He bowed his head and as she closed her eyes, she waited for the spark, the electricity to flow through her veins. But other than a brief pressure to alert her that he had done the deed, he pulled back and her eyes fluttered open. She tried to hide her inner disappointment and she must have succeeded because he smiled broadly, as if he had pleased her greatly and touched a hand to his forehead. “I shall await tomorrow with renewed vigor upon seeing you again.”
As he entered the coach and it rambled away, Lexie knew she was in trouble.
“I daresayyou shall have a proposal from the earl before month’s end,” her aunt chimed up proudly the next morning at breakfast.
Lexie’s head was pounding from a sleepless night, making her a bit more irritable than usual. “What if I don’t wish to marry him?” she countered.
“Of course you shall,” her aunt immediately contradicted. “He is as good a choice as anyone else who has shown interest in you.”
Lexie picked up her toast and her knife, slathering the bread quite liberally with jam as she spoke. “What of the Duke of Cuthbert?”
The older woman instantly set down her fork with a decided clatter. “We have already discussed this, Alexandra. He is not a suitable match.”
Lexie cringed. “Because he is a duke? I can understand yourhesitation.” She knew that sarcasm would not help her case, and yet, she had been unable to resist goading her aunt further.
This time the chair was scooted out with a scrape against the wood floor. “I can see you are in a disapproving mood this morning. I shall retire to my room a bit early.” Tossing down her serviette, her aunt quit the room in a huff.
When she was alone, Lexie pushed her barely touched food aside and sat back in her chair with a sigh. She told herself time and again it wouldn’t do to get on her aunt’s bad side, but neither could she understand how a duke’s attentions might be considered less than those of an earl when titles were all anyone in society seemed obsessed with.
Pushing back her chair, Lexie decided to take a walk in the gardens. Although there was a chill to the air, she welcomed the clarity she hoped it might bring. She had no idea why she continued to think about the duke when they had done nothing more than share a couple passionate kisses. Perhaps that was all he was willing to give and Lexie had set out with the intention to gain nothing more, but now things were starting to get complicated. With her aunt’s interference, she would surely push this union between herself land the Earl of Lindley, which Lexie had not yet decided if she liked or not. He had definitely paled in the shadow of the duke the night before. But then, there was no fiery embrace from Lindley in which to compare. She might be thought too bold to make the first advance, but it would be the best way to decipher which man she might wish to pursue. If he was just as intriguing as the duke, then she could, hopefully, set aside this current interest in him and the harmony between her and her aunt would be restored.
Starting to shiver, Lexie decided to make her way back inside and get ready for the earl’s arrival later that afternoon.
A few hours later, with her aunt out on more calls, Lexie received the earl in the front parlor. He turned upon her entrance and she had to admire the way his light hair was brushed backfrom his forehead, as well as the green eyes that crinkled slightly at the corners and lit with approval when she walked in.
He took her gloved hand and brought it to his lips. “You look enchanting. That shade of blue is an admirable choice, although I have no doubt you can wear any color and make it appealing.”
Lexie inclined her head. “Thank you for the compliment.” She took note of his charming manner and admitted that he was starting to rise in her esteem.
“Shall we?” She accepted his arm and he led her outside to his high-perch phaeton. He glanced upward at the cloudless sky. “I realize that it might be a bit cool to ride without a covering, but I have ensured every effort has been taken with your comfort in mind.”
She spied the warming brick on the floor and the heavy fur coverlet in the seat and nodded her approval. “That was very considerate of you, my lord.” She dared to lean toward him slightly. “I am sure with your presence beside me to keep me warm I shall be well enough.”
He seemed pleased with her comment, rather than shocked or annoyed, so she took that as a positive sign.
Helping her alight, he sat beside her and with a flick of the reins, they began to meander through the traffic on the road.
Lexie had always enjoyed the sound of horses’ hooves striking the cobblestones and with the ease with which her companion held the ribbons, she decided she would like this outing more than she might have anticipated.
As the earl steered them into Hyde Park, she marveled at the trees that were still trying to cling on to their autumnal leaves, some of which hadn’t lost all of their color. The towering branches created a canopy of beauty as they joined the line of carriages and riders out to enjoy the nice weather before winter set in and travel would become a bit less enjoyable due to the cold.
As the afternoon wore on and she and the earl chatted aboutmundane topics, she decided she was quite enjoying herself. A natural smile had started to cross her face, and she found the earl conversed quite openly and with a wit she had not expected during their short acquaintance.
She was laughing at something he said when a movement brought her attention around to the opposite side of the carriage.
Immediately, her breath caught and the merriment froze on her face.
“A lovely afternoon, is it not?”
The Duke of Cuthbert cut a dashing figure atop a black stallion. He wore a black beaver hat and a three-caped greatcoat. He seemed larger than life, overwhelming her senses like some dastardly villain from a Gothic novel. At first glance, she had to wonder if her aunt was right and she would do well to steer clear of him, but she could not ignore the sudden pounding of her heart nor the increase of her pulse which, sadly, did not occur with the easy conversation she’d had with the earl. The two men were like night and day and she found herself drawn toward the darkness.
After staring in silence for a moment, the earl finally responded. “Good day, Your Grace.”
By the tight way he spoke, it seemed as though it was more of a dismissal than a greeting, but as Lexie finally found her voice, she managed to ease her companion’s direct comment. “It is, indeed. But then, autumn is my favorite time of the year.”
“As is mine,” the duke returned with a glimmer in his dark eyes that caused her hands to clench in her lap. “There is nothing quite like the end of an era to await the chance for a rebirth in the spring.”
Her lips quirked. “How very poetic of you, Your Grace. Is society aware of your hidden talents?”
