“Good…” His hand moved onto her own and she did not pull back. Rather, she found herself stepping forward as if drawn into him. “For this to work, we need to trust one another. It is the only way.”
“But how will I know…” she said, her voice cracking. “… when you are… what is real and what is not?”
“That I cannot answer.” His other hand moved suddenly so that it was on her waist. She gasped but did not push it away. Their eyes were still locked. Their bodies were close. And Celestine felt a sensation ripple through her limbs that she recognized… “As in all things, we will simply have to find out the hard way.”
“The…” She swallowed. “The hard way?”
“Yes,” he beathed as he slowly pulled her toward him. “Or the fun way, depending on how you see it.”
“What does that –”
He moved on her before she had a chance to stop him. With one hand holding her waist, he pulled her forward, leaned down, and planted his lips on her own. It caught her by complete surprise, and Celestine very nearly shoved the Duke away…
She did not, however. The second his lips found her mouth, the fight within stopped. Even as stubborn as she was. Even asnaturally argumentative. Even telling herself that she did not want this… Celestine was only so strong.
They stood on that balcony, bathed in darkness, and kissed as if they truly were engaged and in love. It was a kiss that felt a little too natural and right. It was a kiss that spread from Celestine’s lips and throughout her body so that she grew warm and hot like she might explode. And it was a kiss that dashed apart all her preconceived notions of what she had told herself she felt for the Duke.
It was a kiss that changed everything.
The Duke pulled away, a small and satisfied smile on his lips. “We best be getting back inside, I think.”
“I…” She stammered, her heart racing. “I will be right behind you.”
“I am sure that you will be.” He held her eyes for a final moment, as if wanting her to know that he could see what was on her mind. Then he chuckled lightly, turned, and walked away.
There Celestine stood, her heart racing, her body shaking, and her mind fractured into a million little pieces that she might never be able to put back together.
This engagement was fake. Her feelings for the Duke were not real. Yet, if that kiss was to be believed, everything that she thought she knew about herself was a lie, and Celestine wasforced to admit finally that this ploy of hers had suddenly become infinitely more dangerous.
Chapter Seven
Not much longer now, Edward. A few more of these and it will be done.
The mantra was one that Edward had repeated to himself often this past week, much needed because he felt his patience starting to wilt, just as this not-so-perfect plan of his became harder to justify.
“Is that her?” Celestine said quietly so that only he could hear her. “She is beautiful.”
Edward pulled himself from his spiraling thoughts and forced his focus on that which mattered. He stood with Celestine in the foyer of Harrowell Manor, close enough that they were clearly together, but not so close that they were touching. That was by choice.
With them were another dozen lords and ladies, and they all had their attention fixed on the staircase; the very reason that they were there.
At the base of the staircase stood six young ladies, each were eighteen years of age, and each were debuting into society for the first time. The young ladies stood in a line, trembling with nerves, none able to look ahead and stand tall as they ought to have done. With all those eyes on them, all the judgment and praise overwhelming them, it was a wonder they were able to stand still at all.
But Edward cared little about those ladies. His gaze rose up the staircase, and his smile grew proudly so that he felt it in his heart.
“Yes,” he said, smiling so all the world could see it. “That’s her.”
Millicent stood at the top of the staircase, one hand rested on the banister, the other folded in front of her. She wore her pink gown, her hair was curled in tight ringlets, and her make-up was done so the rosy color of her cheeks matched the shade of her dress. She trembled with nervous energy, her eyes were wide and eager, and Edward knew her well enough to know that she held back her laughter and joy because she needed to act poised and in control of her emotions.
Slowly, Millicent started down the staircase. One step at a time. Not rushed. She seemed to float as she made her way toward the other young ladies who stood waiting.
Tonight was her debut, done before the ball started in earnest, a private show of sorts hosted by the parents of the young ladies and a few other lords who wished to see which women were entering society for the first time.
“She is beautiful, isn’t she?” Edward said as he watched her. “She looks just like…” His chest tightened. “Like her mother.”
Her mother was who he was doing this for. While Edward tried not to think about her when possible, he had loved her as a brother ought to do. And when she had died, he’d promised himself that he would not only protect Millicent but provide her the same life that her mother would have done, was she still alive.
“Oh?” Celestine eyed him, and Edward grimaced because he worried that she might ask the obvious question. Thankfully, she chose to say nothing and went back to watching as Millicent reached the base of the staircase.
