Page 57 of A Spinster to Reform the Duke
“Poisonous!” Eliza said in alarm as Rebecca moved to her side, along with the others. In particular, Lady Esther and her sisters crowded round. With the distance Rebecca had created between her and the Duke, she saw Lady Esther step into the gap.
I must not be envious of such a thing. I do not own him, he is not my love to profess.
“Yes, indeed. It’s belladonna.” Lord Herberton held the sprig higher, pointing to the dark berries that were rather like blackcurrants. “Highly toxic if ingested.”
“Isn’t that the one that makes you hallucinate?” the Duke asked, rounding Lady Esther and moving to Rebecca’s side another time.
He’s coming near again!Her heart thudded harder at the thought.
“That’s the one,” Lord Herberton said, chucking the sprig to the ground and wiping his hands on his handkerchief. He promptly passed the handkerchief over Eliza’s palm, dotingly caring for her. The sight made Rebecca smile. “It will make you very sick indeed, if not kill you. Choose something else for your posy, Lady Eliza.”
Eliza giggled as she followed him around the ruins. Rebecca attempted to follow them, increasing the distance between her and the Duke, but she failed at each attempt. He was clearly determined to stay by her side, come what may.
“Now, Lady Rebecca, what should we talk of next?”
“You are keen for a new subject?”
“Well, it is rather easy to talk to you.” He reached for her arm and threaded her palm through the crook of his elbow. “Let us talk more about your poetry. Does the castle inspire you after all?”
Rebecca was touched by the idea he had brought her here to help her, to create new poetry to excite the mind, inspired by such beauty as this.
“You are very attentive today,” she whispered to him, as they crossed behind one of the exposed towers.
What game is he playing?
“That I am,” he unashamedly answered her as they passed behind the tower. Rebecca looked behind them, knowing the chaperone would be following them, but she was evidently slow in her pace. Though they were hardly separated from their group, they were masked from view thanks to the tower. “Do you mind my attentions?”
“You confuse me.” Rebecca found the truth falling from her lips as the Duke adjusted his hold on her. No longer was her hand on his arm, but on his palm. He used the press of their hands together to urge her to look away from her search for the chaperone and look toward him another time. She nearly fell into him, their faces so close that she was enveloped by the earthy scent that hung around him, strong and yet mixed with a hint of spices. She could have happily stayed in that scent for a long time.
“Why do I confuse you?” he whispered to her, his face bent so low that for a minute she felt she was living in one of her dreams.
He was not there to ease her, nor to charm her coolly. No, in her dream, he cared for her as she did him, and when he came so near, it was because he wished to.
As the Duke angled his head toward her, Rebecca bit her lip, so certain he was moving toward her for a kiss. Her lips parted in surprise as the wind whistled around the exposed walls of the ruined tower.
“My Lady?” he whispered, clearly urging her on as she had not yet answered the question.
“You should not be so attentive and you know it,” she said, lifting her chin and attempting to take control of her heart, to stop it running away with and creating idol fantasies in her mind. “You charm many ladies. I know you too well and am too good a friend to you to be charmed by you now.”
“You are my greatest friend.”
“Greatest?” she laughed and gestured around the tower. “Do not let Lord Herberton hear you.”
“Perhaps as he has found another friend, so have I.” His words confused her all the more, leading her to frown. “Perhaps there is a way to end your confusion, my Lady.”
What does that mean?
Rebecca was about to utter the words aloud when he bent toward her.
Wait…is he going to…?
She was so certain he was about to kiss her. Her foolish heart seemed to take control of her body. Had her mind been in control she would have fled, but her heart froze her muscles to the spot, waiting for what the feeling of his lips on hers would be like.
“Rebecca? Where are you?” Eliza’s voice froze them to the spot. Rebecca stared up at the Duke, who had equally wide eyes.
“She is here, my Lady,” the maid called. Rebecca took her hand out of the Duke’s turning to the side to see their chaperone had now caught up with them, stepping around the tower.
“So close,” the Duke whispered.
