“Desperate for me to notice you, is that it?” he continued, his gaze unwavering as he studied her, as though searching for a crack in her facade. He cocked his head and folded his arms, bringing to her notice his rolled up sleeves.
Cecilia clenched her fists, fighting against the flutter of attraction she felt. “You think so little of me,” she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. “You have no idea what I’m capable of or what I truly want.”
“Then enlighten me,” he taunted, his tone sharp but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. “What is it you want, Lady Cecilia?”
The question hung in the air, and for a moment, she hesitated, the weight of his gaze making her feel exposed. “I need not tell you anything about myself,” she shifted her gaze from him.
“You certainly did not care about keeping anything to yourself, even something as important as your dignity, when you kissed me,” Alistair’s voice was sharp, his broad shoulders blocking the light, causing only shadows to be cast over his malicious expression.
Cecilia felt a surge of heat rise to her cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and indignation. “I had no other choice! You were about to expose us in a hard to be explained, precarioussituation, and I—” she paused, trying to catch her breath, “I did what I had to do.”
His blue eyes narrowed, a flicker of something between anger and reluctant understanding passing through them. “You think that makes it acceptable? You practically threw yourself atop me!” He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, his scent filling the space between them.
Cecilia clenched her fists, battling the urge to step back. “It was a desperate moment, and you know it!” Her voice was rising now, filled with frustration. “You were being reckless, if anything, one would say your actions that night could be explained as you trying to trap me in a marriage. You wanted us to be caught!”
“You dare to call me reckless?” Alistair’s expression shifted, and Cecilia almost scrambled back at the sight. “And yet, you think no matter what the situation was, that justifies your actions? I would advise that you watch your tone, tongue and actions around me from this moment. I have let you get away with enough.”
Cecilia opened her mouth to respond but faltered, her gaze drifting away as she contemplated her words under such a fierce gaze. Her legs felt frozen to the ground, and a silence stretched between them, nearly suffocating.
Finally, Alistair shook his head, his jaw tightening. “I shall expect you to keep your distance from me from now on, Miss Everton. Surely, you’re expected to remain on my premises for a while longer, still, we must not interact.”
The command hung in the air, heavy and final. Cecilia felt a wave of annoyance wash over her. Yet she did not say a word.
“You have my permission to use the library, for now,” He gave her one last, demeaning look, and finally, turned to make his exit.
“Self-absorbed and arrogant,” Cecilia muttered under her breath as he walked away. She watched him go, the way he moved with an aura that both frustrated and captivated her.
Despite the anger simmering within her, she couldn’t help but admire the strength in his form, the way he carried himself. It was maddening. Why wasn’t his insanity enough to dissuade her from noticing the reality of his looks?
The conflict within her raged as she stood there, feeling the weight of the moment settle heavily on her chest, unable to help from feeling like this confrontation had shifted something between them.
CHAPTER 9
“Wasn’t it truly lovely how quickly the Dowager Countess took to my mother? I believe they’ll become very fast friends,” Evangeline’s voice rang out, light and pleasant as always.
Alistair leaned against the weathered stone wall of his estate, the midday sun casting dappled shadows through the leaves of the sprawling garden. He watched his sister, her laughter bright and carefree, as she animatedly spoke with her betrothed and his sister.
Nathaniel’s eyes sparkled with equal gladness, “I believe they might plotting something. It’s peculiar how they rose up suddenly and decided to leave for certain matters together.”
Cecilia chimed in with a laugh, brushing off her hands as she stepped away from the rose bush she seemed to have been inspecting. “Well, you can be rest assured it would not benothing past planning a grand tea party or something equally extravagant.”
Tristan, sprawled comfortably on a picnic blanket on the grass, added with a smirk, “Well, if they’re bonding over tea, I’d say it’s a win for all of us. Less time spent with the dowagers means more time for the young ones to enjoy the gardens in peace, don’t we agree?”
Alistair felt a flicker of warmth at the banter, yet he remained a quiet observer, standing slightly apart, the laughter and lightheartedness feeling almost foreign to him.
Amongst everyone, one person’s joviality stood out to him. Cecilia’s laughter floated through the air, light and almost infectious, as she bantered with her brothers and Evie.
Alistair’s heart pounded in his chest as he tried to pull his gaze away from her. But every time he attempted to look elsewhere, his eyes betrayed him, drawn back to her as if by an invisible thread. It was infuriating.
Her smile was radiant, a stark contrast to the venomous glare she had thrown his way just a day before. He recalled the heated exchange, her words sharp and biting. Yet here she was, animated and carefree, her voice lilting with joy as she engaged in playful conversation.
Alistair felt a tight knot of irritation form in his stomach. How could she act as if nothing had happened?
He clenched his jaw, trying to shake off the conflicting emotions swirling within him. It was maddening to feel this way—this mixture of irritation yet inability to disregard her existence.
Her laughter lit up her features and her hair caught the sunlight, creating a somewhat halo around her. There was an allure in her confidence that both fascinated and frustrated him.
It had been a day and half since he told her to avoid him, and she had complied, yet the absence of her sharp tongue or mere gaze in his direction only seemed to amplify his awareness of her.
