Her breath caught in her throat. The distance between them was so little that it almost didn’t exist. She could feel the tension between them. His eyes bored into hers and despite herself, she was unable to look away, utterly captivated by his presence.
Kiss me,she willed him with every breath in her body.
Couldn’t he tell how much she wanted him to kiss her? She had wished for those lips to press against hers and take her breath away until she had none left to give and felt lightheaded from it.
Her dreams had been plagued with him. In all of them, he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her deeply until she moaned against his lips and reciprocated with much vigor.
Augusta pulled away from him, putting distance between them. He cleared his throat sharply, scratching the back of his head.She was ashamed of how wanton she felt. The intensity of her desire surprised her.
Her dreams had been shocking enough but she had managed to explain them away, choosing to pretend they did not happen than have to confront them. That was at least, until he decided on this promenade.
She wished she could avoid him until all of this was handled and she went back finding everything he did or said, incredibly vexing. Yet, somewhere in her mind, she knew that she could never truly be annoyed by him anymore.
Of course, his words had a way of making her angry. She had begun to see him in a different light long before she realized it but now that she knew the truth about his engagement and what truly happened. Now that she had come close to feeling what she felt only in her dreams, she viewed him differently.
He was more than just a man she embarked on a fake courtship with, although that continued to loom over them like a dark cloud, reminding her that this was nothing more than some scheme they hadn’t given much thought before embarking on.
None of this is real,she reminded herself once again. It was the only way she could stay in touch with reality and ignore her dreams, no matter how much reality seemed like it would be better if they simply let it happen.
Augusta did not think he would ever go for it even if she wished to. He had pulled away after all. Perhaps it was a way to show her what she was missing out on by not allowing herself to be courted. Perhaps he planned to use that to win their bet.
The thought hurt her heart even as she reminded herself of it. He was only trying to win their bet and the moment he knew he was the winner, he would disappear out of her life just as quickly as he appeared.
The thought filled her with panic. She did not want him to leave. She had come to know him in a way that not many did and he knew her and understood her in the way that even her family didn’t.
She could not think of having to open up to someone else. She couldn’t do it. And yet, that was what would happen the moment he found out the truth. He had won.
She focused on the path in front of them, limping slightly, almost unnoticeably as they approached her sister and the Earl.
As they approached the pair, she frowned. Her sister appeared agitated, like she would be if she was annoyed by something.
She walked faster, wincing in pain.
“I know I have asked you this many times already but are you all right, Lady Augusta? You appear to be in pain,” he asked her.
Augusta pursed her lips. “Yes, but it is nothing to worry about. Only a little ache from when I slipped. I don’t believe I sprained anything.”
“Are you certain?” he asked her and she nodded.
“Quite so. Now, I don’t know what’s happening over there but I do believe it’ll be in everyone’s best interest if we do not delay any further and get there fast,” she said, hurrying her pace.
He followed after her, matching her pace just as they reached the pair arguing. Thei faces were morphed into angry looks as they glared at each other.
“What is the matter?” she asked to no one in particular, looking between the two of them. When they had waved them over, they had been on good terms and yet, something had happened in the time it took for them to get there.
“It is nothing,” they both said at the same time before returning to glare at each other.
Augusta stood confused. She looked at Benedict who was sporting the same baffled look she had on her face.
“Are you certain?” she asked again.
“Yes, Augusta,” Nancy snapped, glaring at her for a moment before her gaze softened. Her eyes turned apologetic and Augusta sighed, nodding.
“Can we leave now? I would like to return home,” she said, not looking at Matthew.
Augusta stared at Benedict. Although she’d wished only moments ago that she was elsewhere and did not have to be swamped with feelings she did not understand herself, she wished now, more than anything else that she could stay back.
There was so much she wanted to say to him although she did not know how to begin, and there was she wished to know about him.
