear clearly is my heartbeat pounding in my ears. I hope my palms aren’t sweaty, because that would be gross.
My phone slides out of my trembling fingers. It drops onto the smooth wooden floor with a thud loud enough to wake the dead. How has no one heard it? It seems miracles do happen. I just need to keep walking. Okay, here is a good spot. Stop, turn around. Smile. Pretend to be watching the dancers on the floor and breathe.
Duke Rakeswell is still making his way towards the refreshments. A few more steps and he is going to pass my phone. Lady Buxley just needs to stop talking to him and everything will be fine.
“Colby?”
I jump out of my skin.
Duke Sothbridge is standing right in front of me. I blink but he is still here. I’m not seeing things. He looks jaw droppingly stunning as ever. Tall, tanned, blond, muscled. Striking aquamarine eyes that seem to dazzle with his every naughty thought.
Such a shame he is an evil creep.
“Your Grace,” I reply politely.
“You are growing up to be a good-looking young man,” he comments, as his eyes rake over my entire body as if they are undressing me.
I shudder. The audacity of the man to sound surprised. How dare he! And he saw me three months ago at Earl Somerset’s garden party. How one grows in three months is beyond me. His comment implies that he has never noticed me before or that he is simply saying it for an excuse to be a letch. Both reasons are intolerable.
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Duke Rakeswell approaching my phone. I need to get rid of Sothbridge and I need to do it now.
“Thank you, your grace. It’s so wonderful to see you looking so well after your duel with Lord Garrington.”
It’s ancient history. Long forgotten. There have been countless scandals in society since and nobody cares anymore. But it has the desired effect. Sothbridge scowls at me and walks away.
What a relief.
Rakeswell sees my phone and picks it up. My heart is pounding again. He touches the screen. I spent hours and hours choosing the selfie for the lock screen. I hope he likes it and agrees that I look absolutely charming in it. I know any selfie would have done, he just needs to know the phone is mine. But, you know, no harm in reminding him how cute I am.
His gaze starts to sweep the ballroom. Looking for me. Time for me to drift closer to Lady Connham and her sisters whilst pretending I’m engrossed by the dancers on the floor.
I risk a sideways peek and nearly shriek in delight. Rakeswell is striding towards me. I have to time this perfectly. Okay, now, he is close enough and clearly approaching me.
“Oh! Your grace! I’d love to dance!” I gush at the top of my voice, as I place my hands over my heart for good measure.
I’ve certainly gained Connham and her sisters’ attention.
Rakeswell looks completely taken aback for a moment, but he nods sharply, slips my phone into his pocket and offers me his arm instead. Perfect.
He is too nice to embarrass me by calling me out on my misunderstanding. I knew it. Tonight’s plan is going to work flawlessly. A shiver of guilt traces up my spine as he sweeps me onto the dancefloor. But it’s not an evil plan. I’m pretty sure Rakeswell likes me, and he does need a vessel. And I need to be married before everyone finds out about my family’s financial situation. So it’s a win-win for both parties. Rakeswell just needs a little incentive, a little pushing in the right direction. I’m sure he would have proposed eventually, if my family fortune hadn’t taken a tumble, so all I’m really doing is hurrying things along. There is no need to feel bad.
Dancing with Rakeswell is nice. The feel of his hand on the small of my back is bliss. He is a good-looking man, and he is inches away. Part of myself is screaming at me to climb him like a tree but I take a deep breath instead. I’ve been perpetually horny for years. Horny and unsatisfied. I can handle it.
As I execute a perfect turn, I catch my mother’s gaze. She nods at me. She is ready.
I stumble clumsily into Rakeswell and his grip on me tightens.
“Are you alright?” he asks with a small frown.
Time to look up at him and flutter my eyelashes, “I… I feel a bit faint.”
His frown deepens, and his brown eyes fill with concern. But he is just staring at me as we stand motionless on the dancefloor.
“Fresh air?” I prompt.
