Page 61 of Duke of Storme
“Ye did well.”
Finn’s voice from the doorway made her turn with the crystal still in her hand. He stood watching her with an expression she’d never seen before—something warmer than approval, deeper than mere surprise.
“Thank you,” she said, setting the glass down carefully. “Though I must say, I wasn’t performing.”
He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him with deliberate care. “No,” he murmured, his voice rougher than usual. “Ye weren’t.”
The recognition hung between them like a bridge neither was sure they dared cross. Diana felt her pulse quicken as Finn moved closer, his gray-blue eyes fixed on her face with an intensity that made her breath catch.
“That was more than I expected,” he said, stopping just close enough that she could see the way the candlelight caught the dark strands of his hair.
“You never expect enough of me,” Diana replied.
“No,” he agreed, his gaze dropping to her lips with deliberate intention. “I don’t.”
For the first time since she’d known him, Finn made no attempt to hide what she saw in his eyes. The careful control he maintained so rigidly had slipped, revealing something raw and hungry and entirely focused on her.
Diana’s breath caught as he stepped closer still, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from his body and smell the subtle scent of sandalwood that seemed to cling to his skin.
“Your Grace,” she whispered, not sure if she was protesting or pleading.
His hand came up to frame her face. His thumb traced the line of her cheekbone with reverent care. “Ye were magnificent tonight,” he said softly, his Scottish accent thickening with emotion. “Every inch a Duchess. Every inch mine.”
The possessive note in his voice sent heat spiraling through Diana’s veins. She leaned into his touch without conscious thought, her eyes fluttering closed as he lowered his head toward hers.
“Diana?” Jane’s voice cut through the moment like a blade. “I just came to say– oh!”
Finn stepped back so quickly that Diana nearly stumbled. His hand fell away from her face as though she’d burned him. Thecareful mask slammed back into place, transforming him once again into the controlled Duke of Storme.
Diana turned toward her sister, feeling heat flood her cheeks even as her heart hammered against her ribs. “Jane. I... I’ll be up in a moment.”
Jane’s sharp eyes took in the scene – Diana’s flushed face, Finn’s rigid posture, the electric tension that still crackled between them – and understanding dawned in her expression.
“Of course,” she said carefully. “I simply wanted to congratulate you again on this evening’s success. It was... quite extraordinary.”
“Thank you,” Diana managed, grateful for her sister’s diplomatic retreat.
Jane nodded and withdrew, closing the door with pointed finality. But the moment was broken and the spell was shattered by the intrusion of the outside world.
Finn straightened his cravat with mechanical precision. His expression closed off as Diana watched.
“Goodnight, Duchess,” he said, his voice returning to that formal coldness she’d come to dread.
“Please, wait–”
But he was already moving toward the door. His long strides carried him away from her before she could find the words to stop him.
“Goodnight,” he repeated without looking back, and then he was gone, leaving Diana alone with the dying candles and the echo of what might have been.
She stood in the empty dining room with one hand pressed to her lips where his kiss might have landed and tried to make sense of what had just happened. Tonight she had commanded a room full of Highland nobility, had proven herself capable of being everything a Duchess should be.
She had won their respect, their acceptance, and their admiration.
But the man whose opinion mattered most – the man whose touch had set her soul on fire just moments before – remained as elusive as ever, retreating behind walls she was beginning to fear she might never breach.
Diana had won the room, had claimed her place as the Duchess of Storme with grace and intelligence and quiet authority.
But Finn... Finn remained unconquered.
