His brows rose. “Perhaps we could.”
“You could show me some of your fighting moves,” she teased. She could hardly wait for the two of them to do normal things together.
“So you want to grapple with me?”
“Is that what you call that?”
Axel didn’t answer out loud, but his eyes sparkled with promise.
But not until later. How was it they were so different than one another but wanted the same things?
“I’m so glad it was you.” The instant she said the words, she realized they didn’t make sense. “Before… all of this happened. I always admired you—your strength, and loyalty toward your friends.” Despite his size, he’d never seemed threatening. And although she hadn’t allowed herself to think about men other than Westerley, his looks had not gone unnoticed by her. “You are the most handsome of all of them.”
He shook his head. “My father says I am benign.”
It wasn’t a description she would have expected his father to use. It meant gentle, kindly, non-threatening.
She remembered how he’d held her hands against the tree, how she’d trusted him unreservedly. In some ways, the word was wholly accurate. If he’d been any other way, she never could have surrendered herself the way she had.
But she had also watched him fight off a gang of knife-wielding villains using nothing but his bare hands. And he’d not hesitated to stand up to her father.
Her gaze landed on his mouth. No. He was so much more than kind. He was… potent.
“He does not know you then,” Felicity said. Because her giant of a viscount was so much more than the amiable man most took him for.
His eyes darkened.
“I’m going to make you happy,” he said. “Keep you satisfied.”
Felicity held her breath.
“I know we’ve been pretending—"
“You cannot live in one another’s pockets all evening.” Felicity’s future mother-in-law appeared just behind Mantis, peering down on them. “You’ll have plenty of time for that later.”
Mantis had clamped his mouth shut.
“Even after you’re married, it’s considered rude for a gentleman not to make himself available to at least a few of the wallflowers.” Lady Crestwood clucked her tongue.
Felicity’s big-hearted, obliging viscount was on his feet. “Of course. But I’ll return shortly.”
“Something cool and refreshing for you.” The countess pressed a cold glass into Felicity’s hand even as Mantis backed away.
“Thank you, my lady,” she murmured.
“You must call me Louisa,” her future mother-in-law smiled warmly.
“Thank you, then, Louisa.” Felicity set her glass on a small table and stood. “And you are right. What will our guests think if I sit here alone all evening?” As if on cue, her dearest friend appeared with a stunning redheaded lady at her side. Lady Westerley.
“You look positively stunning! You are glowing!” Bethany said.
Lady Crestwood slid a meaningful glance to Felicity and over to the untouched refreshment. “Don’t forget to drink up, dear.” She waved at someone across the ballroom and then slipped away.
Felicity turned her attention to her friend. Bethany had changed since her marriage to Lord Chaswick. She seemed more confident and happy, and if anyone glowed, it was her. “I only hope marriage suits me as well as it obviously suits you.”
Bethany smiled secretly. “Seeing as Mantis can hardly keep his eyes off you, I have no doubt that it will.”
Knowing it was time, Felicity turned to greet the other woman. “You are looking lovely this evening, Miss Jack—my lady.”
