The Reluctant Duchess by Sharon Cullen

Author:Sharon Cullen
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2015-11-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Sara’s entire body ached during the ride home. She’d found that when she was in social situations, she held her body tightly, her muscles clenched in anxiety. She didn’t even realize she was doing it until after the event and she began to relax. The result was always sore muscles that sometimes lasted a few days.

She was so glad that the entire ordeal was finished, and she was pleased that she’d made it through the night without having to leave the ballroom. Sometimes her fear was so bad that she couldn’t breathe and had to leave. That was the worst, because it caused exactly what she wanted to avoid: people staring at her, talking about her.

She surreptitiously glanced at Ross, sitting across from her, only to find that he was looking at her, his eyes glittering in the lamplight that shone through the carriage window.

Quickly, she looked away, although her body heated at the memory of him holding her in his arms while they danced. She’d been mortified to be dancing and furious at him for forcing her to dance, but as soon as his arm went around her, it was as if the other people in the ballroom ceased to exist, and for the remainder of the dance it was just the two of them wrapped in each other’s arms.

Oh, how delicious it had been. She could see why some people protested the waltz. It was scandalous and beautiful and exhilarating all at the same time.

She had felt wonderful, so alive, while dancing with him. She would take that memory back to Hadley Springs and pull it out in the dark of winter to remember that at one time in her life she had experienced a waltz with a duke. With Ross.

Upon entering Rossmoyne House, Elizabeth went up to her room. Ross climbed the stairs after muttering good night, and Sara stood in the entryway and watched him go. Her magical night was over, and she felt a little bereft at the thought. But what had she expected? That Ross would sweep her off her feet and demand that…What? What would he demand? That she become his duchess?

She snorted, startling the footman out of his doze. She mumbled an apology and made her way to her bedchamber.

She didn’t want to become Ross’s duchess. Just the thought of all the balls and soirees and teas and musicales and assorted other social events a duchess would have to attend made her stomach cramp. Besides that, she had her father to take care of, and Ross had no interest in her in that way.

She was here because she’d asked for his help, and he had graciously offered his home as a sanctuary.

Wrapped in her nightgown and robe after Jenny had fidgeted over the golden gown and hung it up and put away the shoes and petticoats and shift and everything else, Sara sat at her dresser and ran the brush through her hair and stared at her reflection. For a little bit of time she had been beautiful, but now she was back to being plain Sara.

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