Page 40 of A Duke's Lustful Riddle
Gemma felt her eyes start to water but she couldn’t stop herself from talking.
“My mother was gifted at crocheting. She loved it and would make me things all the time. My father was a firm man, but he was always gentle and fair with me. I miss them dearly and every time I am in a carriage, I cannot help but let my thoughts wander to them. Would they be proud of me for who I have become?”
Gabriel spoke in a comforting tone. “I am pleased that you felt secure enough to open up to me, Gemma. Of course your parents would be proud.”
“I know but some days I am not sure. I am unwed and almost twenty-one. My debut was a disaster and I have no musical ability. I love things like art and history, but this never seems to impress anyone.” Gemma fretted and tucked another loose tendril behind one ear.
Gabriel squeezed Gemma’s hand and she looked at their entwined fingers. Her eyes then rose up to meet Gabriel’s eyes, the tears evident for she could not prevent them.
Her heart felt full at the sight of their intertwined fingers. It was comforting.
“None of that matters. You are kind and intelligent. I have no doubt that your parents are looking down at you with pride and joy. And so is my late father. I know that he cared for you as if you were his own flesh and blood daughter, Gemma.” Gabriel brusquely spoke her name with great emotion.
At the mention of the late duke, tears flowed freely down Gemma’s face.
She truly missed all of them. Her mother. Her father. And the late duke. They were all such important people to her but now they were gone, and she’d never see them again.
“Do not cry Gemma. You’re too beautiful for these tears. I know losing loved ones hurts but they are watching you and caring for you from the heavens.” Gabriel spoke these words with comfort and sincerity. Gemma was grateful for his support and caring words.
She wiped her tears away with the back of her gloved hand and kept her other hand entwined with Gabriel’s. She squeezed his hand gently. She never wanted to let go.
“Thank you, Gabriel.” Gemma’s voice was poised and composed once more.
Gabriel smiled at her. “You are very welcome, my lady.”
“Gemma,” Gabriel started quickly. “I know things have been odd between us and I’d like to fix that.”
That was an understatement, but Gemma just nodded, letting Gabriel know she was listening.
“I think we should put our differences aside and try to be friends. What do you think?”
Friends? Was this man’s brain addled by the carriage ride? Her face darkened. Why did he keep doing this to her? They did all manner of things that friends do not do.
Friends didn’t try to force each other to get married.
Friends didn’t look at each other the way Gabriel looked at her.
Friends didn’t kiss with passion and heat when alone together.
Being friends was the furthest thing from Gemma’s mind, but she had no choice but to agree. She mustered up her resolve and said, “I would like that, Your Grace.”
When she was sure he couldn’t hear her, she mumbled under her breath what a cad he was.
Of course, she was lying through her teeth. She didn’t want to be friends. She wanted more. Much more. What is a respectable woman to do, short of throwing herself at his feet, to get that through his thick skull? She was at her wits end trying to figure him out.
Was their kiss so terrible that he did not want to be anything other than friends with her? Was he so disgusted by her that he could only tolerate her at arm’s length?
Gemma couldn’t help but feel her heart crack at the thought of being just friends with Gabriel, but as a lady she had no other choice. It was times like those where social decorum could be so rigid. Agreeing was the easiest course of action.
“I am glad to hear that. I think of you often, and I want our time together to be pleasant,” Gabriel explained.
The cracks in Gemma’s heart couldn’t be healed with a simple admittance that he thought of her often. She would need much more from him, one way or the other, to rebound from this assault.
Did he really think of her often? If so, then why was this all so confusing?
All the hope she had held onto after their kiss, dissipated. She had hoped for an admission of feelings once they were alone together, not friendship. Oh, it was all so convoluted and tired her so trying to figure it all out.
Gemma had no idea what Gabriel thought but if it was close to her thoughts then maybe one day, they could be more than friends. Yet, everything still seemed as if it were some sort of game to Gabriel. He was a grown man, and he was acting one way and then another as if he were an indecisive teenage boy.
