Page 39 of A Duke's Lustful Riddle
Everyone said their goodbyes and Gemma excused herself to change for the dinner. Gabriel wanted nothing more than to talk to her before they left for Sagewood Estate, but he watched his opportunity to talk with her disappear as Gemma made her way upstairs.
As Gabriel gazed after her, he heard voices behind him.
“I hope I can see you again sometime soon,” Hugh said to Felicity as they walked toward the front door of the manor.
Gabriel followed them and listened inquisitively.
“As do I,” Felicity said. “Would you help me into my carriage?”
Hugh walked Felicity to her carriage and held her hand as she stepped on the stool. She offered such a sweet smile to Hugh that Gabriel could have sworn that Hugh got lighter in his shoes.
Gabriel concluded that the two of them made a very fetching couple, which made all of their witty banter and flirtations all the more understandable. Theirs was a true romance in the making. Gabriel would see to it that it stayed out of the gossip pages until the two were ready to announce their courtship.
Gabriel did not consider himself a matchmaker, but he knew he had to talk to Hugh and see where his heart truly was, if only to make sure that Felicity did not have any risk of heartbreak. Hugh did not seem to be this sort of fellow at all. But Gabriel made a note to himself to make a point of understanding Hugh’s full intentions.
Chapter 17
Gemma descended the staircase of Ashbourne Manor feeling on top of the world. She had a great day with friends and the night before she had her first kiss with a real gentleman. A gentleman that she was about to spend an evening with.
As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she adjusted her emerald gown.
“There you are,” Gabriel said, looking up and taking a deep breath. He was left breathless by her radiant appearance. He had not thought it possible that Gemma could become more beautiful, but she continued to surprise him.
“Here I am,” Gemma responded with a slight bow of her head, waiting for a compliment that would assure her she looked beautiful.
Instead, Gabriel intoned, “Where is Miss Beaumont? We need to leave soon.” Gabriel surveyed the room and hallway, searching for Gemma’s escort.
“She is not feeling well and will not be accompanying us tonight,” Gemma explained. Gemma was not upset in the least that she would be free from prying eyes.
“Well then, we must make haste,” Gabriel interrupted Gemma’s thought.
The pair walked side by side with a foot of space between them as they made their way to the carriage. Gabriel held out a hand and helped Gemma inside.
“Thank you, Gabriel,” Gemma said once they were both seated in the carriage.
“Don’t forget …Gabriel is fine when we are alone, as we do not have an audience, but it’s ‘Your Grace” at the Ravenscrofts.” He smiled fully and nodded his head respectfully to Gemma.
This was the first time they had been alone since their kiss and the tension seemed to be growing rather expansively between them within the tiny space of the carriage itself.
Gemma clasped her hands in her lap as the carriage took off. She hated carriage rides as they reminded her of her parents’ untimely death, of course. She knew that carriages were relatively safe, they were how everyone got around, but she could not help but think about her parents when riding in one. It’s why she avoided them as much as possible.
“Are you well?” Gabriel asked. He studied her facial expression with concern.
Gemma nodded as she looked out the window.
“You seem tense,” Gabriel prodded further. “What is on your mind Gemma? I am here to listen if you need to talk about it, whatever it might be.”
Gemma turned to face Gabriel and took in his handsome appearance.
He looked somewhat boyish initially upon his return to the estate. Now as she surveyed him from under her lashes, she could see a strong jawline and erect posture. He looked like a true gentleman bearing his title. Responsibility suits him, she thought.
She squirmed under his steady gaze, which caused her belly to warm. It didn’t help that his face was handsome, almost rakish, with his brown hair slicked back his intense stormy gray eyes brimming with heat. It felt as if he was gazing into her soul.
“My parents,” Gemma decided to confide in her guardian. “They died in a carriage accident.”
Gabriel reached across and took Gemma’s tightened fist in his hand, prying it open until he could take it in his.
“My father told me.” His voice was husky with emotion. “Tell me about them,” Gabriel insisted.
