by Dawn Brower
“Sofia!” Brianne said a little shock in her voice.
“Don’t tell me you weren’t thinking it,” Sofia Leone said as she met Brianne’s gaze. “You would have to. Don’t deny it.”
“Still,” Brianne Kendall, the Duchess of Weston said. “We’re not supposed to talk about such things. What if we’d had company?”
Aletha covered her mouth with her hand in an attempt to cover up the laugher about to bubble out of her. She so adored these ladies. They were her people and she wanted to claim them forever. She needed more ladies like them in her life. It was too bad that she’d leave England and never see any of them again. Even Victoria… She’d be the closest but her and William would make their home at Lilimar. Sadness filled her at the idea of leaving these wonderful ladies behind.
Lady Emilia St. John rolled her eyes. “You’re being a tad dramatic. No one will visit today. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Everyone is either traveling to where they’ll spend Christmas or already where they’ll spend the rest of the holiday.” She brushed a stray blonde lock behind her ear. Her pale pink gown gave her a delicate appearance. “There’s a bigger chance the subject of our conversation stops in during the middle of our discussion than someone from the ton to visit us.”
“We are being rather rude,” Victoria Grant, William’s fiancée said as she turned her attention toward Aletha. “We aren’t making you uncomfortable are we?” she asked her. “This is your brother we’re verbally attacking.”
“Not to be confused with what Gabrielle has already done,” Angeline interjected as she picked up a scone off the platter on the table. “She actually physically attacked him.”
“And I commend her for it,” Aletha said with conviction. “He’s had it coming for a very long time. I only wish someone had done it sooner.”
Brianne shook her head slowly. “You poor, poor thing. Are all the men in your family like him? Perhaps you should relocate. Have you ever considered moving to England?”
Only every day since she’d arrived at Weston House and met the rest of the family. Gabrielle and Sofia were wonderful. She adored Rafe’s sisters and wished she could claim them. Aletha had always wanted a sister. Rafe was lucky to have them. If she married him she could have them too… She shook that thought away. Rafe wasn’t for her and never would be. Aletha didn’t really want to marry. At least not just to claim his family as her own. She wanted love and all that went with that. Rafe was a dream and one she was probably putting on a pedestal. Surely he couldn’t be as perfect as she believed him to be. There had to be some flaw there. When she found it she would be glad that she hadn’t fallen completely in love with him.
Who was she kidding?
She was already completely smitten with him. Otherwise she wouldn’t have even considered the idea of being his wife. The problem was there was no way to achieve that particular dream. She had to give up on that idea and live the life she’d been given. That, unfortunately, came with a family of males who believed them much better than the females amongst them.
“It would be lovely to move to England, but it’s not possible.” Aletha smiled softly.
“That’s too bad,” Brianne said. “I could use an American compatriot around. I get stared at far too often once they realize I wasn’t born here.”
“But your half English,” Aletha said.
“Doesn’t matter,” she said. “The half that isn’t makes me undesirable. I think its more because I’m a duchess. As if that title ever mattered to me. It’s the man I fell in love with and it was before he gained that nuisance.”
“Quit whining,” Angelique said. “It is not a good look on you cousin.”
“You’re only saying that because you’re not a duchess yet.” Brianne wrinkled her nose. “Though they won’t attack you when Lucian inherits the title. They’ll congratulate you in secret for raising your social status even further.”
“This is a morbid discussion,” Victoria said. “I don’t understand why its acceptable to discuss Angelique’s father-in-law’s future death.” She shook her head. “Perhaps its time to switch the topic of our conversation.”
“You mean circle back to how Gabrielle has a career option as a pugilist?” Sofia said cheekily. “She has a mean right hook.”
“I learned from the best.” Gabrielle said. “And so have you.”
“She’s not wrong,” a man said as he entered the room. “Considering I’m the one who taught you both.” Rafe entered the room completely. He looked so good. His dark hair was pulled back behind his head and his silver eyes almost sparkled. She was probably seeing something that wasn’t there…
The Marsden twins, Angelique’s husband, Lucian, and Brianne’s husband, Julian walked inside after Rafe. It looked as if their time alone had ended. At least Christian hadn’t joined them…
***
Rafe did his best not to stare at Aletha. He hadn’t been able to find any time alone with her and it was irritating him. She was so lovely and his sisters adored her. Sofia had gone on and on about how brilliant Aletha was and she wanted to be a businesswoman too. Aletha had mentioned doing some work of that nature when they’d met. He wondered what part she played considering how old-fashioned Christian was. That had to be something he learned from other men in their family. He wanted to whisk her away and show her how a real man treated a woman. She deserved far better than what she’d been dealt by her family members.
“Look ladies,” Emilia said a little sarcastically. “The men are all here.”
“Not all of them,” Brianne corrected her. “The rotten one stayed away.”
“I don’t know…” Emilia tilted her head to the side and seemed to stare right into Alexander Marsden, the Earl of Devon’s gaze. “Some of them are wicked in their own right.”
“Darling Em,” Alex said with easy charm. “Thanks for the compliment. Some of us do try our best to taste every sin known to man…”
Emilia rolled her eyes. “You would.” Her tone was so caustic it cut deep. Alex didn’t seem to notice or he did a good job of pretending he didn’t. There was something between those two, but Rafe would let it go for now. He was more concerned about his little sister staring at Drew as if he was the greatest gift to womankind. He’d have to talk to Sofia later about her little crush on the younger Marsden twin. He would break her heart if she kept up this foolish lovesick notion he could change him. Drew was incapable of loving just one woman.
“Why have you decided to join us for our afternoon in?” Brianne met her husband’s gaze. “I thought you had plans to go riding.”
“We did,” Julian answered smoothly. “Until we went outside and a veritable blizzard decided to rain down on us. None of us are going anywhere.”
“It’s cold enough out there to freeze a man’s bollocks off,” Drew said. “I like mine where they are.”
“God, Drew,” Angeline said as she narrowed her gaze in disapproval at her brother. “Have you no manners at all?”
“Of course I do,” he said with easy charm. “But why bother. There are no females here to impress or rather sweet talk out of their drawers. Family shouldn’t have such high expectations of me. You all know what I am and I don’t see the point in pretending otherwise.”
Sofia’s face fell at Drew’s statement. She was already getting her heart broken and Rafe couldn’t do anything to stop it. Drew didn’t see her as a woman. He probably barely saw her at all, but if he did lay his gaze upon her it wasn’t as a potential wife or ever a flirtation. Sofia would always be off limits to him because she was extended family of a sort.
Aletha stood and walked over to the window. She pulled the curtain to the side and stared out the frozen windowpane. Ice covered it and the little that could be seen was a complete white out. She sighed.
Rafe moved closer to her until there wasn’t much space between the two of them. “Do you wish to go out in that mess?” He kept his tone low and husky so only she could hear him.
“No,” she said. “Though
I had hoped to go for a walk. That’s clearly not happening.”
“We could stroll in the conservatory. It’s small here at Weston House but there are some lush plants and roses in there. Brianne loves flowers and Julian wanted her to have a garden here that would bloom year round.” He hoped she would agree to go. It would give them a reason to spend some time alone. Something Rafe craved more than he had ever craved anything. He wanted her.
“That sounds lovely.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. He wanted to lean down and press his lips to that plush mouth. It was not the time or the place for such an action. She had other things on her mind and they had an audience. A large one at that…
“I can show it to you,” he said softly. “Just say yes and I’ll take you there.”
“Now?” She turned to him and lifted a brow. “Won’t it be noticed if we leave…together.”
Aletha was so, so lovely. He wanted to touch her hair, her sweet curves, and taste every inch of her. Rafe didn’t know what was wrong with him. He’d never desired a woman as he did Aletha. He had to control himself before he did something foolish.
“They’re too busy with lambasting each other. They won’t notice if we slip away.” They were all embroiled in a disagreement over who ruined last Christmas or some other idiocy. As they had not traveled to America for the last gathering he had no input. Sofia sadly still stared at Drew like a lovesick fool. He sighed. That could be handled later. Gabrielle was in a deep conversation with Victoria. The rest of them though were only paying attention to each other. It was the best time to leave if only he could convince Aletha. “I promise no one will be the wiser.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip again. “If you believe…”
“I do,” he said and held his hand out to her. “Come for a walk with me, Aletha.” His tone softened even further when he said her name. He adored her name. He just plain adored her. “Say yes.”
“Yes,” she whispered and let him lead her from the room.
Rafe silently leapt for joy at her acquiesce. Once they were in the conservatory he could have a little more private time with her, and perhaps steal a kiss or two…
Chapter 8
The conservatory wasn’t large, but it was gorgeous. The room wasn’t any bigger than the small sitting room. There were vines that crawled up the walls and then dropped down over wooden ledges beneath the glass dome ceiling. A trellis had been erected on the far back wall with purple wisteria trailing throughout it. Lush greenery filled every nook and cranny. There were several orange tree in the center of the room and rose bushes along one side.
It was heavenly…
“It’s so lovely,” she breathed out the words so excited to discover a green paradise in the middle of a snowstorm. She needed a room like this back home. Why hadn’t she ever considered having a conservatory before? Probably because they didn’t have homes like this in New York. Aletha had never been quite so envious before this.
“I thought you might like it,” Rafe told her.
She turned to meet his gaze and froze. There was heat in his eyes that didn’t come from the room itself. The conservatory was hotter than the rest of the house to keep the plants at an optimal temperature. Suddenly, she felt incredibly hot. Aletha wasn’t sure if it was the room or the proximity to Rafe. She took a step back, but her effort was futile. He just stepped forward keeping an equal amount of distance between them.
“We’re barely acquainted.” Her words came out breathy. She was having trouble speaking. “How would you know what I’d like.”
“You were staring out the window as if the world had swallowed your favorite pair of shoes,” he said. “I assumed you were missing green, sunny days, and well warmth. As I cannot make the snow stop falling this was the closest I could get to giving you a slice of paradise.”
“You’re a little to smooth Conte Leone,” she said and then giggled. Giggled! Like a young debutante with her first beau… That wasn’t too far off the mark now that she thought about it. She never gave men much attention. Rafe was different somehow. He made her feel things she thought she was immune too. This was…interesting.
“I thought we already agreed to use our first names,” he chastised. Rafe waved a finger at her. “No going backwards for us.”
She licked her lips. That sudden swipe of her tongue across her parched lips caught, and held his attention. He stared at her mouth as if he were considering kissing her. She wanted to beg him to do just that. To have his mouth on hers… What would that be like? She’d never been kissed before. Would he do it?
“Something has to slow you down a little. I think you’re getting ahead of yourself.” She was saying all the right things but she didn’t feel any of it. She wanted him to kiss her. Was on the brink of begging him to, but that wasn’t what she’d been brought up to do. A lady, even one not born to that title, did not throw herself at a man. She was intelligent and well accomplished. Aletha refused to reduce herself to the level of a foolish young miss or a loose woman. But, oh, how she wanted his kiss…
“I think we’ve been moving too slow,” he stepped a little closer. “and I think its past time we rectified that.”
He was going to do it. He really wanted her… Why was she so excited by the prospect of Rafe kissing her? What was it about this particular man that made her crazy with need? Aletha had to resist the urge to close what little distance remained between them and wrap her arms around his neck. It would be so easy to lean into him and press her body against his. She wanted to feel his heat mixing with hers. Which was completely crazy considering how hot she was at that moment.
“Some things are worth waiting for,” she countered. Aletha wasn’t fooling anyone.
Rafe’s lips curled upward into a sinful smile. She was going to lose this battle and she wasn’t even sure why she kept fighting it. “You’re not wrong.” He lifted his hand and slid the back of it lightly against her hair. “Some things are meant to be savored—enjoyed to the fullest. I would hate to deprive you of that precise pleasure.” He trailed his fingers downward and caressed her cheek. She sighed.
“You’re not making this easy for me.”
“I don’t mean to,” he said huskily. “There’s something between us. Tell me you feel it to.”
She swallowed hard and then nodded. Words failed her at that particular moment. She wasn’t certain she could find the right ones even if she managed to find the ability to speak. Aletha felt so much, too much for him. This man before her… He was everything she wanted and never dared to wish for.
“It’s been there from the start,” he continued “On the train it felt as if something profound struck me. It was you.”
She shook her head.
“Yes,” he insisted. “Do you believe in fate?” he asked. “I never used to. I’ve witnessed great love in my life, but I didn’t believe in it. Not really when I’ve never felt anything remotely like it before. Do you think this is what love feels like?”
Was he telling her that he loved her? That couldn’t be right. There hadn’t been enough time to develop that profound of a feeling for each other. This was something…but love? No, that wasn’t right. She couldn’t agree to such a thing. She needed more time. All she wanted was a kiss. Why hadn’t he kissed her yet?
She tilted her chin and boldly met his gaze. “I haven’t witnessed great love. I don’t believe in an emotion so elusive and rare that it’s not seen by a large part of the population. Why have faith in something so uncertain.”
“I may have to prove it to you,” he said.
“And I doubt you can…” She smiled softly. She liked him. Aletha could admit that much. “But for a man who’s voice is as seductive as dark chocolate you’re missing the most important sign. Perhaps I should show you exactly how to kiss an eligible debutante such as myself.” With those words she closed the distance between them, wound her arms around his neck, then pressed her lips to hers. Finally feeling the warmth of his body that she’d craved since they walked into
the conservatory.
Rafe silently applauded her bravery. He wasn’t sure if she would have willingly kissed him and when she did…glorious. He wanted more than a few chaste kisses though. He wanted to kiss her completely and deeply. So she would know exactly how he felt about her. Rafe wanted to make sure there was no doubt as to what he desired for and with her.
Sparks shot down his spine and desire flooded his system. He licked his tongue across her lips coaxing her to open up for him. Aletha sighed and parted her lips. He slid his tongue inside her mouth and touched hers. Her taste was a mixture of cinnamon and sugar—like the cookies at tea. Rafe deepened the kiss and caressed her back with his fingers.
He could kiss her forever and never tire of it…
Rafe was a goner and didn’t want to escape from it. This was what he’d been waiting for. The woman he’d been hoping would cross his path. He hadn’t been lying earlier. Great love had been shoved down his throat his entire life. His parents, his aunt and uncle—the Duke and Duchess of Huntly, hell even the Marsdens. All of them had so much love it was nauseating at times. Rafe didn’t think he’d be nearly as lucky as any of them. No one had sparked anything resembling that emotion in him before Aletha. He just had to convince her they were meant to be together.
They had passion and that was something. It gave him something to build upon, but she seemed reluctant to believe in love. That they could have that between them… He didn’t blame her. Her parents were clearly in a loveless marriage and her brother was a complete wanker. They didn’t inspire any real emotion, but Aletha was different. He knew it deep down inside his soul. She was his one love and he wouldn’t lose her.
He stepped back even though it killed him to do so. He wanted to kiss her and kiss her and kiss her until all he knew was what laid between them. He wouldn’t drug her with kisses though. Rafe wanted her completely coherent and desirous of a real relationship between them.