And also marked how briefly jealous he was at the ease with which Theo could interact with Bernadette.They could be open with each other.There was nothing stopping their teasing or flirting if they desired to do so.
As if to accentuate the difference in their relationship, Valaria sent him a quick glance and then stepped away to join the others across the room.It made the walls that she kept erecting even more obvious to him.Painful, even.And he wasn’t certain he could overcome that.
But tonight was about trying, wasn’t it?That was why Theo had suggested this entertainment.So that Callum could show Valaria how easy they could be together.How her walls were not required for this affair…or anything else that might follow.
So it seemed he’d best get to work.
* * *
Valaria had been surprised many times in her life, often not in a positive way.But this evening had proven to be one of the times she was astounded most.She’d prepare herself for a night of Callum’s long looks and all the tension in the world.Instead it had been much the opposite.He had been entirely easy all night.He laughed and told jokes and engaged with her friends as they sat at Theo’s long table, eating a magnificent supper.
And yes, Callum looked at her.But it was always with a slight smile or wink, as if they were sharing some little secret delight, not anything overwrought or dangerous.
It was impossible not to feel the effect of that down to her bones.To want to lean into it and to him, even though she still wasn’t entirely certain where they stood.After all, he didn’t pursue her.Aside from those little looks here and there and his teasing about her moaning his name earlier, he didn’t behave as though they had any special connection at all.Nor had he expressed a reason for the distance that had come between them the last two days.
Not that he’d had a chance with the others around.She would have been humiliated if he’d brought that up, even if it seemed it was an open secret with everyone in the room.
Still, she was intrigued and flummoxed, all at once.A not entirely comfortable feeling as it sat in her chest like a rock.
“That was a wonderful meal, Theo,” Bernadette said, drawing Valaria back to the table and the present moment.“The lamb was perfection.”
“Well, Mrs.Ross recalled how you liked it,” Theo said as he leaned back in his chair and watched Bernadette with a little smile.
Bernadette’s eyes went wide.“Mrs.Ross?The same cook your family had all those years ago?”
Theo nodded and then seemed to recall there were others at his table.“As you know, my family and Etta’s have neighboring estates and we’ve known each other an age.And yes, Mrs.Ross is the very same cook.She joined me in London after her dear husband passed about five years ago.”
“Oh, he was a lovely man.Ran your father’s estate, didn’t he?”Bernadette asked.
“He did.”Theo smiled.“She’ll be pleased to know that you recall her”
“It is such a nice thing that you and Bernadette could become reacquainted,” Callum said from the other end of the table.
“I don’t know that we needed to be reacquainted.We always knew each other, didn’t we, Etta?Though I suppose we didn’t have much ability to speak in the last few years.”
Valaria found herself looking at Callum as the conversation played out.She felt the topic in her bones.After all, she’d had many opportunities to talk to him and hadn’t taken them.Now that she could be honest with herself, she realized it was because of the attraction that now dominated every single aspect of their relationship.
She sighed, a little too loudly, and Flora glanced her way, concern on her face.“Will we retire to the parlor for an entertainment?”she asked.“Bernadette, would you play for us?”
Bernadette’s cheeks flamed.“Oh, I don’t know.”
“I wish you would,” Theo said.“You always played beautifully.I have missed music in this house.Come, we’ll go to the parlor, as Flora suggests.”
They each got up.Theo moved toward Bernadette, of course, holding out an arm to escort her.Valaria glanced toward Callum, but before he could reach out to her and touch her for the first time since her entrance into the house, Flora moved in his direction.
“Your Grace, might I take a moment as we walk to speak to you?”
Callum glanced toward Valaria again, but nodded, as he had little other choice.“Of course, Flora.Please, let me take your arm.”
“You don’t mind, do you, Valaria?”Flora asked with a quick glance her way.
“Of course not,” Valaria said.“One of us was bound to be the odd lady out.I am capable of following to the parlor.”
Callum gave her one last look before he took Flora’s arm and led her from the dining room behind Bernadette and Theo.She followed at a not-too-close distance so she wouldn’t overhear whatever Flora had to say to him.Not that she wasn’t curious.Especially since the pair did look very well together.
A flare of ridiculous jealousy seemed to tear through her.God, this was her friend.And the man might be her lover, but that was a temporary situation, obviously.They’d made no promises to each other.And yet when Flora leaned up a little to talk to him, Valaria had a brief desire to wedge herself between them.Like a petulant schoolgirl who had no control over herself.
And sheneededto control herself.
