Chapter 17

"You're in a rather good mood," the Duke said with a smirk.

"Am I?" Felicity shrugged. "Perhaps I am just excited for the races."

"Is that all?"

"And it is a glorious day out," she added, her smirk matching the Duke's perfectly. "It brings it out in me."

"Anything else?"

"A chance to see my friends. To get out of the house. To have a drink or two without worrying about my father chastising me for not behaving in a lady like manner."

"All good points," the Duke nodded seriously. "Although I cannot help but think there might be another reason."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Your Grace, are you so desperate for a compliment as this?"

"I think you know that I am."

"Well, if that's the case..." She fixed him with a knowing smile. "I suppose that my company isn't half bad either. And when added alongside everything else, it certainly doesn't hurt my mood."

"That's the best I am going to get, isn't it?"

She laughed. "For which you should be grateful. It would have been just as easy for me to chastise you for bringing my mood down, that despite everything else, somehow it still soars. But I am feeling rather generous, so I chose the compliment instead."

"Is that what that was?" he chuckled. "A compliment."

"You are welcome, by the way." Holding the Duke's hand, she gave it a loving squeeze so he would know she was only joking.

"Kinder words have never been spoken," he said as he raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. "And the same goes for you. Good company, that is. Enough that I am not having the worst time imaginable."

"The words every girl wants to hear."

"What can I say..." His smile turned to a wicked grin and his eyes flashed at her; a look behind them she was beginning to recognize quite well, not to mention covet. "You bring it out in me."

They walked hand in hand through the crowds. There must have been hundreds of people about them but the way they looked at one another, the infatuation that brewed between them equally, made it feel as if they were the only ones there.

A strange notion to Felicity, for just last week, she might have never imagined she could feel such a way. Stranger still that she did not care, unconcerned with the peculiar looks that the two were getting as they walked, the whispers that were surely swirling around them, the curiosity building around what exactly it was that was happening between the two young lovers.

Even Felicity wasn't sure exactly what it was, but rather than question it, for once, she decided to embrace it. Happiness was what she felt, a soaring mood for reasons that went beyond where she was and who she was with. A reason that she could not wait to share...

"So, shall we find your sister and Harry?" the Duke asked as he looked about them through the crowds of lords and ladies who had gathered for a day of races and merriment. "They should be here somewhere."

"Later," Felicity said to him. "There's really no rush."

He frowned as if confused. "Lady Felicity, if I did not know any better, I would swear that you want me all to yourself. Rather selfish of you, if I do say so."

"Now, now," she clicked her tongue. "I am simply trying to perpetuate this courtship, as I told you we must. For the sake of appearances."

"Right..." He nodded as if serious, as if he believed a word she was saying. "For the sake of appearances."

"Why else do you think I agreed to come today?"

"I thought it must have been because you were a fan of horse racing. But now I am suspecting a more sinister motive."

"It is purely a means to an end, I assure you." She winked at him. "To keep my father off my back. My feeling is after today, he will finally accept that you are officially courting me."

"What did he think before?"

"Oh, the same as me. That you were trying to lure me into your bed."

"Who says that I am not?'

"I still assume that you are," she shrugged casually, forcing herself not to laugh. "But now I am onto you, which means it will take a lot more than inviting me to the races to seduce me."

"Any tips you can give me?"

"A drink for one." She indicated toward one of the many tents that had been erected for the day's events. "I am a lot easier to seduce when I have had a few."

"I would never have guessed..." He looked her over, stepping in close, voice dropping. "From my experience, sometimes, a drink isn't even required."

He stood right over her. Close. So close that their bodies touched, that their lips were mere inches apart. Felicity's heart began to pound as her blood warmed and memories from the other day came back to her. She found herself grateful there were so many people about because if there were not... well, she only had so much self-control.

"But it helps." She forced herself to take a step back and raised a warning eyebrow at him. "And in your case, you might need all the help you can get."

He couldn't stop himself from laughing. "Noted." Then he kissed the back of her hand again before letting go. "One drink coming up."

"Something sweet, thank you."

"Are you not sweet enough as it is?"

She rolled her eyes purposefully. "The drink first, then the charm. In that order."

His grin was mischievous, and she was certain he was going to say something else; something dangerous, a little inappropriate for where they were. Most shockingly, he simply took a step back and offered her a short bow. "I will be back in a moment."

"I'll be waiting."

A shared smile between the two. A moment where they held one another's eyes, seeming to come to the same conclusion but neither willing to voice it just yet. It had Felicity's stomach fluttering in a way she was becoming all but used to, similar to the way it sunk when she saw him go because she was already missing him.

Alone now, Felicity wandered toward the rails that surrounded the nearby racetrack. She leaned against it and looked over the course, her mind going to the same place it had been the last few days. A decision was made, one she was now all but sure about, one she would tell His Grace of before the day was through.

That alone had her stomach twisting with nerves, pushed aside when she remembered these last few days, how wonderful they had been, and what they suggested for her future. She and His Grace... who would have guessed?

She had decided to trust him. It really was that simple. Hearing the story of his youth, paired with the real reason he wanted this marriage so desperately, Felicity had decided that her initial assumptions about His Grace were entirely inaccurate. Oh, once, he might have been the rogue rake who seduced women at the drop of a hat and thought nothing of it, but he was different now. Changed.

Did this mean that they had a future together? That their marriage wouldn't just be one of convenience? As things stood, Felicity still wasn't so sure. But she was willing to find out.

And if she felt any worry or even fear over this choice, the possibility that he was still playing her, one look at His Grace bounding across the field toward her, drink in hand, smile wide and eager when he spotted her watching him, dispelled that notion. He was either a very good actor, or he was of the exact same mind as she was.

"Your drink!" he cried as he swept toward her, holding out a glass of dark liquid.

"Oh, you shouldn't have."

"And yet still, I have," he winked as he handed her the glass while taking a sip from his own. "Now, what shall we do." He indicated about them. "We can wait here for the next race to start. We can find your sister and Harry, and have a little fun at their expense. Or we can get thoroughly drunk and see where the day takes us?"

"How about this..." She took a deep sip. "Let's combine the first and last option. A race is about to start, which should give us more than enough time to drink this and a few more. And then, once we are feeling festive, let us track down my sister and Lord Moore and... how did you put it? Have fun at their expense?"

"Sounds like a plan." He took her hand again.

And it did sound like a plan too. A darn good one. A final day spent with His Grace before Felicity made her decision. Only, then she heard a voice call out, which made her skin crawl, her stomach drop, and that fear that she had all but admonished return.

"Your Grace!" It was Beatrice. Again. As if appearing from nowhere, she parted from the crowd and swept toward the two with such enthusiasm that one would think they had asked her to come find them. "What a pleasant surprise."

"Ah, Lady Beatrice," His Grace greeted with her a tight-lipped smile.

"I was hoping I might see you today." Beatrice reached where the two were standing and then, completely ignoring Felicity, held out her hand for His Grace to take. He did not do so right away but an eye raise from Beatrice had him relenting; he took her hand and gave the back of it a soft kiss.

"Are you enjoying yourself today, Your Grace?" Beatrice began, still ignoring Felicity. "It is a perfect day for it, no?"

"We are indeed blessed with this weather."

"And everyone has come out for it." She indicated to the throngs of people about the course. "Truly though, I did not expect you to be one of them."

"Yes, well..." He cleared his throat. "I was convinced."

"I wish you had told me," she tittered. "I might have looked for you sooner. My father was hoping to speak to you, in fact." Her eyes flashed. "Shall I tell him to come and find you? Or perhaps I can take you to him?"

"Really?" There was a change in his tone, one that suggested interest... even curiosity.

"Oh, yes," she said. "I have been telling him all about you. I hope that is all right?"

"I... well, yes. So long as you have been telling him good things only."

"Would I say anything else?"

Felicity eyed the interaction, her stomach twisting and her resolve weakening. She wanted to believe that His Grace was a changed man. She wanted to believe that he had no desires for Beatrice, or any other lady for that matter. But this right here was a reminder of who the man was, his inability to resist the lure of an attractive woman showing him interest.

Or at least that was what she thought.

"Thank you, Lady Beatrice but I am afraid I will have to pass."

"What?"

"What?" Felicity echoed, certain she had misheard.

"Where I appreciate the offer, you should know that..." Still holding Felicity by the hand, he gave it a squeeze. "Lady Felicity and I are currently in courtship and somehow, I do not think she would appreciate the idea of you speaking about me with your father. Regardless of the topic."

"You are?" Beatrice blinked, her face aghast as she finally looked at Felicity. "You are?"

"We are," His Grace confirmed. "And although I do not wish to get ahead of myself, it is going rather well."

Felicity felt her heart soar. All that worry she had been feeling. All that fear. The certainty that His Grace hadn't changed, and she was a fool for thinking otherwise. It faded as if burned away by the sun, as if it had never been. She turned and looked at His Grace, seeing him as if for the first time, as if wondering what had taken her so long.

She was going to wait until after today to tell him the decision she had come to but in the face of what had just happened, she decided that she could not wait.

"It is actually a little more serious than that," she spoke up, squeezing His Grace's hand back so that he looked at her. She smiled for him and he frowned as if he wasn't sure where she was going with this. "Shall I tell her, or should you?"

"Tell her what?" he asked cautiously.

"That we're engaged, of course."

"What?!" Beatrice exclaimed.

"Wh -- what?" His Grace stammered. "We are?"

"Yes, silly." She slapped him on the chest. "To be married before the Season is over. Remember?" She widened her eyes at him.

It took him a second to realize the true meaning of this. To understand that she was announcing an end to the courtship she had insisted upon because now, finally, she was ready to marry him. But when he did come to understand, as it dawned upon him... the smile that took his face was such that it seemed to blot out the sun, for how bright it shone.

"Of course. How silly of me." His hand let go of her, finding its way around her waist as he pulled her in beside him. "Engaged."

"I don't believe it," Beatrice said, mouth hanging open, the look on her face a mix of shock, contempt, and betrayal. "I... I don't --"

"Well, you best believe it," Felicity cut her off. "So please, if you do not mind, I would like some time alone with His Grace. As you can surely imagine, we have so much to discuss not to mention..." She indicated her glass. "To celebrate."

Beatrice did not remain to wish them congratulations. Nor did she look as if she meant to. Lip curled. Eyes filled with fury. She spun on her heel and stormed off, pushing through the crowds until she was gone from sight.

"Are you being serious?" His Grace asked the moment she was gone. He turned on her, his hand still around her waist as if to let go might see her change her mind. "You... you wish to end this courtship?"

"It was only ever meant to be temporary," she shrugged, unable to keep her smile at bay. "And it seems to me that if we are going to wed, we best start telling people. No?"

He couldn't have looked happier. And not just because finally he was getting his way. Not because his plan was finally coming to fruition. He looked happy because it was Felicity whom he was marrying, because he truly wished it and wouldn't want it with anyone else. Or at least that was how she chose to see it.

"I could not agree more." And then, without asking, without waiting for a response, he leaned in and kissed her full on the lips, and she kissed him right back.

Surrounded by hundreds of members of the ton. In broad daylight where there was nowhere to hide. That kiss was an announcement of sorts, one that Felicity was thrilled to share. Was she making a huge mistake? Was she a fool for feeling this way about a man she had despised not two weeks ago? In the moment, with how she was feeling, she didn't think so. Not even a little bit.