Page 64 of The Duke's Vice

Era’s eyes darkened and narrowed in on his friend. “Careful, brother. Or we will revisit our old ways and take this outside.”

Frederic smirked. “The years may have continued, but I assure you, I could still kick your ass.” His eyes moved to the door. “Would you like to test that theory?”

Ezra snarled. “No.” He rested his head on the back of the chair, and closed his eyes. How did he let this situation get away from him so quickly?

“Just answer me this, have you developed feelings for her?” Frederic raised his hand to stop Ezra’s immediate response. “No, I want you to really think about it. Put your pride aside and what you ‘think’ is right, and tell me honestly, do you seriously care for this woman?”

Ezra bit the inside of his cheek. He owed his friend an honest response. As his mind replayed their exchanges, their dances, their conversations, his hands remembered the way her body felt in his. His tongue recalled the sweetness of her kisses, and the taste of her body.

Ezra licked his lips as he sat up, suddenly uncomfortable in the oversized chair. He looked toward the attendant.

Where is my bloody drink?

“Ezra, you can only stall for so long.”

Ezra rolled his eyes. “I’m not stalling. I’m processing.” As soon as the words left his mouth his mind flashed bright brown eyes, full of intrigue and mischief, with a bit of stubbornness in them. She said those exact words to him the night after the last ball, when she found him on the veranda. The night he offered to help her complete the items on her list. Every item, but the last one.

To fall in love.

Unease settled within Ezra.

“While I will concede I have developed some sort of feelings for the woman, they fall within the realm of friendship. Our arrangement has become nothing more than one friend helping another.” He sniffed as he grabbed the new tumbler of whisky off the attendant’s tray with a sneer.

“Why did you offer your assistance in the first place?” Frederic’s question prodded.

Ezra lifted a shoulder. “I was bored? I was available? I don’t know, Frederic. Because I wanted to. Do I need more of a reason than that?”

Frederic shook his head. “No, I guess not. What of your list?”

Ezra looked up to his friend after a healthy pull of whisky. “What of it?”

“One of your golden rules in no repeats. You’ve not only been seen repeatedly with this woman but you took her to Melinda’s place.” Frederic leaned in and lowered his voice. “And speaking of Melinda, am I correct to assume it was not Melinda sneaking out of your box the other night?”

Ezra’s back snapped up as he put his tumbler on the table, his eyes searching the room to make sure no one heard.

“Keep you voice down, you want to be the cause of a ruination?” Ezra’s heart was beating uncontrollably in his chest. He made sure Beatrice was protected in every aspect of their outings. From her clothing, to how and when they were to arrive, he had coordinated everything so her reputation would survive her list.

Frederic hunched his shoulders in apology. “You are playing a dangerous game, Ezra.”

Ezra swallowed. He hated to admit his friend was right, but he was. He can say she is just an acquaintance all he wants, he knew, deep down, there is only one way for this to end and that is with her heart being broken.

Whether it’s due to feelings or from ruination is yet to be determined. Either way, it cannot and will not end happily for Beatrice.

“Why you refuse to admit the reasoning behind your own list is in because of what happened to your sister is a discussion I’m tired of having-”

“Thank God for that.” Murmured Ezra.

Frederic ignored the interruption. “Because I’ve already decided it is and you admitting it does nothing. The fact is, you have that list for a reason and it’s to protect whomever you’re with. If you are to stay true to yourself, and her, you should end whatever it is going on between the two of you.”

Ezra mashed his teeth together. There was nothing serious between them, was there? He could admit he admonished his list in order to help her complete hers. But there were no real feelings there. At least not for him.

Sure, his body hums when she was near, an his hands itched to touch hers. He also noticed himself smiling more around her, which was highly annoying.

Ezra’s eyes met Frederic’s when the realization dawned on him.

“Ah. There it is. I love watching you come to the same conclusion as me. It takes you longer, but you always get there.”

Ezra disregarded the comment and sat up. “Hold on, Frederic, I’m not conceding to anything of the sort. I remain steadfast that my feelings remain platonic.”

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