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Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

J enny sighed into her cup of punch, feeling the liquid bubble and tickle her lips. It was only a matter of time before Harry would come find her.

Harry. Saying his Christian name didn't give her the same thrill as saying David's name. She grimaced as her stomach churned.

David.

In fairness to Harry, saying or even just thinking David's name no longer gave her a thrill. Instead, it exposed the large gaping hole in her heart. Instinctively, Jenny brought up a hand to rub the soreness in her chest.

Just then, one of the objects of her thoughts appeared at her side.

"There you are. I was starting to worry." Harry looked down at her with bright blue eyes.

Jenny managed a polite smile, which was all she had been able to offer him since that night two weeks ago. Either he wasn't picking up on her melancholy or he didn't care. She couldn't decide if she cared enough to be offended one way or the other.

She placed her punch glass down and played with the ribbon from her reticule.

"I was just speaking with the Earl, and he said that Lady Staunton is thinking of having another ball to end the Season. He asked if we would be in attendance."

Jenny swallowed. In the ton's eyes, the two of them were officially courting. In her eyes, they were going through the motions. Well, at least she was.

"It sounds like it would be a lovely time." She cringed. Even her voice sounded dull.

"Would you care to dance?"

Jenny nodded and took his hand as he led her to the dance floor.

Over the last few weeks, she had danced with him countless times, and each time she hoped this would be the time when she would feel something. Unfortunately for her, no such feelings ever came.

His arm wrapped around her waist and held her closer than would normally be acceptable. However, since the ton was under the impression they were on the road to matrimony, no one looked scandalized by his action.

She tilted her head up to take in his expression. She knew he was older than her, and most likely even David, yet there was a hopeful look in his eyes that gave him a boyish charm.

An uncomfortable feeling settled in her stomach. He was doing everything right by her—he courted her properly, brought her flowers, asked after her family, and even cooed over her nephew. He took her on walks and listened to her stories, and all the while, she was still pining over someone who no longer wanted her. If he ever did.

Jenny swallowed her pride. Every meeting between her and Harry, she promised herself she would give him her full attention and forget the man who broke her heart. She should honor the man she was with. A man who truly wanted her and wasn't afraid to show it.

Wasn't that what every woman wanted?

For the first time in weeks, she felt her smile reach her eyes.

Harry's eyes widened. "May I say, Miss Bennett, how ravishing you look when you smile?"

Jenny felt a slight blush bloom on her cheeks. "Not tonight," she said with a laugh.

Just as the heaviness surrounding her heart began to dissipate, she felt a dark presence descend over her. The feeling of being watched enveloped her, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up.

She closed her eyes, silently wishing it was just her imagination. She pushed the narrative that it was just her and Harry dancing. She tried convincing herself there wasn't a tall, brooding duke standing in a corner somewhere, staring at them.

"Is everything alright, Jenny?"

She opened her eyes at the concern in Harry's voice. She nodded quickly. "I am, Your Grace. I must say, your dancing skills have improved from just adequate."

Harry beamed. "It's all a credit to my dance partner, I assure you." His eyes darkened with his words.

Jenny knew that look. She knew how to flirt, thanks to David, but whenever Harry's body language or words became suggestive, she always found a way to change the subject.

However, after her little pep talk about fully committing to the relationship, she knew she had to play the game.

She tilted her head coyly and fluttered her eyelashes. "I wonder what else I can help with?"

Harry's eyes went wide with shock.

Jenny's cheeks reddened with embarrassment.

Oh goodness, that sounded horrible.

Harry barked out a laugh that had her embarrassment reach a whole new level. She felt herself pulling away from him.

"Oh, Miss Bennett, what has gotten into you?" he said with a smile.

Jenny just shrugged, not understanding what was so funny. Sure, what she said may have been a bit forward, but she was new to this. New to him .

"We shall have a wonderful life together with your sense of humor." He leaned in to whisper in her ear, "However, we must be careful. We don't need to rush anything now, do we?"

Jenny let a smile settle on her lips. Of course, he was the perfect gentleman. He made sure there was always a chaperone present, he said the right things, and he never let either one of them get carried away. Not that they had to worry about her. Apparently, they didn't have to worry about him either.

Harry continued to twirl them around the dance floor when her eyes landed on the bottle green ones that had been haunting her dreams. The dance pattern changed, and she was thankful when she lost sight of David.

Harry was prattling on about some sort of goose hunt happening in a few days, but Jenny couldn't concentrate. Every move they made, she felt those eyes on her. She knew David was watching every one of her movements as if she were his target in a hunt.

The song ended, and everyone clapped.

"Shall we go again? I could dance with you all night, Miss Bennett."

Jenny scrunched up her nose. "I think I need some air. I feel it is too warm in here all of a sudden."

"Do you need any assistance?" Harry reached a hand out to her arm. He looked genuinely concerned for her health.

She patted his hand. "No, thank you. I shall be fine. Plus, I think the Earl is headed your way. I'm sure he wants to talk about your upcoming hunt."

Harry sighed, taking her in, uncertain if he should let her go.

Jenny nudged him towards the Earl. "Go, I'll be fine. Once I get some fresh air, I will be right as rain. I promise."

Harry nodded and gave a slight bow. "I will find you after I speak with the Earl."

Jenny tilted her head in acknowledgment and made her way out to the garden.

The cool night breeze felt good on her hot cheeks. The truth was, the air in the ballroom was a bit stuffy. She really did need the fresh air. She had come out here for that, not to get away from a certain man's stare.

At least that was what she told herself.

She found a bench not too far from the garden's entrance and the door to the ballroom. The light from the room reached just beyond the bench, allowing her to take in some of the elegant array of flowers around her.

"Why must I always find you in a darkened area by yourself?"

That voice. The voice that visited her in her dreams was directly behind her.

Jenny sighed deeply and looked straight ahead, refusing to turn around. "No one asked you to come outside. If you don't want to find people in places, stop going places."

His low chuckle slid over her skin like silk, making goosebumps rise on her arms.

It's just a cool night, she told herself as she rubbed her arms to ward off the chill.

"I see you still speak your mind."

"I see you're still being obtuse and insufferable."

Why must he stand behind her, towering over her? Her heart and mind were warring with each other. Not seeing him was wreaking havoc on her nerves, but seeing him would send her into a spiral of pain.

Unfortunately for her, he took matters into his own hands and finally walked around the bench and sat next to her.

Neither of them looked at each other, each staring into the darkened garden in front of them. The tension between them was palpable, causing her heart to beat wildly in her chest.

"I hear congratulations are in order." His voice was low and gruff, devoid of emotion.

Jenny sat taller. "Yes, I suppose so. Thank you." She dropped her eyes to her balled fists in her lap.

David stood up abruptly, startling her. He stomped towards the darkened garden only to spin back around. "You're truly going to marry him?"

Jenny swallowed. She could only nod her head, afraid she'd say something they'd both regret if she opened her mouth.

David ran a hand through his hair and then put his hands on his hips, staring back at her.

"Wh—why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like. What?" he gritted out.

"Like you're either going to eat me or attack me." Her voice was so low she wasn't sure he heard her.

She watched as his throat worked and his jaw ticked. His dark eyes bored into her soul, and she felt as if he could read her every insecurity, every secret. She shifted in her seat, unable to shake off the intensity of his stare.

Finally, she had enough. She rose from the bench.

"Fine. Don't answer." She looked up at the night sky, raising her hands in question. "I don't know why I keep expecting anything different from you. You do as you wish when you wish it, leaving me to scurry around, picking up little tidbits of information and trying to put them together to understand just a small part of you," she huffed and marched right up to him.

"Well, as you pointed out, I have a future now, and I no longer have to sit around, waiting for the Duke of Marlow to grace me with a nod or conversation. I have someone who wants me, who acknowledges me."

Her tears threatened to fall, but she pushed through, using the ache in her chest as fuel. Without thinking, she brought her hands up and pushed him. To their surprise, David staggered back a few steps.

"He doesn't play with my emotions," she cried. Her tears spilled over—she couldn't stop them.

She wanted the tears. Let him see what he had done to her. She wanted to finally say all the things that she had bottled up inside of her to finally free herself from the pain she'd lived with for the past few weeks.

"He doesn't say one thing and then do another. He doesn't make me feel one way only to turn around and hurt me in the next breath."

He doesn't make me feel anything.

Jenny pushed that thought aside. Her sobs began to die down.

"He is the perfect match for me," she whispered.

She had hoped to hurt David like she was hurting, but he stood there, unmoved.

The fight quickly left her body. Her arms now hung limp at her sides. Her words surprised her—she hadn't realized how much this was eating away at her.

"Why?" Her voice cracked. "Why? Just tell me why. Why did you dismiss me? Why did you push me away? Am I not good enough for you? Is it because of my background? My personality? My looks?"

She searched his eyes. She wanted to believe there was pain in them, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. David continued to look down at her, his body rigid and still. Even with the anger, frustration, and hurt, she wouldn't be able to push him now.

Where was the man who would banter with her, who would challenge her until she finally saw the strength she had within herself?

Now he was a stranger to her. He had made it clear that there was nothing between them but a friendly rapport, that he had enjoyed her company but their time had come to an end.

"Please help me understand, David. For as confusing as you are, I always felt comfortable with you. Even if I was lost in your moods, I found myself. I was able to be myself with you. I need to know why you pushed me away."

Silence hung between them. Her eyes pleaded with his.

Please, just give me something.

David cleared his throat and tilted his head. "I must bid you goodnight, Miss Bennett."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked out of the garden, leaving her staring at his retreating back once again.

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