Page 35 of Cherish and the Duke
He snorted. “Do you seriously have a doubt as to her intention?”
“No,” she admitted. “Are you going to pass a remark to her? She will deny doing it on purpose.”
He did not reply.
Instead, he twirled her in time to the music, holding her in his arms as though she were someone precious to him. It was simply his way, and she refused to read more into it. He was experienced with women and must have learned early on how to make them feel special when in his arms.
As for her, she was completely overwhelmed. She closed her eyes and pretended no one existed but the two of them.
When she opened them, she found him looking at her with a smoldering gaze that shot flames through her.
Dear heaven.
It was ridiculous, of course. He meant nothing by it. They were twirling on a crowded dance floor and his former love was pacing on the sidelines, following their every movement.
Cherish looked up at him. “Your Grace, I am not familiar with the games played in your elitetoncircles.”
He frowned lightly. “Do you think I am playing a game with you?”
“No, that is… I’m not certain what is happening just now. Would you kindly explain to me what is going on?”
Chapter Eight
“Nothing is goingon,” Gawain responded with a soft growl, twirling Cherish in his arms to the strains of a waltz, marveling how perfectly she fit against him and moved with him.
She regarded him dubiously—for good reason, he supposed.
His denial was partially a lie.
Therewassomething going on between him and Katie, the now widowed Countess of Albin, but he wasn’t sure what it was yet. He certainly did not want to entangle himself with her again, but she was determined to insert herself back in his life, and this had thrown him off his stride.
He wanted her to leave, and would demand it if she did not soon reveal her motives in approaching him after all these years. He did not trust her and did not want her back in his life again.
But he and Katie had so much history between them. How could he dismiss her without a thought? Yet she was nothing as he remembered her. Gone was her youthful embrace of life and the allure of her smile. Seeing her around Cherish with her claws out and filled with malice had surprised him.
Shocked him, actually. Had she always been this way and he had been too young and foolish back then to notice?
“You seem to be doing quite well for yourself tonight, Cherish,” he remarked, guiding her through another spin. “You’ve captured the attention of several young men.”
She shook her head and laughed. “Remarkable, isn’t it? But I cannot take credit for it. I think it is the gown and the fact that I am showing off more of my attributes than usual,” she said, glancing down at her bosom. “Obviously, I did not dress myself.”
“It is evident Fiona had a hand in making you over. She wasn’t going to let you hide away, and I’m glad of it. You look lovely. Dare I say it? You sparkle?”
She stared up at him again, her eyes wide and shimmering. Her expression was sweet and soft, far more alluring than any of Katie’s practiced looks. “Thank you, Your Grace. I’m glad you think so.”
They danced in silence for another turn about the room, but he could see Cherish’s thoughts were elsewhere. “What is on your mind?” he asked.
“Are you still in love with her?”
He tensed. “I am not discussing Lady Albin with you.”
He was still trying to make sense of his old flame’s behavior. Strength and determination were good qualities, or at least he had always thought so. But when driven by jealousy and malice? It sickened him to think he had once been so taken with her.
“I see.” Cherish pursed her lips, and now her lithe, little body was as tense as his.
Botheration.
He was in turmoil because Cherish felt so right, but Katie had also felt right all those years ago. He did not know why he was holding on to that thought when it was abundantly clear he had never truly known his childhood love.
