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Chapter Twenty-One
Ariadne stood at the threshold of the kitchen, her heart thundering. She had given in to wantonness tonight without a second thought. And she didn’t regret any of it. Rather she wanted to be back in his arms again as he did wicked things to her, awakening a part of her that Ariadne didn’t know existed within herself. It was desire—pure and primal.
“Stop dawdling around, girl, and get ‘o work,” one of the servants walking past her snapped. Ariadne pulled herself from the thoughts and nodded, taking her place at the counter where she resumed cutting up more vegetables. Leda who was carrying a big saucer in her arms frowned at her. When she drew closer, she mouthed. “Where were you?”
“I got lost,” Ariadne said. It wasn’t a lie.
One of Leda’s brow raised. “You’ve been behaving rather strange lately.”
“Strange how?” Ariadne said. She didn’t see any difference in her except that she was having clandestine meetings with Edward. But what had happened in the garden wasn’t planned by either of them. Ariadne had fought hard to fight against the growing attraction she felt for Edward. She could hardly pull her gaze away from him when he looked at her. He snared her attention in a few simple words and she had the keen sense of falling anytime he drew nearer. But she had hoped that she had been discreet about it.
“I can’t quite place a finger on it,” Leda said. “Your eyes are too bright. As if you have a fever.”
“I might,” Ariadne said but of a different kind than Leda would anticipate. When she caught the alarm in her sister’s eyes she continued, “I mean I’m fine now.”
It wasn’t as if she didn’t want to tell her sister everything that was going on between Edward and her, but she needed to figure the storm inside on her own before she could let her sister in. Besides she didn’t know how Leda would react. Out of the two sisters, Leda was the one who had idealistic and romantic thoughts while she was the practical one, using her brain rather than her heart. And yet, this time the latter was bearing down on her.
“We will get soup at the end of it. If we’re lucky it might have chicken in it,” Leda said. “Just hold tight for a few more hours.” The housekeeper glared at them so Leda had to move away. Ariadne was relieved to be free of her sister’s questions.
She hoped that she looked proper enough and not like a girl who had walked very close to ruination. But what did it mean to her anyway? She wasn’t going to be married. She had decided to be a spinster and live out the rest of her life trying to bring her father’s inventions to the forefront. Didn’t she deserve these fleeting moments of pleasure? She was no lady and this wasn’t absolutely forbidden to her. But at the same time, she was scared of giving herself to a man like this. Could she risk letting Edward so close?
She was playing with fire and yet—
After her chores of vegetable cutting were done, she was assigned to floor cleaning with a wet mop. Ariadne did it in short strokes, guiding it in and out of people’s way. Most of the work for the night was done, it seemed and the footmen were carrying the last of the items away. She caught sight of an apple tart. She had only ever seen them in shops on the High street but they could never afford the French delicacy.
After both sisters were done, they wiped their hands on their respective aprons and headed toward the ballroom. Ariadne had hoped to get a glimpse of Edward, but most of the guests had left. Ariadne and Leda were carrying one of the leftover dishes away when Lord Brexley approached them. “You came,” he said, sounding terribly pleased.
“Of course, my Lord.” Both the sisters gave him a courteous curtsy.
“How do you like my house?” he asked.
“It’s pleasant, indeed,” Ariadne agreed and her mind unwittingly traveled back to the fleeting moments that she had shared in the darkness of the garden. Edward’s lips on her neck and the way he slowly sucked on it before soothing the inflamed skin with his tongue—
“Ariadne, are you all right?” Lord Brexley asked, sending her a concerned look. “You look terribly out of sorts.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell her all evening,” Leda said, balancing the dirty dishes in her hand. “She disappeared for quite a while from the kitchen too.”
“I was lost, my Lord,” Ariadne said, explaining the debacle with the footmen. She would never let anybody find out what had happened in the garden, not even her sister. Irrespective of everything, Edward had a reputation in polite society. He was a politician and one scandal could ruin everything for him. Ariadne tried to justify her worry for him as only until he helped her in turn.
“Lord Brexley,” a voice said. Ariadne turned to her side and was shocked to see the Duke of Bromswell. Her thoughts dried up at his very appearance. He looked at her, but made no sign that indicated that he had recognized her. Edward appeared by his side. He met Ariadne’s gaze and slowly shook his head.
She needed to get out of there. But at the same time, her eyes were arrested to Edward. He was the picture of proper and not even his collar was crumpled even though she had tugged at it quite hard when she had…Ariadne shook her head, chastising herself furiously for letting herself wander back there again. It was as if her mind seemed to have its own will and it had no intention of listening to her. “You threw quite a beautiful ball this evening. I especially enjoyed the orchestra music,” the Duke murmured.
Lord Brexley chuckled. “Thank you, Your Grace. It was a true honor hosting the ball and now especially with the generous amount of money you donated I can hope to open a new wing at the hospital.”
Leda’s face changed. She was looking between Edward and his father in horror and awe. Ariadne knew that it wasn’t proper at all. The Duke hadn’t taken too kindly to them when they had first met and she doubted he had changed his mind ever since.
She took Leda’s hand and slowly moved away from the three of them before Lord Brexley could dismiss them. The two gentlemen were engrossed in conversation while Edward stood to the side. He had eyes only for her and she wasn’t at all mistaken when she saw the fire in them. She was somehow able to tear herself away from him and together Leda and she made their way back toward the kitchen.
“Quite a surprise running into your Marquess here,” Leda said, waggling her brows and looking directly at Ariadne.
“He’s notmyMarquess,” Ariadne protested.
“You have been spending an awful lot of time with him nowadays. You didn’t, perhaps, seek him out this evening, did you?” she asked, a tone of suspicion sliding into her voice.
“Don’t be silly. I had no idea he was at the ball,” Ariadne said, hoping she looking convincing enough. She was never a good liar. “Besides why and when would he even speak to me?” He had kissed her instead. But that was another matter.
They hurried back into the kitchen where they were able to find a delectable treat of food that had been left over from the guests. Ariadne’s stomach almost growled in hunger. They always made a point to eat a light dinner so that they could save money but tonight she wouldn’t have to hold back. “Lord Brexley doesn’t like throwing anything away,” the housekeeper said as she handed the bowls to the rest of the servants one by one.
