Page 43 of Her Duke for Thirty Days
“Oh,” she chuckled softly, pressing her hand to her lips as she did so, because her father had always told her that a proper lady never laughed boisterously, but rather in a soft, subdued manner. If she could not obtain that sound, she needed to hide the pearly whites of her teeth with her hand.
Surprisingly, he lifted his hand and gently wrapped his fingers around her wrist, pulling it away from her face. “Don’t ever hide your smile, Phyllis. It is too beautiful to be hidden.”
Immediately upon hearing these words, her cheeks were emblazoned red. She was taken by surprise, her heart beating wildly.
“Come,” he whispered, and she knew at that moment that she would allow him to lead her anywhere, whether it was heaven or even the fiery pits of hell.
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
Alexander wasn’t certain whether what he had said was him merely playing his role in this charade or if he truly meant it. The truth was, he really knew all those things about Phyllis because he had paid attention. And there was only one reason why one would pay attention to what someone else did.
He banished the thought as he led Phyllis to join the other dancing couples. The grand ballroom was bathed in the warm glow of candlelit, casting an ethereal ambiance over the assembled dancers. The lilting strains of a waltz filled the air, beckoning couples to the center of the polished parquet floor.
Alexander was now standing facing Phyllis. Her gown swirled gracefully around her as they prepared to dance. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. The waltz, a dance of grace and intimacy, would perhaps force too much closeness upon them, but he knew that he wanted to be here, next to her, more than anything else he had ever wanted.
Her eyes sparkled as she returned his gaze. A small smile flickered in the corner of her lips. To say that she was stunning would be an understatement. As the music swirled around them, he extended a hand toward Phyllis. She in turn, placed her hand in his, the touched electric, yet poised.
They began their waltz, moving in synchronized harmony. Alexander’s steps were assured, guiding Phyllis with a gentle yet firm hand on the small of her back. Even though they were not alone, the closeness, the intimate touch, felt as if the world had faded away into oblivion and there was nothing and no one left but the two of them.
Phyllis matched his movements with a fluidity that spoke of both trust and a shared rhythm. Their bodies moved in tandem, gracefully navigating the sweeping arcs and turns of the waltz. His gaze remained fixed on her, a silent conversation passing between them as they reveled in the dance. The subtle tension in their clasped hands hinted at a connection that transcended the ballroom’s polished surface.
“I must say, you really are a skilled dancer,” he heard her say, although something in her eyes assured him that there was something else on her mind, something she was building up the courage to speak of.
He grinned. “Perhaps I have exaggerated a bit,” he admitted. “But only a bit.”
She chuckled. It was a sound that even the finest musician would not be able to replicate on the most heavenly of all instruments. And her laughter was meant only for him. His heart clenched at this thought. She was here. She was his wife, and yet, she was neither of those two things. Not truly. This thought made him sad.
As the waltz reached its crescendo, their movements became more intricate, the choreography a testament to the unspoken understanding that bound them. Each twirl and dip were executed with a finesse that bespoke hours of shared practice and an undeniable chemistry that extended beyond the dance floor.
“Do you exaggerate a lot, Your Grace?” she asked, and obviously, it was meant to tease him. He liked it. He was seeing a side of her she rarely showed, and he wanted to see more of it, so much more.
“Only sometimes,” he confessed yet again. “When there is a lot to gain.”
“What do you gain by dancing with me?” She suddenly caught him off guard with her question. All he could do was be honest.
“Your undivided attention, of course,” he replied without thinking. It was, after all, the truth. But he knew that he was treading on dangerous ground. He was revealing more than he was supposed to, and that would lead to consequences. “Isn’t a husband supposed to ask for his wife’s undivided attention?” he wondered. “After all, we have agreed to be a good husband and wife in public. I am merely doing my part.”
That flicker of a smile was no longer on her lips. He swirled her away from him, only to have her back in his arms a moment later.
“Is that how you knew how I take my tea?” she wondered.
He had a ready answer for that. “Many people drink tea like that, including Leonard. I merely assumed that a lady would have some tea drinking preferences, that is all.”
She frowned. “What about scones with blueberry jam? Another guess?”
He nodded. It was simpler that way, to agree with her own assumption. “And the flowers…” he quickly added because something told him that this question followed next. “I merely listened to the gardeners when they told me of your plans. There are hyacinths in the very center of the flowerbed you want to plant, so I assumed you liked them. See? Just a very fortunate guess.”
She didn’t seem convinced, and she wasn’t afraid to voice it. “That seems an awful lot to guess so easily. Perhaps the flowers, but tea and favorite food no. It wasn’t just a fortunate guess.”
Now, it was his turn to frown. How on earth did this conversation take direction towards an argument? He couldn’t, for the life of him, fathom it. Why did she have to question everything when they were having such a lovely time?
“Why does it matter?” he asked her, containing his irritation.
“It does,” she insisted. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have mentioned it to my father.”
“I mentioned it because he asked,” he clarified. “We weren’t putting on a very plausible show, and I needed to convince him somehow that we are finding our way to each other… somehow.”
“I don’t think my father cares whether you love me or not, or whether I love you, for that matter,” she continued. “So, you need not worry about that. As long as we stay married, he is convinced that everything is fine.”
