Page 65 of A Duchess to Unravel
He led her to the mirror that was braced atop the vanity in her room and moved behind her slipping his arms around her waist, unable to hold back from touching her any longer, and placed a kiss on the nape of her neck.
“Go on,” he urged, “Open it.”
In the mirror, Alistair watched as Theo set the box down and untied the bow atop it. His anticipation grew as she removed thelid and folded back the layers of tissue paper ever so carefully. Satisfaction roiled through him as he watched her lips drop into a delicateOand her blue eyes widen with disbelief.
“Oh, Alistair,” she breathed.
His grip on her waist tightened, and he nuzzled into her neck.
“Do you like it?” he asked, his deep tone almost a whisper.
Theo’s thin, delicate fingers reached into the box, and she carefully grasped the mask inside, pulling it out of the bed of tissue. He had thought hard on the design. He wanted something that embodied her. Even though he’d grown fond of teasing her with his pet name of little kitten, he had always thought that her cat mask had not been the proper disguise for her. It was too plain for a woman of such depths. So, he had the artist carve delicate fairies and flowers into the mask.
“It is so …” Theo breathed. She shook her head, as if lost for words, and traced her fingers along the carvings. “It is a work of art.”
Pleasure stroked through Alistair’s veins at her apparent happiness, and he placed several more kisses along her neck before reaching for the mask.
“It is made from one of the rarest woods in the world,” he explained, carefully fastening the black mask with violet streaks to her face. “African Blackwood.”
The mask sat perfectly along Theo’s features, hiding her most recognizable attributes but still displaying the beauty of her jawline. The blue of her eyes only emphasized the natural dark colors of the mask, making it look as if the person and piece had always belonged to one another.
“Beautiful,” he murmured. And meant it.
He reached for the pins holding her curls in place and took them out. Her long, dark curls cascaded down her shoulders, past the middle of her back. With care he fluffed them out, framing them down the sides of her face.
“I want you to wear your hair like this,” he told her, meeting her eyes in the mirror. “No pins or baubles. And cosmetics. Keep them light. Some kohl around your eyes, to blend more into the mask. But no red on your lips. Something with a purple hue, perhaps. Dark, but not gaudy.”
Theo nodded, as if mesmerized.
“I believe I have something,” she answered, her tone breathy. Then something like shame crept into her eyes, and she looked away.
“What is wrong?” He demanded, his tone gentle but firm.
“With the mask? Nothing,” she replied, her tone reticent. “It is beautiful. I just--I only have two black gowns. The one I wouldwear to the Masquerade, and the one I wore to my mother's funeral. I do not believe either would do my new mask justice.”
Alistair nodded.
“I agree. Which is why I had one made for you.”
Theo’s look of surprise was evident and he could not help but chuckle.
“It was not that difficult a feat,” he went on. “The modiste already had your measurements. I simply had to go in and pick out the fabric and the design. It is finished and will be sent over in the next hour or so. Which is perfect, as we are going to the Masquerade tonight.”
Excitement swirled with the surprise in Theo’s eyes, and she turned around in his arms.
“We are?” she asked, circling her arms around his neck.
“Now that I have dissolved the threat, I believe it is safe for us to return,” Alistair replied. Then added with a smirk, “As long as you agree to my rules, that is.”
“The threat?” she asked, then suddenly realizing she added, “You mean you found my stalker?”
Alistair gave her a triumphant nod.
“Who was he? How?” Theo began to question.
“All you need to know is that he is no longer in the country and will never return. As promised, I took care of it.”
Theo’s eyes shifted to the floor, and even through the mask he could see her thoughts churning over. For a moment he felt regret in telling her so casually, then she gave him a mischievous grin that relieved him greatly.
