A Midwinter Wager by Elizabeth Keysian

Author:Elizabeth Keysian
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2019-05-25T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

FITZ NOW HAD what he'd ached for all evening, his beloved Cesca in his embrace, and she'd just said the only words that could heal his damaged heart. The urge to kiss her was barely restrained.

Knowing she loved him must be enough for now. They were in a public place; the unpredictable Alicia was just inside—as well as the dangerous Captain Brandt—and there was Cesca's reputation to consider.

"Oh, Fitz, it's all so hopeless," she whispered, her cheek pressed against his lapel.

"Never say there's no hope," he said fiercely, kissing the top of her head. "I was a complete fool not to listen to you when you said we should run away together. I was stubborn and proud, and too much bound by convention to risk a scandal, so I don't deserve one iota of affection from you. But I'm paying the price for my folly, believe me. Alicia makes sure of that."

There was so much more he needed to say, but he felt Cesca repress a shiver, and immediately whisked them both inside, signaling to the footman to close the doors.

"I don't think it's wise to stay here any longer," he told her as they returned to the ballroom. "Maybe you could persuade Alicia to leave, as she takes very little notice of me. Besides which, the sooner we can separate her from Brandt, the better—or your father will have an even worse scandal to cope with."

"Oh, Fitz, I hate to see you so unhappy." She gazed up at him.

He looked at her for a moment, spellbound, then pulled himself together. "Forgive me. I've no right to add my worries to your woes. I have no intention of spoiling your ball—pray, dance as many measures as you can in the next half hour. Then we'll both prevail upon Alicia to depart."

That half hour was interminable. He dared not dance with Cesca again for fear of what he might do—or what he might reveal. But he could still feast his eyes on her, enjoying the graceful movements of her slender form as she glided, swan-like, through the dances. Captain Brandt even tore himself away from Alicia to dance with her again—a goad to his jealousy.

He didn't trust the man and knew him to be violent. Shortly before Fitz had given Claire Banton the money for her return to England, she'd received a black eye and bruised ribs from the not-so-gallant captain. So, there was ample reason to keep the man away from both Alicia and Cesca—and indeed, from any other young unmarried female in the ballroom.

Fitz tried not to brood, but he couldn't dance, even had he wanted to. His heart was too full, and his nerves would have made him miss his step. Luckily, Alicia showed no inclination to stand up with him. He wasn't surprised—all she required was that he run back and forth like a servant each time she had a fancy for refreshment. He maintained his dignity as best he could, but underneath, he'd begun to seethe.

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