And me. That was a given.Hesimply didn’t know how much.
Chapter Twenty
Lord Kendrick, Duke of Alton
“Lord Kendrick, Duke of Alton, and Lady Lillian Tapper.” The butler announced our arrival at a soiree thrown by my cousin Victoria in honor of my engagement. The ballroom was a crush with the crème de la crème of society present. I patted Lillian’s gloved hand and steeled myself for the upcoming night. This was our first foray as a betrothed couple. All eyes were on us.
A slight quaking of her limbs gave away her nervousness. I squeezed her fingers, wishing to give her confidence. ”You needn’t be afraid. I’ll be here for you.”
“They are all staring. Are you sure this dress isn’t too revealing?” She brought her fingers to the emerald pendant resting on her chest and fidgeted with the weight. Although her silver silk dress sleeves were adorned with ruffles, the fitted bodice enhanced her pale skin and showcased her small but well-rounded breasts.
“No, it reveals the perfect amount. You look lovely tonight.” I nodded to a known acquaintance and his wife but steered Lillian in the opposite direction. Rank had its privileges, and although many tried to toady up to me, others respected my boundaries.
“You are very kind. Now, if you could halt everyone from staring, I would appreciate it,” she said in a small whisper.
“They stare because they’re resentful. Every man here envies me my choice of bride.” They would line up to court her in droves if they knew her true nature. Alas, the ignorant and shallow men around her failed to look past her unconventional exterior. The woman on my arm shone in the silver dress, and I was proud to claim her as my fiancée.
“More like every woman attending would push me off a cliff for the opportunity to become your duchess.” She released an unladylike snort, followed by a self-deprecating smile. The simple gesture erased the doomed air she’d carried since I picked her up for the event.
“I would love to say what you claim is outlandish, but alas, it isn’t. To date, I have had three ladies swear I was the father of their children. One horrible woman even stole a child from a scullery maid. It was very disturbing.” I shuddered, thinking about the poor exploited child. My title was a blessing and a curse.
“Oh, dear. It is a wonder you don’t spurn me for my brib—um, destructive behavior.” She pressed her lips together, genuine regret in her stare.
“You never tried to trick me into marriage. You simply asked me to help you.” Her request had begun an odd turn of events. The ghost of the night in the library haunted me, both asleep and awake. We all three had meshed well together.
The aftereffects were mixed.
There was a tenseness I hadn’t previously experienced with Colt whenever we were together. Part of it was my fault. I avoided him because I was torn between my desire for him and our friendship.
“Either way, it was ill-advised. Do you think I could have a glass of champagne? I’m parched.” She offered me a weak smile and dropped the pendant. My engagement gift to Lillian, the emerald-studded necklace brought out the green of her eyes. Iwanted to place a peck on her lips, anything to bring the joy back.
“Of course.” I grabbed two glasses off a waiter’s tray and handed one to her.
She accepted the proffered glass and drank deeply. Her hair was fashioned in an elaborate upswept style that enhanced the length of her neck. Lady Lillian would never be a great beauty. She would always be unique. “You have been gone from the house lately.”
An older man ogled her, and I lifted my chin to stare him down. What lay beneath the fabric of her gown was mine alone to see. Well, maybe not just mine. Colt had stripped her out of her bodice and explored the softness beneath. “I have had estate business to attend to. Surely Colt told you.”
“Yes, he did. He’d allowed me to use his typewriter, and my new scenes have shaped up to be some of the best writing I think I have ever done.” She rolled the stem of the glass in her gloved fingers. A stubborn curl escaped from her upswept hair and rested on her creamy shoulder.
If we were alone, I would replace it with my lips and explore the soft flesh. We were not alone. “Did you get all the material you needed?” I could hardly wait to seduce her as my wife.
The ballroom layout was familiar to me, and I found a secluded spot to have an intimate conversation without prying ears overhearing. The long engagement was taking a toll on my patience. It was at my mother’s insistence we have a large, drawn-out affair.
“For the first of three scenes, yes. Colt has read what I have, and he is confident the new scenes fit well with the original plot, but he has encouraged me to rewrite most of it.” She finished the wine in her glass and inhaled. The motion pushed her breasts high. A soft flush from the wine or the conversation moved upher chest, and my attention stayed in places it ought not to linger in such a public venue.
