Page 39 of Conveniently Trapped with the Marquess
Christopher looked at the ladies before he spoke again. “I don’t know what to say to you, in all honesty. As you know very well, I have never pursued a lady like this before. No one has ever caught my eye the way Lady Emma has. But…I suppose the best way I could say it is that she makes me feel everything all at once.”
William frowned at his brother, but Christopher’s eyes were still trained on the ladies on the other side of the room. “Everything at once?”
“Happiness, excitement, anxiousness,” he listed. “Frustration, protectiveness. I’ve only met her a short while ago and I’ve already felt more emotions than I’ve felt in my entire life.”
William’s surprise at Christopher’s words faded after a moment of thought. He supposed it shouldn’t shock him, since Lady Emma—as gentle as she was upon meeting her—seemed to be much like her sister. Perhaps far less sarcastic and smart-mouthed than Alice, however.
Christopher went on, a small smile gracing his lips. “I’m probably not making it sound appealing, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. But why do you ask?”
William shook his head. “No reason in particular.”
Christopher looked at him at that, but William didn’t bother to meet his eyes. After a moment, Christopher said, “Tell me, William, have you grown closer to Lady Alice lately?”
“I have,” William admitted. “She seems to have gotten over her initial dislike of me, thankfully. It is much more fun teasing her when she is willing to tease me back, rather than ignore me.”
“Is that so? I never would have thought she would warm up to you so easily. Though, I doubt she is falling for your charms as easily as you hoped.”
“Perhaps not at all,” William responded with a chuckle, though it wasn’t entirely correct. Last night, he was sure, had affected Alice almost as much as it had affected him, if her blushing cheeks were any indication.
“I cannot tell if that excites you or entices you to turn away. But then, again, I suppose it is expected considering you are falling in love with her.”
“What?” William said sharply, drawing the attention of the ladies. They both looked over at them, Lady Emma blinking in confusion and Alice with a single brow raised. Alice looked between them as if she knew exactly what they were talking about, though William knew that couldn’t possibly be the case.
Christopher chuckled as soon as the ladies lost interest and resumed their conversation. “Have I said something wrong?”
“Of course, you have. You know very well that I have no intention of falling in love again.”
“I recall,” Christopher confirmed with a nod. “But I don’t think you have much of a say in it. Nor do I think you can stop it, considering it’s so obvious.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” William protested weakly. His heart began to race and when he looked at Alice again, Christopher’s words whispered through his mind. He swallowed harshly.
Christopher studied him for a moment before he shook his head. “You’re right, I’m wrong. You aren’t falling in love with Lady Alice. You already are.”
Realization was beginning to sink within him like cold stones. William felt his hands grow clammy and so he crossed his arms, hoping Christopher wouldn’t see how his words unnerved him. Just the thought of such a thing happening, of putting his heart on the line to be ripped to pieces once more…William didn’t even want to consider it. But now, the whispering voice in the back of his mind was growing louder and louder. He could no longer ignore it.
“Anger, frustration, excitement, protectiveness. Are you telling me Lady Alice does not stir those feelings and more in you, William?”
William didn’t have to respond. He didn’t have to tell Christopher what he already knew. And he didn’t have to say the words aloud, when the truth resounded within him like an echoing cave.
After all this time…I’ve finally fallen in love again. And for a lady who does not wish to be in love any more than I do. Any more than I did.
The cold, sinking stones settled uncomfortably in the pit of his stomach when he remembered what Alice had told him last night. The fear she had in falling in love again. She was strong-willed and stubborn. William doubted she would let herself fall for a rake like him, no matter if they have grown closer to each other. Blushing cheeks and slightly flustered eyes didn’t mean she would share his same feelings.
For the first time in a long time, William felt afraid.
“I know how you feel,” Christopher spoke again. His voice was soft, tender. It drew William out of his ever-growing dark thoughts. “I am the second son of a Duke and I pale in comparison to my handsome older brother, the Marquess. I was afraid that I would never be able to capture of the heart of Lady Emma, who so clearly deserves the hand of someone far greater than I.”
“Christopher—”
“Don’t worry,” he continued with a smile. “It was fleeting, but a thought I had, nonetheless. I was as afraid as you are right now, though perhaps for different reasons. But I knew being afraid wouldn’t get me anywhere. If I wanted to have her, I would have to let her see that I would cherish her more than anyone else would.”
“Are you boasting about your romantic prowess, Christopher?” William asked.
Just like that, Christopher dropped the wise act and let loose a long, stressed sigh. “You never know how to take anything seriously.”
William chuckled. “Humor is what I use to deflect true emotions,” he told his brother, rather honestly. “Did you not know?”
“Then what will you do? Will you confess?”
