showered her with gifts. Almost as if he cared. Almost as if it were a love match.
Could it be true? Was it possible that Quinton had developed feelings for her?
Her heart sped up with the possibility. Standing in this room, surrounded by hundreds of flowers, she could believe it.
Or was he just trying to make up for the situation? Did he feel sorry that she had been forced into the marriage?
Shaking her head, she forced that thought out of her mind. She cared for him. More than she had expected to, and she knew he felt the same.
He had been worried about her last night, and hadn’t been able to rest until he had seen her for himself. That didn’t seem like a man that didn’t care.
Oh, yes. He cared. But how much? Was it just friendship? Lust? Or was it more?
Reaching out, she plucked a red rose from a tall glass vase. Brushing the petals across her cheek, the smooth soft touch sent shivers down her spine. That was how his kiss had felt. Soft and pliant across her skin, but that’s where the similarities ended. His lips were strong, overwhelming. Fire had scorched up her arm. She hadn’t known a kiss could feel that way.
Her hand had been kissed by many gentlemen, but never like that. No, it had never felt quite like that. Lust was definitely involved.
She wanted to see him again, wanted to know more about him. There had to be a way to know for certain that he hadn’t started the rumor, to find hard proof so that she could trust him.
But did she need proof before giving him her trust?
The thought slammed into her. Wasn’t that the point of trust? Believing someone without proof? She wanted to trust him, wanted to believe him at his word.
“Lydia?” Sera called out, hoping her maid lingered nearby.
“Yes, my lady?” she said, coming into the room.
Handing Lydia the red rose, she asked, “Would you mind gathering several more of these and bringing them into my room? I want to wear them in my hair this evening.”
“Oh, my lady, that would be beautiful. I’ve laid out your cream gown for this evening, and these will set off the lacework on the dress beautifully.”
Sera smiled. She couldn’t wait to see Quinton tonight.
***
She had been right to pair the red roses with the cream lace gown. The splash of color in her hair made her lips look redder, her cheeks more pink. She looked young, fresh, almost as if this were her debut into society. But it wasn’t.
Her entrance into the ball that evening was much like she had experienced before the scandal. People stared at her, but not because they wanted a snippet of gossip. Her dance card filled up quickly, only a few empty spots remained for important gentleman that may ask her later that evening.
It was almost as if the scandal had never happened; yet it had. Gentlemen seemed to fawn over her, complimenting her hair and eyes. While she once enjoyed the attention, she felt it rather tedious now. What had changed? Certainly not herself. But then again, maybe she had. She wasn’t looking for a future husband; she already had one. These men knew she was already taken, but they still danced attendance on her.
Women of the aristocracy often took lovers after an heir was produced, but she would never betray her family in that way. No matter how much attention other men gave her, she would be faithful to Quinton.
Where was Aubrey? Shouldn’t she have arrived by now, she thought, her attention pulled away from her admirers.
Scanning the crowded dance floor, she didn’t see her friend amongst the other dancers. In fact, now that she thought of it, she didn’t see Quinton either. Where were they?
“Good evening, Lady Sera.”
Hearing Lord Bromley’s voice, Sera smiled, giving him a deep curtsy. “Good evening, my lord. I hope you are having an enjoyable time thus far.”
“I am, more so now that you have arrived. You look enchanting this evening.” He grinned at her.
“Thank you.”
“I had hoped to claim you for the next dance if you are
Could it be true? Was it possible that Quinton had developed feelings for her?
Her heart sped up with the possibility. Standing in this room, surrounded by hundreds of flowers, she could believe it.
Or was he just trying to make up for the situation? Did he feel sorry that she had been forced into the marriage?
Shaking her head, she forced that thought out of her mind. She cared for him. More than she had expected to, and she knew he felt the same.
He had been worried about her last night, and hadn’t been able to rest until he had seen her for himself. That didn’t seem like a man that didn’t care.
Oh, yes. He cared. But how much? Was it just friendship? Lust? Or was it more?
Reaching out, she plucked a red rose from a tall glass vase. Brushing the petals across her cheek, the smooth soft touch sent shivers down her spine. That was how his kiss had felt. Soft and pliant across her skin, but that’s where the similarities ended. His lips were strong, overwhelming. Fire had scorched up her arm. She hadn’t known a kiss could feel that way.
Her hand had been kissed by many gentlemen, but never like that. No, it had never felt quite like that. Lust was definitely involved.
She wanted to see him again, wanted to know more about him. There had to be a way to know for certain that he hadn’t started the rumor, to find hard proof so that she could trust him.
But did she need proof before giving him her trust?
The thought slammed into her. Wasn’t that the point of trust? Believing someone without proof? She wanted to trust him, wanted to believe him at his word.
“Lydia?” Sera called out, hoping her maid lingered nearby.
“Yes, my lady?” she said, coming into the room.
Handing Lydia the red rose, she asked, “Would you mind gathering several more of these and bringing them into my room? I want to wear them in my hair this evening.”
“Oh, my lady, that would be beautiful. I’ve laid out your cream gown for this evening, and these will set off the lacework on the dress beautifully.”
Sera smiled. She couldn’t wait to see Quinton tonight.
***
She had been right to pair the red roses with the cream lace gown. The splash of color in her hair made her lips look redder, her cheeks more pink. She looked young, fresh, almost as if this were her debut into society. But it wasn’t.
Her entrance into the ball that evening was much like she had experienced before the scandal. People stared at her, but not because they wanted a snippet of gossip. Her dance card filled up quickly, only a few empty spots remained for important gentleman that may ask her later that evening.
It was almost as if the scandal had never happened; yet it had. Gentlemen seemed to fawn over her, complimenting her hair and eyes. While she once enjoyed the attention, she felt it rather tedious now. What had changed? Certainly not herself. But then again, maybe she had. She wasn’t looking for a future husband; she already had one. These men knew she was already taken, but they still danced attendance on her.
Women of the aristocracy often took lovers after an heir was produced, but she would never betray her family in that way. No matter how much attention other men gave her, she would be faithful to Quinton.
Where was Aubrey? Shouldn’t she have arrived by now, she thought, her attention pulled away from her admirers.
Scanning the crowded dance floor, she didn’t see her friend amongst the other dancers. In fact, now that she thought of it, she didn’t see Quinton either. Where were they?
“Good evening, Lady Sera.”
Hearing Lord Bromley’s voice, Sera smiled, giving him a deep curtsy. “Good evening, my lord. I hope you are having an enjoyable time thus far.”
“I am, more so now that you have arrived. You look enchanting this evening.” He grinned at her.
“Thank you.”
“I had hoped to claim you for the next dance if you are
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