Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

E liza's heart was still racing from the intensity of Anthony's touch. The heat from his fingers seemed to linger on her thigh, and she found it difficult to concentrate on anything else.

The applause and brightening of the room offered a brief respite, but her thoughts were consumed by his boldness and the thrill it had sent through her.

As the performance resumed, Eliza leaned towards her aunt. "Aunt, may I be excused for a moment? I need some fresh air."

Lady Lymington frowned, her eyes narrowing. "Eliza, you mustn't draw attention to yourself. We are here to maintain propriety."

"Please, Aunt," Eliza pleaded, her voice a whisper, "I will be back shortly."

With a reluctant nod from Lady Lymington, Eliza slipped out of her seat and made her way towards the exit.

The cool air of the garden was a welcome relief as she stepped outside, the soft murmur of distant conversation and the rustle of leaves providing a soothing backdrop to her turbulent thoughts.

She wandered down the stone path, her mind replaying the warmth of Anthony's touch and the way his fingers had traced circles on her thigh, igniting a fire within her that she struggled to control.

She found a secluded bench beneath a blossoming tree and sat down, taking a deep breath of the night air.

She needed to regain her composure, to think clearly about what had transpired. Anthony's behavior was both infuriating and exhilarating, and she hated how easily he could unsettle her.

This ‘engagement,' this arrangement, was becoming more complicated than she had anticipated.

Lost in thought, Eliza did not notice the footsteps approaching until they were almost upon her. She turned, half-expecting to see her aunt, but was surprised to find someone else standing there, their figure partially obscured by the shadows of the garden.

"Fancy meeting you here," Anthony's voice came from the darkness, a low murmur that sent a shiver down her spine.

Her heart skipped a beat as he stepped into the light, wearing a devilish grin, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

Eliza stiffened, trying to regain her composure. "What are you doing out here?"

He shrugged nonchalantly, taking a step closer. "I could ask you the same thing, but I think I already know. You needed some air, did you not? Or perhaps you were trying to escape the, shall we say, intensity of the evening?"

"I simply needed a moment to myself. The performance was overwhelming," she said, but she felt her cheeks flush at his insinuation.

Anthony's grin widened. "Overwhelming, you say? I wonder if it was the music, or something else that had you so flustered."

Her eyes narrowed and irritation as well as embarrassment bubbled up inside her. "You know very well what you did. It was highly inappropriate."

He chuckled softly, taking another step closer until he was just a few feet away from her. "Inappropriate, perhaps, but you cannot deny that you enjoyed it. In fact, one might say that you were also acting inappropriately, were you not?"

Eliza stood, meeting his gaze head-on as she clenched her jaw. "You think you can toy with me just because of this engagement."

Anthony's smirk grew, the mischief shining in his eyes. "I am merely enjoying our time together, Eliza. Is that so terrible?"

She crossed her arms, trying to maintain her defiance. "You have a very peculiar way of showing your interest."

He took another step closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I want you, Eliza. And I think, or judging from how you touched me earlier, you feel the same way."

She hated how easily he could unsettle her, how he seemed to see right through her defenses. He stood so close to her that she could smell the scent of his cologne, see the embroidery on his waistcoat in the moonlight, and almost taste his lips on hers again.

"I do not know what you are talking about," she said, her voice wavering slightly.

Anthony reached out, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "You do," he murmured. "You know very well that I can offer pleasure like you've never imagined. Surrender to it, darling. To me. Let me show you how intoxicating this could be… how I can make you feel."

Eliza took a step back. "I should go back inside. My aunt will be looking for me."

"When I left, she did not notice my departure," Anthony argued, stepping closer to her once again. "You worry for nothing."

Eliza took a deep breath, willing herself to appear indifferent despite the turmoil inside. "You seem awfully confident, Your Grace. One might think you are used to getting everything you want."

"Confidence is a valuable trait, do you not think? It often leads to the desired outcome."

"Is that so?" she said, rolling her eyes. Then, pretending to be ignorant, she asked, "And what, perhaps, is it that you desire?"

He stepped closer, his presence once again enveloping her. "You know very well what I desire, Miss Huxley."

Feigning indifference, she shrugged. "I suppose it must be quite frustrating to want something and not be able to have it, Your Grace."

Anthony's eyes darkened with intensity. "I am not used to frustration," he murmured, his voice low and dangerous.

Eliza raised an eyebrow, her heart pounding. "Then perhaps it is time you experienced it."

In a swift motion, he backed her up against the garden wall, his hands bracing on either side of her. She felt the rough stone cool against her back, a stark contrast to the heat emanating from his body as he pressed against her. Her breath hitched as his gaze locked onto hers.

"You will be mine, Eliza," he said, his voice a husky whisper. "Resist all you want, but you're already caught. Soon, you'll be begging for what you know you crave."

She swallowed hard, growing uncertain under the intensity of his gaze. "I cannot give in to you, Anthony. You will not marry me."

"I could show you far better things than marriage."

Before she could respond, his lips brushed against her neck, sending a jolt of electricity through her.

She closed her eyes, failing to resist the overwhelming sensation. His kisses were slow and deliberate, each one igniting a fire within her that was hard to ignore. His mouth traced slowly up to her jaw, then to her cheek, and then he hovered teasingly over her mouth.

"Anthony," she breathed, her voice barely audible. "This is not right."

He pulled back slightly, his breath warm against her skin. "Right and wrong are mere illusions, Eliza. What truly matters is the heat between us, the way it makes your pulse quicken. And I assure you, what we're about to do feels exquisite ."

Her mind raced; torn between the desires he awakened in her and the need to preserve her future.

"I cannot," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I will not be just another conquest for you."

Anthony's eyes softened, a hint of vulnerability shining through. "You are not just another conquest."

She shook her head, trying to regain control. "It does not matter. I cannot do this."

He studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he allowed a deep sigh.

"You are indeed stubborn," he breathed with a soft laugh.

Anthony bent to give her another kiss but halted as he heard rushed footsteps approaching.

Someone else was there.