Chapter 3

“Tell me, Lady Arabella, do you usually turn so many heads at these gatherings?” the Duke asked, turning to face her once they were on the dance floor.

Arabella could barely suppress her jitters, as she had never danced with a man who had gained her attention much like this duke did.

She tried to keep her hands from shaking in his, but her eyes could not stop admiring how his long, elegant fingers held her gloved ones. Her mouth went dry when she noticed one of the tendons in his fingers flex.

As they spun on the dance floor, more heads turned to look at them, and whispers arose around them. Arabella wondered about their continued attention but said nothing.

Her cheeks reddened when she remembered he’d asked her a question, and she smiled.

“Your Grace, surely you are not insinuating that I am the one drawing the attention? From what I remember, you don’t often come to events such as this.”

She wanted to clap a hand over her mouth at how plainly she’d spoken.

The Duke raised an eyebrow but laughed humorously. “While you may be right about that last part, I do not think I am the one attracting all of the attention from the gentlemen here tonight,” he answered with a small yet playful grin.

Arabella’s heart skipped a beat. His smile was so attractive, his teeth shining white, and his lips full and teasing. She wondered briefly if they’d be as soft as hers. She noticed a light dusting of hair on his upper lip and tried to imagine him with a mustache.

Looking at him was most intoxicating-the more she looked, the more she was lost.

She heard him laugh and realized he’d been talking to her, but she’d been too distracted again.

“Pardon me, Your Grace.” She flushed. “I usually pay more attention.”

He smiled slowly.

“It is all right.” He nodded. “I’ve been told I’m very distracting company.”

She quirked an eyebrow at his arrogance. “Far from it,” she teased. “Who is to say I don’t have a lover on my mind?”

“You do not look the type to entertain lovers.”

She tried for a flirtatious grin, wanting to hide how her cheeks reddened at that last word. “Do not underestimate me, Your Grace,” she warned playfully. “There are a lot of things you do not know about me.”

He laughed loud and long, drawing the attention of the people around them. When he calmed, he spun her in a move that made her dizzy as the musicians played a lively tune.

“To be rather honest, Your Grace, I am somewhat relieved that you asked me to dance,” Arabella admitted, looking over his shoulder at the older gentlemen looking longingly at her.

“Why is that?” the Duke asked, his eyes on her.

“While I love my brother, I find tonight’s turnout a little grim,” she said, glancing around, looking anywhere except at him.

He let out a hearty chuckle again. “I am amazed by your ability to make me laugh, My Lady. I find that I have had little reason to before tonight.” He smiled. “Indeed, Lord Thorne had mentioned that you were not fond of tonight’s—oh, what did he call it? Right. Options.”

“I fear he may be correct.”

Talking to the Duke was a lot easier for Arabella than she had imagined it would be. She had imagined that he would be stiff, much like a lot of the other men of the ton. But she had never been happier to be proven wrong.

“Tell me, does that still ring true now?” he asked, twirling her around once. “Do you still find all of your options grim?”

“I guess that will depend on how I feel by the end of tonight,” she replied, not quite sure where her sudden bout of courage came from.

The two danced in companionable silence for the next half minute or so, simply enjoying each other’s company. Edward was the first to speak up.

“To be rather honest with you, I was not looking forward to attending tonight’s party,” he admitted. “But as it is, I find I’m sufficiently entertained.”

Arabella looked up at him quizzically, not wondering why he hadn’t wanted to attend, but rather why he came. Her family’s standing in Society was way beneath his, so he wasn’t obligated to attend the party. Unless…

Arabella remembered the rumors surrounding him and the warning her sister and the maid had given her.

She didn’t dare repeat the rumor to his face, but her expression said it all.

“Enlighten me, Your Grace,” she demanded despite herself.

“Your company has proven most enjoyable.” He nodded. “I’d like to ask for a continual arrangement between us.”

Her eyebrows rose to her hairline. Was he asking for…?

“I apologize if I have misspoken,” he added. “I only wish to have the pleasure of your company if I have to attend any more torrid affairs.”

“Are you calling our ball a torrid affair?”

He rolled his eyes at her. “You’re absolutely incorrigible.”

“You wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”

“I truly wouldn’t.” He laughed.

They shared a small laugh and went to refresh themselves with some punch, finishing their drinks in time for the next dance.

She knew it wasn’t proper to dance so many dances with him when he wasn’t courting her, but she didn’t care much. This was the most fun she’d had in a while, and she didn’t know how long it would last.

“I’m still curious as to why you attended though, Your Grace,” she teased. “Surely it was not to come and ask me to dance.”

The Duke allowed a small smile to grace his lips. “I felt it rude to not attend. I am not one for parties, but I do enjoy an occasional night out. I figured tonight might be a good night to do such.”

“Do you regret attending?” she asked, subtly trying to gauge how he felt about dancing with her.

“I do not think I do now,” he said, his blue eyes boring into hers.

He has to be one of the most elegant men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

“I think I, too, am enjoying it a lot more now,” she relented, trying her absolute best to attempt any semblance of flirting.

As Arabella looked into his eyes, she felt his hand slowly trail down her arm and gently wrap around her waist, pulling her ever so closer to him. She could barely contain the heat emanating from her cheeks due to her racing heart.

What was this man doing to her? If only Sarah could read her thoughts, she would laugh at the irony of the night’s events.

“I do not think I have had the pleasure of ever dancing with a woman as captivating as you,” he suddenly said, taking her by complete surprise. “You’re not only beautiful, but you have a sharp wit and charm that keeps me engaged.”

I wonder if he desires the same as me.

“Oh, Your Grace, surely a rake like you says that to every lady he meets.” She suddenly realized what she had said and who she had said it to. Her smile dropped, and she froze. “Your Grace, I apologize. I did not mean for that to come out the way it did.”

The Duke had cocked an eyebrow, the same mischievous glint in his eyes. “Like I told your brother earlier, Lady Arabella, I do enjoy a lady with a good sense of humor.”

The Duke of Soulden sure was a gentleman who knew his way with words. The way he could speak a simple sentence and somehow make Arabella lose her breath for a second was a feat no man could ever achieve.

“I am glad you find my company enjoyable,” she said, stepping back and curtseying as the song ended.

That’s when the Duke said something that took her a moment to process. “Perhaps you may find it even more enjoyable if we were to continue our conversation in private.”

“In private?” Arabella asked, breathless.

What exactly was he asking her?

“Do not take me seriously, Lady Arabella.” He laughed. “I was merely jesting. That was an improper joke. I would not dare to jeopardize the reputation of a woman of your standing with such words.”

But Arabella didn’t care. She wanted to know what he meant by that. Where would she follow him?

“It seems tonight’s party may be coming to an end soon. It was lovely talking and dancing with you, Lady Arabella. I must go find Lord Thorne and thank him for his hospitality,” he added, bowing his head again and bringing her gloved hand up to his mouth to press another tender kiss to it.

He left her with a longing look that she interpreted as an invitation.

He’d said he was jesting, but his eyes had said otherwise.

“Ara,” she heard Sarah call from a few feet beside her.

Arabella hadn’t noticed her sister’s presence, as she had been watching the Duke walk away from her, her eyes focused on how his broad shoulders flexed beneath his jacket and how he towered over most of the guests and how his hands… oh, how his hands held her.

“How was your dance, Sister?” Sarah asked with a knowing smirk.

“It was absolutely divine.” Arabella sighed whimsically, her gaze focused on his back.

Sarah laughed at her sister’s obvious infatuation. “Richard and I are going to retire for the night. Will you accompany us on the walk to our rooms?”

“Sure,” Arabella said, finally averting her gaze from the Duke of Soulden.

The three of them walked over to Leonard and bid him a good night. Sarah asked where their rooms would be.

“Arabella can take you. I’ll send her handmaid after her to escort her back,” he replied, craning his neck to try and find one of the family’s longest-serving servants. “Ara, you remember their room in the eastern hall. That reminds me. The Duke of Soulden had asked me earlier where his room would be. I do hope he found it easily.”

Arabella’s ears perked up at the mention of the Duke. She tried to hide her excitement at the thought that she might bump into him near his rooms and led her sister and brother-in-law to their room in a nearly dazed state.

Her head was still spinning from his smooth words and dashing, good looks. It was almost as if the universe had witnessed her dilemma and decided to tease her.

When they entered the wing that Sarah and Richard would be staying in, Arabella decided to put the thought out of her mind. She noticed several meters ahead a familiar figure being escorted by a footman. Of course, it was the Duke.

Knowing where his room was both excited and scared her in equal measure as her plan was starting to take shape in her mind.

“Thank you for showing me where I’ll be staying, Robert, but I fear I may have left my handkerchief somewhere in the parlor. I think I will go back and retrieve it,” she overheard the Duke tell the footman.

“Of course, Your Grace. I will escort you back,” Robert offered, moving out of the way.

“No need, my good man. I have an exquisite memory, and I should be able to find my way back,” the Duke assured him.

It was at this point that he noticed Arabella standing a mere fifteen feet away from him. His smoldering eyes roamed over her body, making her flush.

Seriously, what was this man doing to her?

“If you insist, Your Grace. I will be at your disposal during your stay,” Robert answered, before bowing and swiftly leaving to head back to the parlor.

“Thank you,” the Duke called after him.

As he passed her, Arabella found herself facing a small dilemma. Would she seem desperate if she followed him back?

“Sister, this is your room,” she announced as she stepped in front of their door, unlocking it.

“All right.” Sarah yawned. “Have a good night.”

“Good night, Sister.”

As she turned to head back, Arabella wondered if she should go to the parlor or her room, but as she turned down the hall, she spotted the Duke walking at a leisurely pace. She wondered after a long moment if he’d been waiting for her.

She entered the parlor not long after him. Arabella watched him make his way to the hors d’oeuvres table. Rather than look for his missing handkerchief, she noticed that he turned around and faced the dancing crowd, his eyes searching.

Is he looking for me?

When his eyes landed on her, he froze and so did she. He had been looking for her, waiting for her to follow him. So, she indulged.

She made her way over to him, determination being the factor that held her back from greeting the ladies and gentlemen she passed. She noticed the cocky grin tugging at his lips.

What was she doing? This was no way a lady and a man should have mingled.

“Are you following me, Lady Arabella?” he asked as she approached, her heart already racing a mile a minute.

She really liked how her name sounded on his lips. She wondered if he would say it again. She would’ve liked that.

“Would you be afraid if I was?” she asked, her voice sounding small. But her words had the desired effect.

She looked into his eyes and noticed his pupils dilate slightly at her jest. Arabella couldn’t lie, she enjoyed bantering back and forth with the Duke.

“I can return to the watchful eyes of my brother if you’d like,” she teased, looking around and wondering where Leo had gone.

“I believe that would be the last thing I want,” the Duke said, his voice hoarse. With what, she could not tell.

Arabella took a cautious step towards him, her arms daintily folded behind her back and her cheeks red. “What do you want?”

The Duke sucked his bottom lip between his teeth. Something about the action drew her attention to his mouth. It was… nice. He had plump, red lips that made goosebumps spread across her arms when she thought about them for too long. She wanted to touch them, to put her lips on his. Would that do anything?

“I am afraid what I want would destroy any sense of innocence you have, my fair lady,” he warned, licking his bottom lip.

Something told Arabella that what he had just said was laced with a burning… want. She didn’t even know what that want entailed, but she wanted to wrap herself in it.

“So, you are afraid,” she said, her voice a lot lower than she had ever heard it before.

She hadn’t noticed until now, but she was only a couple of inches away from the Duke, his tall frame towering over her. His blue eyes were hooded, and his breathing was ragged.

“I think I should retire for the evening. Will you follow me to my chamber, then?” he asked teasingly. He was breathing harshly through his nose.

“What is in your chamber, Your Grace?” She giggled at the idea, wondering what could possibly be there. “Shall I call for my brother to chaperone me?”

“No,” he said suddenly, startling her slightly. “No, you must follow me alone.”

He was being serious.

This excited Arabella. She enjoyed breaking the rules here and there, and it had been a while since she had dipped her toe into the rebellious pool.

She looked him in his eye and nodded with a sheepish smile.

“Wait a minute after I leave before coming to me,” he instructed, his stature a lot broader.

Had he squared his shoulders? Now that she looked at him, he seemed more domineering than before.

And it excited her for some reason.

“All right,” she murmured, not watching as he walked right past her and presumably back to his room.

The minute of waiting went by agonizingly slowly. She counted down the seconds and tried to appear as if she was eyeing the sweets that remained on the table. When she reached number fifty, she decided enough time had passed. She was too eager to wait any longer.

She made sure she was careful and as inconspicuous as possible, not wanting to draw attention to her second departure for the evening. Counting her blessings, she thanked God that she had not run into Leo. How would she have explained this?

When she entered the guest hall, she saw the Duke of Soulden leaning against his guest chamber door. Something about the way he stood there, almost looking like he did not care about how he looked to others, made a familiar spark light up in Arabella’s heart. He must have been a fan of subtle rebellion as well.

His eyes lit up when he watched her make her way over to him as gracefully as she could.

“You actually followed,” he said in awe.

“I saw it as a challenge.” She shrugged. “And you must know, Your Grace, I am never one to back down from a challenge.”

For the first time, his cheeks flushed. They stayed red as his eyes roamed over her face. She wondered what she looked like to him. Was she beautiful? He was making her feel so.

“I do not think I’ve ever met someone quite like you, Lady Arabella. You intrigue me,” he admitted, his hand tentatively opening the door to his chambers.

Suddenly, Arabella felt a tad overwhelmed and nervous. Being alone with the Duke could potentially have dire consequences if they were caught. But her curiosity was too strong. She wanted to experience a night of passion she had only heard whispers of. She wanted to ask him about one.

“Your Grace,” she piped up.

“Yes, my lady?” he questioned, his fingers pausing on the doorknob.

Ara looked around, ensuring no one was standing nearby.

“This may seem rather sudden and… rather inappropriate, but please do not think poorly of me,” she stammered out.

The Duke simply smiled at her stuttering, seemingly endeared by it. “What is it?” he asked.

“Will you…” She let out a slow breath. “Will you allow me a single night of passion?”

The tense and shocked expression on his face elicited a soft giggle from her lips, but she swiftly sobered up and stilled.

Oh God, what had she just asked of this gentleman she had only just met? She had always dreamed of being brave enough to challenge a social norm like this one, but she had never imagined the aftermath. Here it was.

“Oh, my dear God, I am so sorry to—” Arabella began, panic overtaking her quicker than she could comprehend.

But she was interrupted by the Duke quickly pulling her away from his door and down the back half of the guest hall. The part of the hall that was unoccupied. The part that was unlit and devoid of servants, as there was no one to tend to.

“Where are you going?” she asked, wondering what he was planning to do.

The Duke jiggled a doorknob of one of the unoccupied rooms and found it unlocked. He pushed the door open and gently ushered her inside.

“What on earth are you doing?” Arabella asked, throwing etiquette out the door. Then she added, “Your Grace.”

The Duke walked up to her and stared down at her with a heat she had never seen before. He lifted his right hand and ran a tender fingertip down her arm, making goosebumps spread all over her body, so much so that it became uncomfortable yet intoxicating.

“Do you even know what you just asked of me?” he asked, growling almost, his voice deeper and huskier.

“Well, I?—”

“I don’t think you do,” he continued, the hand on her arm now resting firmly on her hip.

I don’t think I do.

The Duke’s left hand reached up and tilted her chin so she was looking him in the eye. He was impossibly close. So close that Arabella could feel his breath tickle her lips.

He’s so tall and… intense.

“Because if you did, you would not have asked so innocently,” he growled this time.

Both his grip on her hip and chin became firmer, her body more in his command. Arabella’s heart was beating so hard and loud that she wondered if he could hear it.

“You’re breathing so fast,” he murmured, his eyes darting down to her heaving chest. “Are you nervous?”

“What do I have to be nervous about, Your Grace?” she asked, her doe eyes searching for an answer in his.

When his lips hovered a hair”s breadth from hers, her brain began to fizzle in and out. What was this feeling? She felt a weird mix of anxiety and burning desire coursing through her, making her knees wobble.

“If I had it my way, you wouldn’t be nervous. You’d be excited,” he answered, cocking an eyebrow as his gaze traveled back up to her eyes.

Arabella took a deep breath as quietly as she could and said, “I do not recall saying I was nervous, Your Grace.”

“Are you excited, then?” he purred.

He was standing so close to her that his words sent vibrations through her chest.

He leaned closer, and she forgot to breathe. She closed her eyes and tried to remember how to breathe.

She felt his breath near her mouth and knew that it was only a very small distance that separated them. If she leaned forward, she’d be tasting his lips.

Her heart was pounding loudly now, and the only thing her mind registered was the heat coming off him in waves.

Before either one of them could move further, the small, squeaky voice of the estate’s biggest gossip piped up, “My lady?”