Chapter Fourteen

"I think that would work marvellously well."

Lillian smiled as the Duke ducked his head and wrote some more down upon a piece of paper, taking all of her ideas and thoughts and accepting every single one without hesitation.

"This event will certainly be very different to those that the ton have held in the past," Dinah murmured, having not yet taken her leave from the study even though both Lillian and the Duke, she presumed, wished that she would so they might have even a few minutes alone. "Do you think that those you invite will attend?"

Lillian watched as the Duke shrugged, clearly not at all concerned. "If they do not, then that does not concern me in the least. However, I think that there will be many who will attend for, given that the rumours calling me the Mad Duke have continued to swirl, there will be both interest and curiosity about what it is that I intend to do at this event! Therefore, some will come because they wish to see what it is that I will do but some will attend simply because they do enjoy literary things."

"And no doubt the ton will whisper about your event thereafter," Dinah pointed out but again, the Duke smiled and shrugged.

"The ton whisper about every event," Lillian put in, gently. "It is not something that I find favourable but it is something which occurs regularly. Whether it be a ball or a soiree or even the fashionable hour, the beau monde will always find something to speak about whether it be good or bad."

"I suppose that is true." Dinah sighed and shook her head. "Would that it were not so. Harry was saying… " She stopped and then, her gaze darting from Lillian to the Duke, flushed bright red, though Lillian smiled warmly. Clearly Lady Dinah and Lillian's brother were becoming very closely acquainted!

"You are referring to Lord Weatherly?"

"I am, of course." Dinah cleared her throat and then rose, making for the door. "I think I shall go and enquire as to whether another tea tray might be sent up to us."

Lillian gestured to the bell. "You could simply pull the bell."

"But there are some honey cakes that the cook made recently and I should very much like to have some. Do excuse me. I will not be too long."

Lillian smiled as her friend quit the room, though the moment that Lady Dinah stepped out, a swell of anticipation and excitement rose within her. She dropped her gaze for a moment and then turned her attention back to the Duke who was now standing very quietly indeed. His eyes were fixed to hers, his hand frozen in place as he held the quill, his other hand planted flat on the desk. Lillian took in a shuddering breath, pressing her lips together as she waited for him to say something, to do something.

"It seems that my cousin has granted us the time I so eagerly desired," the Duke murmured, setting his quill down and coming around from behind his desk, just as Lillian herself got to her feet, though she did not know why she stood. "The literary event is going to go marvellously well, I am sure, though that is only thanks to you."

Lillian shook her head. "No, it was not only my thoughts that helped plan this literary event. Both Lady Dinah and yourself –"

"You inspire me, Lillian." The Duke spoke in a low, steady voice, coming to a stop only a step away from her and, as Lillian looked up at him, she forgot everything that she had wanted to say. "From our very first moment of meeting, I was astonished by your intellect, by your quick thinking and by your beauty. I confess that my interest in you and my desire to spend more time with you grew all the more. I will also confess that I found myself rather astonished at how fiercely that interest grew, to the point that, in seeing that I had no choice but to spend time with Lady Vivianne, I realised that my heart was filled with an affection for you. An affection which, Lady Lillian, has grown significantly with every word, every look, every moment I spent in your company." A tenderness came into his eyes and Lillian pressed her lips together lightly, trying to contain the happiness which was flowing all through her, making her want to exclaim aloud and express her own affection. "Lillian, I want you to know that my only desire is for you. You are so different in character and in emotion to any other young lady of my acquaintance, for there is a depth to you that I have found in no other. I want nothing more than to court you, with my intentions going forward straight and determined." There came a slight huskiness to his voice and Lillian closed her eyes for a moment, a tingling running through her frame. "Be assured that my hope of courting you remains as strong as ever and that I fully intend to end my courtship with Lady Vivianne within a few days."

"A few days?" Hope surged through her and Lillian took a step closer to the Duke, seeing the gentleness of his smile. "Truly?"

"Truly." His hand reached out to catch hers, his thumb skimming lightly across the back of her hand. "I have not told her of this as yet, of course."

"But what shall you say?"

He shrugged. "I might say that the rumour about the Mad Duke was too severe and that I did not think it fair for Lady Vivianne to endure such a thing." A quirk caught the edge of his lips. "Though that might then not reflect well should I court you very soon thereafter!"

"I care very little for what the ton thinks," Lillian answered, quickly. "Do not withdraw from me for fear of that."

The Duke lowered his head just a little and Lillian trembled at the sudden heat in his eyes – and the curl of warmth in her stomach. "I do not want to withdraw from you, not even a little," he murmured, shifting his feet so that he came even closer to her. "That would bring me nothing but pain and believe me, what I have had to endure thus far in stepping back from you is not something that I wish to prolong."

Lillian swallowed hard, the Duke's breath brushing across her cheek as he lowered his head a little more. "I did not know what you would think of me when I stepped out of the carriage in order to assist you," she said, her voice a little hoarse as emotion swirled through her. "But to know that you not only did not turn from me because of my bluestocking ways but also that you value my skills and interests means more to me than I think I can express. I was afraid that any gentleman I met would reject the desire within me to learn as much as I can. I was sure that they would push aside my love of mathematics… and then, I met you."

The edge of the Duke's mouth tipped upwards. "Any gentleman who rejected you because of that would be a fool," he whispered, his other hand lifting and settling lightly on her shoulder as, emboldened by his nearness, lifted her hand to settle gently against his heart, her fingers reaching up towards his shoulder. "And I, Lady Lillian, am no fool."

His head lowered a little more but then stopped, his eyes searching hers – and Lillian realised that he was waiting for her to fill the space between them. He was being respectful enough towards her to let her be the one to decide whether or not this was something she desired and would not force his lips upon hers. Her heart swelled with an even greater affection for him, loving that the sweetness of his nature showed her both respect and consideration. Her desire for him grew and she tilted her head back a little more and, after a moment, after a quick breath, lifted herself so she stood on her tiptoes, and, in doing so, closed the distance between them.

It was like fire and ice at the very same time. She shivered violently, only for heat to sweep through her as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer to him. Their kiss was soft and gentle, speaking of his tenderness for her, of his willingness to hold himself back just so she would not be overwhelmed. Her hand pressed against his chest, the other at his shoulder before sweeping both arms up and around his neck, her fingers brushing through his hair – and the Duke groaned lightly.

Jolted in surprise, Lillian broke the kiss, leaning back so that her hands went again to his shoulders. Had she done something wrong? Was he now filled with regret at kissing her and that was why he had made that sound?

The Duke blinked rapidly, then smiled. "If you wish, I can release you," he murmured, his arms still about her waist, "though I pray that you do not desire it."

"I… I was afraid that… " Struggling to find the words, Lillian closed her eyes again. "I thought you were upset or that there had been some difficulty in what we shared." When she dared to peek at him again, the Duke was grinning broadly, his eyes twinkling and, despite her own concerns, Lillian smiled back at him.

"My dear lady, it was only from sheer ecstasy, I assure you." Taking one hand from her waist, he rested it against her cheek for a moment or two. "To have you in my arms and to have such a tenderness shared between us is the most wonderful thing I have ever experienced. Though I wish very much that I was courting you rather than keeping up this fa?ade with Lady Vivianne!" His smile grew a little sorrowful. "But it will not be long."

"And I can wait," Lillian promised, as his hand fell to her side, only to grasp her fingers and thread his own through hers. "Knowing that there is this bond between us means that I am well able to endure another short while until we can finally court."

"That is good." The Duke closed his eyes and let out a sigh of frustration, just as Lillian heard the sound of footsteps coming back along the hallway. "Though it seems that we are not to have any further time together, Lady Lillian, not for the moment, at least."

Lillian smiled, aware of the heat in her cheeks, before she stepped back from him and made her way to the opposite side of the room – and it was just in time, for Lady Dinah appeared just as Lillian sat down, her face wreathed in smiles.

"The cook has not only made honey cakes, but three others of my very favourite cakes," she said, beaming at Lillian who was struggling to look anywhere but the Duke. "They will send a tea tray in a moment." With a satisfied sigh, Lady Dinah sat down opposite Lillian and then looked up at her cousin. "Have you made any further plans for the literary event?"

The Duke chuckled and Lillian ducked her head, blushing furiously. "We have made some plans, certainly," he said, as a tiny smile crept across Lillian's face, hearing the promise in his words. "And I hope that they will come to fruition very soon indeed."