Page 43 of A Christmas Temptation for the Duke
“I always found personal growth to be underrated.”
“Dare I mention Christmas?” the mayor tried with a twinkle in his eyes. “The spirit of giving and receiving and all the merriment that goes with it. I would–”
“What do you want?” Daniel cut over him.
The mayor was not at all put out by Daniel’s glower. “I just wished to stop by and thank you for attending the Christmas Fair yesterday. Truly, it was wonderful to see you make time for us.”
“Oh…” Daniel blinked in surprise. “That is… that is not necessary.”
“Perhaps not, but we are forever grateful for all that you do for us, and I know everyone was beyond pleased to see you getting involved in the holiday cheer.”
“Again, it is not necessary.” Daniel felt the sudden urge to look away with embarrassment.
“Having said that,” the mayor pivoted. “There is something else I would like to run by you.”
And here it is…
“What is it?” Daniel sighed.
“Tomorrow evening is the Winter’s Ball. As you likely know, it is an annual tradition of Whitehaven, and although I do not expect you to attend, I thought it might be nice to extend the invitation anyway. In the spirit of Christmas.”
Daniel let his expression fall flat, figuring that to be answer enough to the mayor’s question. Of course, he had no intention of attending the ball. He had lived here his entire life and could count on one hand how many times he had done such a thing – and the few times that he did, it was only because his sisters had insisted.
Before he got the chance to confirm this with the mayor, Lady Alison walked into the room.
“The Winter Ball?” she said, excitement coloring her tone. “Oh, how fun.”
“Lady Alison!” The mayor turned on her, arms held wide. “I take it this means that I can expect to see you tomorrow evening? Oh, do say yes. It would mean so much.”
Lady Alison glanced at Daniel, noting the way his brow was furrowed and how dismissive he looked. “I do thank you for the invitation, Mayor Pritchard. And it does sound like a magical evening. Only…”
Daniel could not say what happened next.
He meant to deny the mayor and be done with it. He had no desire whatsoever to attend the ball. After all, he was set to leave this county and this country in less than a month, so what good would it do involving himself in such events as this one?
But he caught the look of hope on Lady Alison’s face. He heard it in her voice. She wanted to attend the ball, he could tell. Just as he could see that she was going to say no, likely because she knew he did not want to go himself.
That should not have concerned him at all. If anything, that should have been more of a reason to stick with his decision. What did Daniel care about the wishes of Lady Alison? Was their entire relationship not based on denying such things?
And isn’t that the problem? If she is to stay here for two weeks, then keeping things as they are will lead to situations best avoided. Perhaps the easiest way to diffuse the tension between us is to act civilly so there is no cause to fight.
Daniel knew that to be an excuse. Just as he knew he did not care.
“We would love to attend,” he spoke before Lady Alison had the chance.
“Wh – what?” The mayor spun back to face him. “Truly?”
“Truly,” Daniel said before looking pointedly at Lady Alison. “That is unless there are any objections?”
Lady Alison frowned as if she did not believe what she was hearing. Daniel raised an eyebrow, almost daring her to argue. But she turned that frown into a grateful smile, and to see her so happy… even Daniel was not such a grump that he could not find pleasure in such a thing as that.
“No objections,” she said. “In fact, I am looking forward to it.”
“As am I,” Daniel said. And that was the truth, as strange a thing as it was to admit. Very strange…
Chapter Fourteen
“Oh, this is wonderful!” Alison cried as she and Lord Grayhill entered the large hall. “Look! Have you ever seen anything like it?”
