Page 97 of Rakes & Reticules
Callum, that well-meaning but still wretched duke, now had her heart and would hold it forever.
How did others move on so easily?
Dorothea would have done so without a qualm, set her cap for another man and landed herself an excellent catch. Perhaps a duke or a lesser nobleman of astounding wealth.
The girl was mean but also made of steel.
She really ought to take instruction on hardening her own heart from this manipulative, little schemer. Dorothea or any other young lady would have taken the duke’s scorching kiss for a lark.
But, no.
She had to fall in love with him.
“Amelia, stop crying.” Now he simply sounded exasperated with her.
“I cannot. You may as well order me to stop breathing, for all the good it will do.” She really was too buttoned up and serious, took things too deeply. A flood of memories rushed through her, all those lonely days and broken promises from her parents. Because of them, she had grown up with a guarded heart. But this is what came of growing up neglected. It made one grasp at any wisp of affection and then shatter when even that proved false.
He sighed. “You said you fell in love with me with that kiss. Do you love me, truly?”
“What do you think?”
“I want to hear you say it.”
“I’m sure I already did, and I can still hear everyone laughing about it.” She was wetting his expensive silk vest with her tears.
He sighed again. “Tell me again.”
“No.”
“Then you leave me no choice...”
“To do what? Send me up to my room without supper? Toss me out along with Lady Dorothea? Hurt me worse than you already have? I know it was unintentional. I do not blame you for it. This is my fault. Believe me, I wish I had better control over my heart. I tried very hard not to fall in love with you. What a grand entertainment for all your friends.”
He emitted an agonized groan.
“Do not berate yourself. This is an ironic jest on me. I prided myself on my logic and reason, but I haven’t had a sensible thought since meeting you. I am kicking myself over it sufficiently for the both of us.”
“Stop kicking yourself, Amelia. No one is laughing at you, least of all me.” He tipped her chin up so that she met his gaze. “You seem to be the last person to understand what is really going on.”
“Does this surprise you? I am so dense and incompetent in matters of love. Wasn’t this the entire point of everyone’s plotting? To give the pathetic spinster a thrill worthy of a lifetime memory?”
“You are neither pathetic nor a spinster. I can tell you for a certainty that you will receive an offer of marriage before this weekend is over.”
She heard a collective gasp from the onlookers.
“From whom? My non-existent secret admirer? Forgive me, but I am through playing pretend. If you have something to say to me, then say it straight out.”
He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her with shockingly avid ardor, held that kiss beyond the count of twenty, and heldherup against him with crushing desire, then took forever to let her go. “Does this give you a hint?”
Kiss number three, this one scorching.
“Why did you do this? And in front of everyone, no less.” As dense as she was about matters romantic, even she knew the consequences of this sort of kiss. This was nothing short of a compromising kiss, one requiring him to do the honorable thing and marry her.
It seemed a very foolish thing for him to do.
“Are you still confused about what just happened, Amelia?” he asked, his voice deliciously husky.
“Yes.” She stared at his lips as they twitched upward at the corners in the hint of a smile. “Was it meant to be a compromising kiss?”
