“It took me long enough to get into this costume. The dressmakers assured me all these layers of pink fabric would look similar to petals with my green stockings, but I’m sure I look more like a crumbling meringue,” she exclaimed. “Regardless of what it makes me look like, I figured if I couldn’t use it to help my aunt with business, I could at least have some fun in it before I returned home.”
Duncan raised a curious brow. “Did you assume you could instead lure some man into partaking in something other than business?”
“You’re hardly in a position to lecture me about my behaviour,” she snapped, irritated he presumed to make such a judgement. Not willing to stay and be criticized by this man, she went to pull away from him.
He squeezed her hand, the fingers on his other hand pressing into her hip as he leaned closer to her. “Given how well I know you, I’d say I can pass judgement on quite a few of your behaviours.”
Deciding it wasn’t worth causing a scene, Isobel stopped struggling against him. She would wait until the dance was over and then go and find her aunt – but not before Duncan was reminded of a few home truths.
“You’re quite sure of yourself assuming such familiarity after so long,” she hissed. “Given how many months it’s been, I’m surprised you remember me or my behaviours.”
His gaze narrowed, clearly irritated. “Oh, I remember you all right. I also recall how many times you begged me to make love to you.”
His words had been barely loud enough for her to hear, but the way they stabbed at her heart was as if Duncan yelled them at her.
Her lip trembled as she struggled to control her tears. “I can’t do this…not again.” No longer caring about any attention she may draw to their union, Isobel pulled away from him and ran toward the nearest exit. Hurrying through the door, she continued out into the gardens. It wasn’t until she was several yards away from the house, that she stopped and burying her face in her hands, surrendered to her tears.
She waited for so long to hear anything from Duncan, but being forced into his company again stirred up ambivalence she’d tried to ignore for months. She never expected a romantic reunion, but to have him spit accusations at her, reminding her how easily she’d surrendered her most passionate embraces to him, were far more than she could handle.
Lowering her hands, she wiped the wet tracks from her cheeks, taking several deep breaths. She needed to calm herself and regain her composure before she could return to the hall. If her aunt saw her in this state, she’d start asking questions…ones Isobel wasn’t ready to answer.
“Isobel.”
Hearing Duncan softly call her, she turned toward him, struggling to hold her emotions in check. She wanted to go to him and wrap her arms around him, confessing the undying love she still had for him. She wanted to slap him for never trying to contact her so she might explain the full extent of what happened the night she was meant to meet him.
“What are you doing out here, Duncan?”
We hope you are enjoying the book so far. To continue reading...
Copyright © 2024 All Rights Reserved
Please log in to recommend or discuss...
