Page 38 of Conveniently Trapped with the Marquess
William’s chuckle sounded behind her, making her flush even further. Alice walked away from him, grateful that she managed to keep herself upright even though her heart was beating erratically against her ribs. She could tell that he was following and for some reason, it made her even more flustered. She fumbled a bit as she opened the door and she was certain William could see her every move.
To her relief, and also her disappointment, they exchanged no other words on their way to her bedchamber. Once Alice saw the door in sight, her heart began to race once more. She couldn’t imagine that William would truly let her go without saying another word to her and she was already looking forward to it, much to her underlying annoyance.
“Sleep well, Lady Alice,” William breathed behind her.
Alice turned at the sound of his voice, leaning against her door to make sure her legs didn’t give way. “Lady Alice?” she repeated, raising a brow. “Have we gone back to such formalities after I have just bared my soul to you?”
“I simply cannot help but remember that we must act with the utmost decency,” he said in a teasing voice. Alice didn’t believe one word. “But, would you rather I call you Sweetheart instead?”
Alice rolled her eyes, even as she lost her breath. “Goodnight, William.’’
“Goodnight, Sweetheart.”
Every bone in her body creaked with reluctance when she turned her back to him and opened the door. She didn’t want to leave his side. She wanted to spend the rest of the night with him if she could, just to be in his company. But the force of that need took her by surprise and Alice did the one thing she was good at. She walked away. For the first time in her life, walking away from a gentleman was the most difficult act she’d ever partaken in.
Once she was in her room, Alice leaned against the door and let out a long and low breath. She listened out for him and after a while, she heard his muffled footsteps trail away. When he was truly gone, Alice made her way over to her bed and fell on top of it.
Slowly, she put a hand over her rapidly beating heart.What is happening to me? Why am I like this?
The questions followed her for the rest of the night. And so did thoughts of William—all teasing grins and smoldering eyes.
Chapter 15
The day was utterly beautiful. All the drapes had been drawn, filling the west wing parlor with a shower of golden sunlight. The silvers caught every lovely glint, shimmering around the pastel colors draped around the room. Somehow, the lovely sight seemed to bring together the musical tone of silverware clicking against teacups and the beautiful laughter of the ladies sitting at the round table by the window.
William would not have cared about how this parlor looked had it not been for the lady he could not take his eyes off. Her beauty seemed to have extended toward her surroundings, seemed to encapsulate everything she beheld. With every smile, every laugh, every move she made, Alice was the epitome of grace and loveliness and it was damn near impossible for him to keep his eyes off her.
He tilted his head to the side, listening to the way Lady Emma laughed heartily at something Alice said. Alice seemed pleased by it, smiling to herself as she lifted a crumbling cake to her lips. They both looked so similar in that moment, their hair tucked under lace caps with tendrils framing their faces, and wearing soft colors that brought light to the room. But nothing, William decided, could outshine Alice’s radiance.
“Watch it, William,” came Christopher’s voice next to him, jolting William out of his trance. “You will begin to drool if you do not look away.”
William straightened. He hadn’t noticed he’d been staring so intently. He plastered an easy grin on his face to mask how oddly he felt about that fact. “You cannot blame me, can you? Not when we are in the presence of such beauties.”
Right on cue, Christopher sighed. “I see that you have not matured since your time here.”
“I am mature enough, I assure you. Is it so bad to recognize these sisters’ loveliness?”
“Not at all.” Christopher crossed his arms, leaning against the wall just like William. “But it would help if you were more honest in admitting that you were staring at Lady Alice and not Lady Emma.”
They were standing on the other side of the parlor, having walked in on the ladies having their tea. A maid came to sit in one corner of the room as chaperone when they arrived, but William and Christopher hadn’t wanted to intrude on their time and so opted to stay by the bookshelves engaged in their own conversation. It hadn’t been long since they’d arrived and William was eager to join in—right after he was finished appreciating the view.
“It seems I’ve been caught red-handed,” William admitted. He was still watching her, taking in the way she tilted her head toward the window and pointed at something. It was such a mundane act, but it filled William with such pleasure that he frightened him a bit. “Let me ask you a question, Christopher,” he said to his brother.
“I hope it will be a proper one,” Christopher grumbled.
That made William laugh. “When have I ever not been proper, my dear Brother?” Christopher slanted his eyes toward William, giving him a skeptical look. William laughed again. “All right, all right. There’s no need to look at me like that.”
“Tell me what your question is, and I’ll decide whether or not I shall answer you.”
To his surprise, the words caught in his throat. He’d never thought he would be faced with this conundrum, never thought he would be driven to ask his brother for advice on matters of the heart. But he’d been stuck on his question ever since last night, ever since he watched Alice enter her room. He’d listened at her door, resisting the urge to knock just so that he could see her face again. He wanted to kiss her, to hold her, but at that moment, William would have been more than content to simply gaze upon her face once more.
That frightened him a little. Not to mention the fact that she’d followed him into his dreams, that he’d gone to bed thinking about her and she was the very first thing on his mind when he woke up. That had never happened to him before.
He understood the hearts of ladies, knew just what to say and do to let them fall for him. For a good time, at least, and then he was moving on the next. But Alice was different…he couldn’t understand why.
“What do you feel when you look at Lady Emma?” he asked finally.
For a moment, Christopher was quiet, clearly shocked. William didn’t blame him. It was an unusual question for him to ask.
