Chapter 11

"You know, it will not kill you to hold one another's hands," Lord Moore teased as he kissed the back of Phoebe's hand as if to show them how.

"It might," Phoebe joined in, giggling with her betrothed. "At the very least, it might burn the skin on their hands. Felicity's especially."

"Is that right?" Lord Moore asked, pretending to sound as if he believed it. "How strange."

"What do you expect," Phoebe sighed, even if she could not keep the delighted smile from her face. "A lifetime of espousing all forms of physical contact, and it only makes sense that Felicity cannot go within two yards of another lest she risk bursting into flame."

"The same for Charles," Lord Moore agreed. "Although for him, he can only submit to physical contact when he is drunk. Otherwise, the lump of charcoal that is supposed to be his heart will crack in two and he might drop dead where he stands."

"Oh, stop it!" Phoebe squealed and slapped Lord Moore on the chest. "You beast."

"You encouraged it!"

"I did not!"

"You are worse than I am!"

"Liar!"

"How dare you!"

Lord Moore and Phoebe slapped and tickled and poked and pinched one another in a way that was highly off-putting and quite awkward to watch. Made even more so, seeing as they were in a public setting, in sight of several of their peers, most of whom certainly didn't want to watch what was becoming a sickeningly sweet display of affection.

And that went double for Felicity.

She walked beside His Grace, on the left of where Lord Moore and her sister strolled, not holding his hand, not linking his arm, not treating him in any way that might have suggested the two were in the middle of a courtship. Which she supposed technically they were.

That was the entire idea, after all. To show the ton, those who wandered through the park about them, that she and His Grace were in the middle of a thriving romance, one so heated and hot that come two weeks, they would be wed. And where joining her sister and Lord Moore had seemed like a smart play at the time, now she was beginning to realize that putting themself next to the loved-up couple only worked to highlight how false this courtship was.

On the plus side, one look at His Grace told her that he was of the same mind, that being, equally as put out by his best friend's behavior.

"Oh, will the two of you give it a rest," His Grace groaned. "I have seen stray dogs in back alleys that have more control than you do."

"Wh -- what did you say?" Lord Moore stopped his poking of Phoebe and spun about, apparently rather put out by the observation.

"I think he compared the two of you to fornicating animals," Felicity said simply, as if it was no big thing, even if she was working overtime to keep herself from snorting with laughter. "A little rude, but apt."

"Felicity!" Phoebe gasped, her cheeks flushing bright red.

"Not literally, of course," His Grace assured them with a smirk. "It was just a metaphor. I would not dream of being so crass as that."

"His Grace would never dare..." Felicity glanced at His Grace, caught his eyes, saw the mischievous smile behind them, and returned it. "If he was being more crass, he might have suggested that we call the carriage back so that the two of you could have some time alone together."

"Felicity!" Phoebe gasped again, letting go of Lord Moore's hand this time.

"It is a good thing I am not so crass as that," His Grace said, clearly trying his best not to chuckle.

"Are the two of you done?" Lord Moore said coldly, groping for Phoebe's hand, which she refused to give.

"Are the two of you?" His Grace shot back with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, leave them be, Your Grace," Phoebe chided. "They are just in love. I think it rather sweet."

"Do you?" His Grace asked her.

"Hard to watch, but sweet nonetheless."

His Grace laughed out loud and Felicity joined him. The joke might not have been very funny but the cold glare that her sister and Lord Moore fixed on the two certainly was. And sure, her sister and her betrothed took one another's hand again, doing what they could to not look put out by the mockery, but they were nowhere near as cutesy as they had been, clearly a little embarrassed with the way they had been acting.

As to Felicity? Her hand dangled beside His Grace's, less than an inch away, and for the first time since this walk had begun, she wondered if he might reach out and take it. And, most curiously, if she would deny him or not... which she didn't think she would.

"I do not think they appreciated that," His Grace said out the side of his mouth as they continued their walk.

It was a lovely day in Hyde Park. A busy day. With the sun shining the way it was, not so much as a cloud in the sky, the people were out in droves. People whom Felicity recognized too, members of the ton and their peers, those whom she had expected to be here today so that she and the Duke might start their deception.

And indeed, no sooner had they started walking along the path that wound lazily through the open parklands did she notice the eyes on them, did she see the whispers. Already, she could sense word spreading concerning the two of them. The spinster Lady and the rake Duke, together...

"Oh, I know they didn't," Felicity chuckled along. "I am just glad you said something."

"I am all for romantic affection. Do not get me wrong. But the two of them..." He flicked his head at the happy couple. "People were beginning to stare."

"They'll get over it..." Felicity looked past His Grace, taking note of the way that her sister and Lord Moore were holding hands again, whispering softly to one another, chuckling at a silent joke made, one just for them.

"No doubt. At least now they might leave us alone."

"I take it that Lord Moore is aware of this... our circumstance."

"As is your sister?"

"She doesn't believe it," Felicity sighed. "She thinks that the two of us are in love."

"The horror!" he gasped.

She rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean. When I told Phoebe that we would be joining her..." She gave her head a shake. "You should have seen her face."

"Harry also," His Grace sighed. "On the plus side, with the way those two gossip, come tomorrow, everyone in this town will believe that we are just that. In love, I mean."

"Lucky us."

"Is that not the point?" the Duke asked with a sly smile. "You're the one who suggested this."

"It is," she nodded along. "I just do not wish for you to get any ideas."

"I will try and control myself," he laughed. "And if you sense me acting too romantically toward you, please feel free to reprimand me. I would hate to make you uncomfortable."

"Noted," she chuckled.

They walked a moment longer in silence. As they did, Felicity's eyes flicked to the Duke, wondering at him now in a way that she hadn't before. Was it strange that she was enjoying his company? With Lord Moore and her sister behaving the way they were, how refreshing it was to be with someone who shared the same views as she did. And the same temperament.

At least she didn't have to worry about him falling for her. Although she also supposed that was never her fear...

On that point, it was strange that he was behaving so... not cold toward her. Disinterested, perhaps? If he was trying to seduce her, she would have thought he would have started trying by now. That he would have flirted more. That he would have shown her some of that charm he was so well known for. As things stood, it felt as if he was going through the motions, simply existing so that he could get this courtship out of the way.

"You know, it is my thought," Felicity began as an idea came to her. "That if we are going to do this, we should do it properly."

"Meaning?"

She indicated Lord Moore and Phoebe. "Compared to them, we look like a brother and sister taking a walk. Strangers, even."

"I'm not going to start tickling you, if that's what you want."

"Not that..." She scoffed at him. "What I mean is..."

She hesitated because this next move was a risk. She was certain he was going to try and seduce her or use her in some way. That he was biding his time. What Felicity didn't want was to be caught off guard or to be lured into a false sense of security. Better to play his game and be ready for it... to catch him, rather than be caught.

"Hold my hand," she commanded.

"Wh -- what?" he stammered as if shocked.

She rolled her eyes at the exaggeration. He really was playing the long game, wasn't he? "My hand." She offered her hand. "Take it. If we're to be seen courting, people must believe it. No?"

He eyed her hand as if it were a snake that might bite him. "You're sure?"

"It's either that or submit to more mockery from my sister and Lord Moore. And I know that neither of us want that."

He snorted. "Well..." Hesitation again. "If you insist." A deep breath, and his large hand wrapped around her own.

The feel of his hand encasing hers sent a pulse through Felicity's body, such that she almost snatched her hand away. She resisted that urge, however. The pulse was replaced by a feeling of warmth, almost comfort, a sensation that she seemed to recognize even if she had never felt it before. It didn't escape Felicity that this was maybe the first man's hand she had ever held like this... and it certainly didn't escape her how much she enjoyed it.

"Now..." She cleared her throat and tried to speak naturally, even if her heart was pounding away. "Was that so difficult?"

"A chore," he grinned. "But an enjoyable one."

To her right, she noticed Lord Moore and her sister watching them, and she certainly noticed her sister's big, excited grin. And all about them, she saw those fellow members of the ton's eye her walking with the Duke, holding his hand, frowns and curious looks on all their faces. Where not so long ago, Felicity would have hated being stared at like this, for the first time ever, she found that she almost enjoyed it.

This courtship, and this marriage, was a means to an end and that was all it was. But that did not mean she had to dislike the man she would marry, did it? That did not mean she had to spend the entire time in discomfort because she would rather be anywhere else but by his side. Why not enjoy his company just a little? While still being on her guard, just in case, of course.

Yes. Enjoyment for enjoyment's sake. Simply because it was easier, and that was the only reason.

"So, Your Grace, seeing as we have time, why not tell me your side of the story."

"The story?" His Grace frowned at her.

"Of how Lord Moore saved your life," she chuckled, catching the look of shock on Lord Moore's face. "I have heard him tell it, but I would much rather hear it from you."

"Oh, no need for that," Lord Moore interjected. "It is much the same as when I --"

"Good point," His Grace cut his friend off. "I will tell my side and then you can compare. See who's you think is more believable." He winked at Felicity. "And seeing as I am courting you, Lady Felicity, I expect you to be on my side."

"We shall see," she grinned. "I don't play favorites."

"Now, why am I not surprised," he laughed, to which she laughed also, continuing to do so as they strolled through the park, holding hands, and most surprisingly, enjoyed one another's company in a way she might have once thought to be impossible.