Page 59 of Elixir of a Duchess' Passion
Elijah allowed his mind to run away with him for just a second, wondering just what it might be like to be alone with Lady Belmont. Even in a park filled with people, there were places they could go, secret hideaways in the bushes where they could get a little privacy to do the scandalous things everyone would judge them for. He would know; he had found many of them long ago.
And yet the thought of doing such things with Lady Belmont was far better than any experience he had. The thought of kissing her lips, touching her skin, and sharing a physical connection with her caused his loins to burn.
He was only distracted from the thoughts by Lady Fenchurch as she insisted, “I am sure that Lady Belmont would be honoured to join you for a turn about the lake.”
“Iwouldn’twish to make you feel uncomfortable, Lady Belmont,” Elijah protested, meeting her gaze with meaning as he remembered the last time they had encountered each other. He had most definitely made her feel uncomfortable then. It was painful to remember the way she had run away from him.
“Oh, Lord Spurnrose, you could never do anything to make me uncomfortable,” Lady Belmont assured him. She lifted her head high, and for once, Elijah saw something of the old Lady Belmont he had known before he had messed everything up, the cool and confident woman who he had first met in his drawing room on the day she and Lady Fenchurch came to welcome him to Oxfordshire.
“In that case, perhaps Lord Fenchurch and I ought to join you?” Lady Fenchurch suggested, and Elijah saw the uncertainty flash through Lady Belmont’s gaze as though she was well aware she had made some kind of mistake in suggesting that their being alone together was her only concern.
I cannot blame her for not wishing to walk with me,he thought grimly, wondering whether he should rescind his invitation to stop making her feel awkward.
But before he could do so, Lady Fenchurch looked past him and called, “Anthony, darling, will you walk with us?”
The footsteps behind him alerted Elijah to the approach of the lady’s husband. He turned with a smile to greet the nobleman, “Lord Fenchurch, it is an honour to finally meet you.”
Tipping his hat, he greeted the other man with a bow.
“Darling, please allow me to introduce you to Lady Belmont’s good friend,” Lady Fenchurch insisted, offering her friend a pointed glower before she removed her arm from Lady Belmont’s and slipped her other through her husband’s arm. “Viscount Elijah Spurnrose.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Lord Spurnrose.”
Lord Fenchurch bowed in greeting with a tip of his hat before looking between Lady Belmont and his wife. “Is all well? I do hope my talking with Mr Bloom did not inconvenience you.”
“Oh no, never,” Lady Belmont assured him with one of her angelic smiles.
“Lord Spurnrose was just suggesting that we might all take a turn about the pond,” Lady Fenchurch explained to her husband before she turned to her friend and added, “It is so kind of Lord Spurnrose to offer to escort you around. I know you have been feeling like somewhat of a spare part with Anthony and me.”
Elijah did not miss the look that passed between the two friends and thought not for the first time that they actually seemed more like siblings. The soundless facial expressions between them were like the connection only siblings could read and understand.
“We would be happy to chaperone,” Lord Fenchurch suggested, “If Lord Spurnrose is amiable?”
Before Elijah could say anything, Lady Belmont said, “Thank you, Lord Fenchurch, but I am a grown woman, and I need no chaperone.”
Elijah could not stop scoffing at the words, thinking about how she had been talking earlier about how they ought not to be alone together. As if she, too, realised her mistake, she turned her gaze upon him and started to blush.
“Then shall you walk with me?” Elijah asked, offering her a mischievous smile.
With an exasperated sigh, Lady Belmont offered him a begrudging smile and said, “Yes, Lord Spurnrose, I shall walk with you if Flit is willing.”
She looked down at the spaniel then as though it was her last vain attempt to get out of it. The dog looked all too willing to continue, and Elijah had to bite back laughter. He had never known a single spaniel who was unwilling to go on and on when it came to walking, running, or chasing.
The way Lady Belmont blushed suggested she had the very same thought.
“Shall we?” Elijah asked, offering her his arm.
With one final look at her friend and Lord Fenchurch, Lady Belmont finally conceded and slipped her arm into his.
The way her hand cupped around the fleshy part of his forearm made Elijah’s skin tingle. Though there were several layers of clothing between them, Elijah felt as though he could feel the warmth of her touch, and it only made him need to be closer. It took every ounce of will within him not to pull her into his arms and tell her all he had been feeling since the day she left Oxfordshire.
“Are you well, Lady Belmont?” he asked after several moments of silence, dropping into a steady pace, their feet moving in sync.
“I rather think that it is I who ought to be askingyouthat, Lord Spurnrose,” Lady Belmont pointed out, and again, Elijah saw the spark of her usual confidence returning.
Laying his free hand upon Lady Belmont’s on his arm, he squeezed her gloved fingers reassuringly and said, “I am very well, thanks to you.”
Lady Belmont gave a pleased smile, and again they fell into silence as they walked, the lady only speaking to encourage her spaniel to walk nicely.
