Chapter 17
That Harry Brudenall makes me so angry sometimes.Now, I am not only a spoiled brat, but now I haven’t even a feminine or delicate bone in my body!Of course, I cannot even try to deny this.With no one but the lads as playmates as a child and nary a female influence in my life before Richard wed Abby, what might he expect?Even then, they were so wrapped up in one another, so in love and with a babe of their own, I could not intrude upon their time.
I don’t resent their inattention.I was always quite happy for them.It was like watching a fairytale, to see true love unfold before one’s very eyes!It makes my heart ache still to see them so happy.Then to see such a miracle happen for Francis and then Vin as well has been a joy for me.
But I envy them as well.I want such a love for myself.I want it with Harry.I want to feel like Abby, Eve, and Moira look every day.
If only he wanted it as well...
~From the diary of Lady Fiona MacKintosh—Mar 1893
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Taking Fiona’s armfirmly as if he anticipated either fight or flight, the marquis led her to the perimeter of the dance floor where other partnered pairs were gathering.As the music began, Aylesbury allowed her only a moment to loop her train over her wrist before he took her in his arms, drawing her close.
Electricity sparked between them, leaving Fiona tingling from breast to thigh, and he wasn’t even touching her.This was going to be unbearable!
“Not so tight,” Fiona hissed, imposing more space between them as he moved her across the floor.Aylesbury just pulled her closer until her breasts brushed across his chest as they dipped and rotated in time to the music.Only then did Fiona realize that the dance was a Venetian waltz, quite possibly her most favored and romanticized dance.A dance that, years ago, had Aylesbury waltzing her through all her daydreams with a roguish grin.
Gritting her teeth with the determination to remain unyielding in his embrace now, Fiona stiffly followed the marquis’s lead into the twirling dance, endeavoring almost impossibly not to enjoy herself as Aylesbury was an excellent dance partner, not only because he was practiced in the steps but because he seemed to truly enjoy it as well.
She remembered that much clearly, though they had only danced together once before, a lively polonaise during the welcome home ball held for her brother Vin when he returned from Egypt.After that night, Aylesbury had never again asked her...though she also recalled spending a humiliating amount of effort hinting at him to do so.
Never beyond her wistful imaginings had Harry Brudenall held her so snuggly in his arms or turned her so dizzyingly that she longed to cling to him, to close her eyes and relish the warmth of his body pressed so close to hers.That he chose to do so now when it was the last thing she wanted only made her want to draw her flagging anger desperately around herself.
“I would beware of Harrowby.He has a reputation as something of a Lothario.”
Fiona snorted rudely in disbelief but said nothing else, keeping her face turned resolutely away from him.
“Of course, it would not require a libertine’s disposition to be taken by you,” he added.“You look lovely tonight, my dear.Scrumptious, in fact.”
“What are you doing, Harry?”
“Ah, finally we’re on a first name basis once again,” he responded with one of those irresistible grins that tended to melt her resolve.Still, she clung to her antagonism firmly, determined to resist him.
“We are not on a first name basis, Lord Aylesbury,” she snapped.“Nor shall we ever be.Now I want to know what you think you’re about, appearing out of nowhere everywhere I go, being so nice and courteous and...and...”
“Flirtaceous?”he supplied.“Complimentary?Attentive?”
“Yes, all of that.What are you about?”
“Isn’t it obvious, my dear?”he said silkily, bending his head to whisper in her ear.“I’m courting you.”
She drew back as far as his arms would allow.“You are not!”
“But I am,” he said with a devil-may-care smile.“Though I must be doing a poor job if you could not ascertain my purpose.I shall endeavor to improve my performance.”
