Page 41 of A Spinster to Reform the Duke
“Does the bottom of that glass hold the answers to the world?” he teased as he reached her side. Lady Rebecca snapped her gaze up to him, flinching so much that it was clear he had made her jump.
“What?” she said distractedly, still startled.
“You are staring at your champagne rather avidly, my Lady.”
“Yes, I suppose I am.” Her words were a little off, making him tilt his head to the side, watching her closely. Then she swayed a little, leaning more on the windowsill, pulling a smile from him.
“Oh dear, I recognize that look.” He moved to her side, leaning on the windowsill too, for he had a feeling he might soon be needed. “Have you perhaps enjoyed more than just one glass of champagne this evening?”
“I have,” she said, revealing a small smile. “Is it that noticeable?” she asked.
“Well, I’d say no, if it were not for the fact that you are doing your best not to slur your words.”
She laughed and covered her mouth, as if to hide in the sound. There was something completely charming to him about the action. It was as if she had been caught doing something she knew she shouldn’t, and she was doing her best to hide it.
“I hope you are drinking to enjoy the taste and are not drowning sorrows, my Lady.” He reached for the glass, taking it from her hold.
“Oh…” She was mightily disappointed, her eyes going wide as she watched the glass disappear from her grasp. “What were the two options again?”
“Ha! Are you drinking for the taste or trying to cover up a sorrow?” he asked, turning his body to face her all the more. He placed the glass down behind him at a distance. He may have been rather charmed by her drunken state, but he would always put her welfare first. He could not encourage her to drink anymore.
“Can I say both?” she asked, looking up to him, with restless eyes, barely able to settle. Her words made any temptation he had to smile or laugh vanish.
“Lady Rebecca,” he inched his way toward her, resting his arm on the windowsill so that his hand nearly brushed the exposed skin of her arm. He glanced away, checking who else was in the lobby. They were hardly alone without a chaperone, for there were plenty of people moving back and forth in the space, but fortunately none of them seemed particularly interested in Timothy and Lady Rebecca. “Why are you sad?”
“Do we not all have sad days?” she asked.
“Yes, but when I parted from you earlier, you were happy. We spent most of the performance discussing other matters, entering into such debates that you and I frequently earned glares from your sister for making so much noise,” he pointed out, watching as she nodded in agreement. “What happened to make you go from that happy state to sadness?”
“I cannot explain it,” she said slowly, shaking her head. “Something happened.”
“What happened?” he asked with eagerness, moving a little toward her again.
“You are awfully close,” she mused and wrinkled her nose.
“Do you mind, my Lady?” He watched her reaction closely, noting the way the nose flattened once more and she pursed her lips together, as if trying to hide her smile. She shook her head, no, she didn’t mind. That simple answer made something spread in his chest – it was a warm feeling. “Put it down to my concern for you right now.”
“Why are you concerned?” Her eyes landed somewhere in the middle of his chest. “I am not your responsibility to care for.”
“Am I not your friend?”
“Yes.”
“Then you are someone I care for.” His words must have done something to her, for she looked away. It was so sudden as her body turned that she wobbled on her feet. He reached out and took her arm. “Woah, there we go.” He made an appearance of threading her arm through his, protecting her, so no one would see why he had truly taken hold of her. “Perhaps we should get you home.”
“Perhaps so,” she agreed with a nod.
“Tell me this first, what has happened to make you sad?”
“I cannot tell you,” she whispered the words.
“Do you not think I would understand it?”
“You would understand it, but you could not make it any better, my Lord. That is all.”
“Very well. Then I will do what I can for you and get you home. Come, we’ll fetch your sister.” He escorted her forward, aware how much she was clinging to him. That tightness made him place his other hand over hers, gently pressing his palm to the back of her hand. He didn’t want to let her go.
They had only made a few steps forward when he felt Lady Rebecca stiffen beside him.
