Page 18 of Healing the Duke's Desires
Emily leaned in with excitement. “Did you see any famous paintings, Henry?”
“Indeed,” he replied, a glint of enthusiasm in his eyes. “TheMona Lisawas a sight to behold, and I was quite taken with the works of Delacroix and David.”
“Oh, how I envy you for witnessing such beauty,” Sarah chimed in, a wistful smile on her lips, and Emily instantly knew that her sister had already started to daydream of one day visiting the Louvre with Henry, hand in hand. Emily had to admit it was a wonderful thing to hope for.
As the conversation continued, she shared stories of their recent trip to the art exhibition, describing the beautiful landscapes and captivating portraits they had encountered. Sarah nodded in agreement, adding her own impressions of the delicate brushwork and vibrant colors.
As Henry spoke, Sarah barely breathed. She inhaled every single word he said, melting into a puddle right onto the floor. For Emily, it was all so amusing. And she was glad to see that their mother looked on with a knowing smile, which served as a silent acknowledgment of the connection that was developing between Sarah and Henry.
The following two hours passed by pleasantly, until Henry said his goodbyes and promised to visit again soon. Just as the young man had departed, the butler appeared, bringing Lady Ashfordshire a sealed letter.
“Thank you, Rutherford,” she told him, and moments later, he disappeared, leaving the three ladies alone. Lady Ashfordshire turned the letter around in her hand. It exuded an air of elegance and sophistication.
“Who is it from, Mother?” Sarah wondered, unable to take her eye off of it. Emily had to admit that she was equally curious, but she remained quiet and patient.
“I don’t know yet, dear.” Lady Ashfordshire smiled. “Let me open it first.”
She gently touched the seal with the tips of her fingers. It was imprinted with a personal seal of royal blue wax. She opened it, unfolding the thick, smooth paper, adorned with delicate patterns. It was of a gentle pastel shade, which only added to its luxurious appearance.
The edges were embellished with ornate gold gilding, and at the center of the letter’s front page was the recipient’s name.Lord and Lady Ashfordshire.It was written in flowing script in a deep, rich burgundy color, with skillfully executed calligraphy.
“Dear Lord and Lady Ashfordshire, you and your daughters are cordially invited to attend a garden tea party, which will take place at Ravenswood Manor on—”
“When is it?” Emily exclaimed, unable to be patient any longer, cutting her mother off.
“Tomorrow.” Her mother lifted an eyebrow, but she didn’t comment anything. “It is tomorrow, dear.”
“Can we go?” Emily asked, endeavoring to keep control of herself, but that was easier said than done. She could barely hide her excitement; it felt like a bolt of thunder inside her chest, roaring to get out.
“Well, I must speak with your father, but I don’t see why not,” Lady Ashfordshire answered. “Anyone who is anyone will be there. Your father understands the importance of attending such balls.”
Emily’s mind already swirled with ideas of what she would wear and how she would style her hair. Trying to convince herself that she wasn’t infatuated with the Duke of Ravenswood was a futile effort. She wouldn’t be able to convince herself of that even if she wanted to.
“Wonderful,” she said in a very ladylike manner, although in reality, she wanted to jump at her mother and wrap her arms around her in gratitude.
Her mother gave her a knowing look, but fortunately, she didn’t ask anything. The rest of the afternoon was spent uneventfully, but that was solely because fate had already arranged everything it had to arrange. Now, it was just a matter of being patient.
Those were the thoughts that lulled Emily to sleep that night. She had no idea when sleep had taken over, her dreams felt so real.
The best dreams were so. She was gazing at Alexander as he cupped her cheek, his touch sending shivers down her spine. He leaned to her closely, and her heart clenched with anticipation. His lips brushed against hers, softly at first. But it was obvious that neither of them could deny the magnetic pull that only seemed to draw them closer.
The kiss deepened into a slow and tantalizing exploration of each other’s souls. He pulled her closer, his arms around her, their bodies seeking solace in the other’s warmth. Her fingers raked through his air, refusing to stop touching him, afraid that if she did, he might disappear, like a mirage.
Their dance of lips continued, mixing vulnerability and desire, parting only to meet again, igniting that fire within them. Time seemed to stand still. This stolen moment was only theirs. Emily’s heart palpitated wildly, counting every second as if it were an entire eternity. She was astonished to realize how safe she felt in his arms, how cherished and desired. It was an amalgamation of feelings she had never felt before.
When she woke up, gasping for air, she realized she was gasping for much more than that. She yearned for his presence again and wondered if he was dreaming of her, too. Was he haunted by their encounters just like she was?
The night passed achingly slowly, and as dawn approached, Emily finally drifted back to slumber. But the thoughts of Alexander and their dream kiss lingered in her mind, entwining her dreams of hopes for the future.
Chapter 11
The following day, Emily’s mind was consumed with thoughts of her steamy dream as she traveled with her family to Ravenswood Manor. The carriage rocked them softly along the rolling hills and lush emerald meadows dotted with wildflowers of every color, stretching as far as the eye could see.
The sun had already started to set, as the carriage followed a winding trail. Not even the sweet fragrance of wild lavender and the earthy scent of fresh soil could do much to bring Emily back from the solitude of her own thoughts.
“… don’t you think so, Emily?”
The voice of her sister brought her back to the present moment, much to her displeasure, because it was evident to everyone that she had not been paying any attention to the conversation that was taking place between their parents and Sarah.
