Page 45 of A Christmas Temptation for the Duke
“Did he?”
“He did.” She found the Earl glaring at her and she winked playfully. “In fact, he hopes that you invite him to more of the town’s festivities in the future.”
“I will remember that!”
Alison laughed to see Lord Grayhill scowling. And she laughed just as hard to see how pleased the mayor was with this declaration.
“Was that supposed to be funny?” Lord Grayhill growled once they were alone. They stood toward the back of the hall, each with a cup of warm mead in their hands.
“Oh yes,” she said. “Hilarious, by my reckoning.”
He scoffed. “I won’t forget this. Know that.”
“I would not expect you to…” She pumped her eyebrows. “I only ask that your retaliation be gentle.”
She saw his lip twitch. “Not too gentle.”
Alison’s eyes widened because it was only just then that she realized what she had said. In all her effort to be friendly and playful, she had accidently evoked memories of their past dalliances, forcing them back into a state of tension which neither could avoid.
She looked away, cheeks flushing pink. And as she did, she felt the Earl’s eyes on her. It was all well and good to be civil toward one another, but there was still that underlying tension that sat between them. An unspoken question that both wanted answered but neither were willing to broach…
Thankfully, before the tension got to be too much, a familiar face appeared.
“You made it!” Tommy, the young boy from the snowball fight, darted toward them. His blue eyes shone with mischief and his smile was just as wicked.
“Oh, look who it is,” Alison beamed. “Tommy, yes?”
“That’s right.” He looked at Lord Grayhill. “My lord…” A deep bow. “I hardly recognized you. Not covered in snow or anything.”
Alison laughed and even Lord Grayhill allowed a smile.
“Lady Alison…” Tommy straightened and he suddenly became nervous. “I was just wondering… thinking, really. Seeing as it is a ball, and there is music and dancing and everything. Might youwant to be… I thought you would be interested… it would be fun if we…” He stammered through the question and, as he did, his eyes flicked toward the dance floor.
“I would be honored,” she said, saving him from having to ask the question. “Assuming that Lord Grayhill does not mind you stealing me away?”
Lord Grayhill scoffed. “Of course not.”
“Are you certain?” she winked. “A handsome man like this, I would not want you to be jealous.”
“Somehow, I will manage it,” he said flatly.
She grinned, saw Lord Grayhill fight back his smile, and then took Tommy by the hand and led him toward the dance floor.
Alison could not remember the last time she had enjoyed herself so much. She danced with Tommy as if the world was ending and this would be her last ever chance. She laughed and cried out, moved between partners, cared not for how she looked or who was watching.
And even the fact that Lord Grayhill did not join her, mattered little. Because as she danced, she was sure to find him in the crowd and every time that she did, she caught him watching her.
Her cheeks flushed pink. Her breathing was heavy. She tried not to look at him but could not help herself. Their eyes wouldmeet, they would hold, she would see in them that same look he fixed on her just two evenings ago before he kissed her. Then she would break the stare, and her entire body would shake.
When Alison first met Lord Grayhill, she hated him.
When they met the second time, she despised him.
That was quickly changing. Oh yes, he worked so hard at playing the grump. And he was so determined to be dismissive and disinterested. But there was a kindness to him that was undeniable. A softer side that he worked hard to keep hidden. More than that, Alison was slowly coaxing it out. Why, it felt to her like he wanted her to do so.
And she wanted it just as much. She could not say how she felt about Lord Grayhill. It was too early for such things. But those two times they kissed stood out in her mind, and Alison was desperate to find out what they meant. If anything at all.
So it was that when the dance finished, she thanked Tommy and wandered back to where the Earl was waiting. But he was not alone, which itself was a surprise.
