Page 14 of The Duke’s Lessons in Temptation

She smiled. “Of course.”

He guided them to the terrace. They joined the group, and Cora laughed and smiled as Christopher shared another story about his travels. He kept her close, and that should delight Cora, but she found her gaze drifting back to the windows of the ballroom. Damion stood inside now with both Lady Bennett and Lady Clark.

They were engaged in a lively conversation, but it didn’t seem to be dominated by one person. He glanced her way and their eyes connected. Damion nodded towards Christopher and held his glass up in salute as if he felt she was doing well.

She smiled and turned her attention back to the group she was with. Damion appeared to be having a grand time with the other ladies. Cora doubted his mind lingered much on their kiss.

The bell rang, announcing dinner was ready. Christoper held his arm out. “May I escort you?”

“Of course.”

Cora forced herself to smile. She was on the cusp of getting everything she wanted. The nerves she felt were normal. Didn’t everyone become a little anxious when they were about to select their life partner? She and Christopher were well-suited, she assured herself.

***

Damion joined the other men on the terrace. Some smoked cigars while others sipped on brandy. The night was growing late, and he wondered if Cora would go to the library later this evening. He’d already decided not to meet her. Their kiss last night was a line they shouldn’t have crossed. She was Stanton’s sister after all.

He was supposed to be here to help Stanton find a bride. Kissing Cora wasn’t acceptable, and nothing further could happen. Yet, she wasn’t far from his thoughts since their time in the library. It had taken everything in Damion not to go to Cora when she stood with Bellamy on the terrace. He didn’t think the young lord was a horrible person, but he was oblivious that discussions shouldn’t always revolve around him.

He guessed that was something that came with age. Damion likely had been that way before the tragedy with Lily. A pain pierced his heart, remembering how clueless he’d been about his wife's emotions.

“I’m not sure I have found her,” Stanton said to no one in particular.

“You have at least fifteen marriageable ladies at your party. Pick one and move on,” Lord Hasting stated.

Both the man and his wife had lovers. Damion didn’t judge them; he was no saint. Still, Stanton expressed to him that he wanted something different. He wouldn’t be so hesitant to wed if that weren’t the case.

Quietly, he said, “Don’t rush it. You will find your future duchess when the time is right.”

Hasting rolled his eyes. “Take my advice. Who is married and who isn’t?”

The group went quiet. No one ever mentioned Damion’s marital status or lack of one. Hasting must be in his cups. Damion shrugged. “Take whoever’s advice you like.”

Bellamy decided to wade in with his opinion. “Find someone who complements you and will fit into your life. That is my advice.”

Hasting nodded in agreement. Damion should let it go and depart, but he didn’t. “What about love and desire? Are those not important too?”

Hastings snorted. “Those emotions will fade. You want someone who fits into your life.”

“My parents were a love match, and I want that,” Stanton stated.

Hasting said nothing else. Instead, he smoked on his pipe. Damion glanced at Bellamy, who seemed to have grown bored with the conversation. He still didn’t see Cora marrying him. Didn’t she want a love match like her brother?

Stanton was a duke and wanted love. Yet, his sister was focused on all the things Hasting mentioned. Maybe that was enough for some people, but the idea of that kind of marriage for her irritated him. Perhaps because he’d lived that life once and seen how awful and lonely it could be.

Damion wasn’t a romantic and certainly wasn’t one before his marriage, but he wanted more for Cora. Christ, what was going on with him? He barely knew the lady. He finished his brandy. “Good night. I think sleep is beckoning me.”

They all nodded, and he made his way back inside. He went upstairs and shockingly found Cora in the hallway, still dressed in her evening gown from dinner. She smiled tentatively at him. “Hello.”

“How did the flirting go?”

She shrugged. “I think I’m learning that being attentive to Christopher’s interests helps.”

“Your interests matter too.”

“Of course,” she said.

“A lifetime is a long time to spend with the wrong person. Are you sure he is right?”