Page 20 of A Duchess to Unravel
Theo saw his hand rise slowly, giving her plenty of time to bat it away if she wished. Yet she stood still, watched as his fingers stretched out and made purchase with her face. Heat bloomed beneath the scar near her eye as he brushed her hair away and caressed the imperfection. Her lashes fluttered shut and she swayed into his soft touch, unable to stop herself.
“Is that why ye try to hide this?” He asked, his voice like black silk against her ears.
Theo’s eyes snapped open, startled that he’d asked such a personal question.
“What?” She asked, confused. Alistair smirked.
“Ye should not,” he responded, caressing his thumb once more over the scar. “It is beautiful. It is like lightening. A reminder from ye Titan father that you were a true goddess and meant for greatness.”
Alistair said the words so confidently, so intimately, that it stunned Theo into silence for several seconds.
“I…” she sighed. Then stepped away from his touch, hoping that it would help her concentrate. It did, but it also made her miss his touch immediately. She ignored the urge to step closer to him and focused on her words. Cleared her throat.
“I hate to disappoint you, but it came from no such thing. My parents had a surgeon remove a birthmark when I was young,” she answered finally.
Then muttered with disappointment, “Of course, they only exchanged one flaw for another.”
“It is not a flaw,” he stated, “And if ye were married to me ye would never have to cover it again. Ye would never be afraid to be fully seen ever again.”
Theo’s eyes widened and her way with words evaporated.
Before she gathered herself, Alistair continued, moving back to the subject of the Masquerade as if what he’d just said hadn’t shifted one of the great stone walls around her heart.
“So, both of us are under threat of being discovered, and I believe we can help one another. A way to make sure ye never have to worry about ye reputation ever again. Or worry ye brother ever again.”
Theo, having come back to herself, was rearing up for a nasty retort, but stopped when Alistair mentioned her brother. He seemed to catch the shift of emotion in her eyes and went on.
“Even if he chastises ye, it is because he worries for ye. Cares for ye. That much is plain, Theo.”
The way he said her name. So casually, so intimately. As if they’d known another for years, had her losing more of her urge to fight. He truly was perceptive.
“What is this plan?” she asked meekly.
Alistair studied her a moment before he answered, his gaze seeming to look right through her.
“The other night you spoke of wishing for freedom,” he began. “What if I can give that to ye? I need a duchess. In name only. For the remainder of my time in London.”
“You are not staying?” She interrupted. The question surprised them both. She had no idea where it came from, why she cared, or why the thought instantly disappointed her. Alistair shook his head.
“I am only here to set my affairs in order as the new Duke of Caldermere and restore some order to his failing businesses. All of which has already been delayed as I have only been here a few days and am surrounded by pushy mothers who wish for their daughters to marry up.”
He looked truly perturbed as he said so, Theo noted.
“I dinnae wish for such distractions,” Alistair went on, “The dinner tonight was fine as it had to do with business and befriending some like-minded men, but I have no intention of consorting at boring balls or eating another piece of fruit-flavored meat if I can help it.”
“You do not like our food?” Theo asked, saying so with a laugh.
Alistair smiled at the sound, the furrow of his brow disappearing.
“Apologies. But no.”
“So, you do not like our food or our women,” Theo replied, feeling emboldened.
“I like ye. Which is why I want ye to marry me.”
Though Theo had seen the question coming as she was no fool, the outward way he’d said it still surprised her.
“Nothing about you has been proper, do you realize that?” she countered.
