Miss Adriana rolled her eyes. “You are the last person who needs a chaperone, Cordelia.” She said it in such a tone that she thought her sister either too proper or too boring.
“She seems to be in a hurry,” Damon observed as Adriana hurried away.
“She probably wishes to go in search of her merman,” Cordelia said as she shook her head.
“Maybe one day she’ll find him,” Damon offered hopefully.
“That is assuming he exists.”
“What other sights are there to see in Bocka Morrow?” Damon asked.
Cordelia snorted. “You’ve seen the sights, Lord Bentford. Sadly, we’ve not much to offer.”
He stared down at her and realized that Bocka Morrow had much to offer by way of her.
“Shall we continue on to Hollybrook Park?” He offered his arm.
Cordelia slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and his entire being became aware of her touch and closeness, even through his clothing.
He would need to be very careful around Miss Cordelia before he gave in to temptation.
Why did her sister dismiss her? Did she not think Cordelia worthy of seduction and thus she’d not need to worry about her?
Did Adriana view Cordelia as so proper that she wouldn’t succumb to the baser needs of humans?
Even Edward had called her boring and Lynwood had been shocked that she’d climbed a tree. None of them had given a thought of what could happen if she were alone with a bachelor, as if she were some old maiden aunt of no interest to anyone.
This not only bothered Damon but made him angry. Cordelia’s allure was far greater than Miss Adriana or her brothers realized.
In fact, if they weren’t standing on the walk in the village where anyone might see them, he’d kiss her. Cordelia needed to be kissed. She may be all that was proper, but he also suspected that she’d also melt against him.
A sister wouldn’t notice that Cordelia was not only beautiful, but perfectly molded for desire and passion. A woman whose very presence not only soothed and calmed a soul, but also called out to be kissed and held. A woman that if given the opportunity to seduce, Damon would do so slowly, bringing her awake to the potential passions that she’d yet to experience while he savored each moment, each gasp and each quiet moan. It wouldn’t be a frenzied moment of passion, but a slow simmer.
Damon shut down his thoughts, and his desire.
He may wish to experience more with Cordelia, but he could not consider a wife at this juncture in his life. Not with three witches to raise and not while they were in danger.
Damon glanced about. There was safety here. If anyone arrived, he’d be told, and Damon knew that his family was safe, which meant that he could enjoy his walk with Cordelia without a care.
“May I ask you a question?”
“You may.” He had no idea what she wished to know.
“I’ve had four Seasons, but I’ve not seen you once. Why is that?”
“Are you saying you would have remembered me?” he teased.
A lovely shade of rose stained her cheeks. “I have met your parents and sister and was simply curious as to why I had not met you.”
“I thought perhaps you were sorry that you missed a chance to dance with me.” Damon didn’t know what had gotten into him, but he wished to flirt with and tease Cordelia. Her sister was right, Cordelia was proper, but maybe that was because she’d not been treated any differently. Not that he’d be disrespectful.
“Though I do not wish to bruise your feelings, Lord Bentford, that is not the reason.”
He placed a hand over his heart. “You wound me, Miss Cordelia.”
She chuckled. “I am also certain you’ve never been at a loss for a partner.”
She’d just complimented him, or at least Damon chose to take it as a compliment.
