I lounged about in my reading chair, stowed as far away from my family as the small corner of the parlor would allow, embroidering a handkerchief with a rose for Sir Jaques for his return in a few days time. A small frown creeps upon my face as I remember the end of his visit just a few moments ago before his trip to Paris.
"I shall be eager to see you again Miss Devereux, should you permit me." He smiled and my palms began to sweat in the most unlikeable fashion.
"I think I should if you come bearing gifts." We laughed.
"Should I bring you anything specific?" His eyes gleamed with wonder.
"Perhaps something riveting to read from Paris. I have read every romance novel here two times over, and they have begun to lose their magic." I pout playfully.
He grasped my hand and I knew that I should have felt something, but there was nothing but nerves. "Then I shall bring the most interesting read I can find. Farewell Miss Devereux."
He brought my hand to his lips and placed a sweet kiss on it before disappearing through the foyer. I sighed and joined my family who are still eagerly awaiting for the details of our encounter.
I look up from my needlework to find them all gawking at me eagerly. I sigh and sit my needle and thread back in place. I open my mouth to speak, but a voice interrupts me before I have the chance to utter a single vowel.
"My lady, The Duke of Hamilton and His Mother have arrived." Our head maid, Mary announced.
My head whips in the direction of the door just as Elijah strides through with the most breathtaking smile he could muster. My heart quickens and my frown deepens.He greets my parents, my brothers and their spouses, and my sisters before he turns to me and begins an agonizingly slow trail towards my reading area. My breath quickens as I attempt to keep a smile from my face. I had missed him very much. He finally reaches me and smiles. My chest tightens as I stare up at him.
"Miss Devereux, I am happy to see you are well." He takes my hand in his.
I quickly glance at my family and they very unmistakably pretend as if they are not watching our encounter. "Your Grace, I am glad you are well also."
I attempt to pull my hand free from his, but he holds it firmly with no intent to let go. He turns my hand in his palm away from the view of our families, and tenderly kisses my wrist. He lingers for a second longer than what is deemed respectful and quickly moves back a few paces. From our family's viewpoint it was just an innocent kiss on the hand. His eyes trail over my face carefully. He seemed confused at my aloofness. He cleared his throat and turned to the others for a second. Sebastian glances at me and then the Duke. Silas whispers into Charlotte's ear and they try to hide the smiles forming on their lips. My mother, Eliza, and Vanessa Hamilton, The Dowager Duchess of Hamilton, watch us carefully. Simon and Selim clear their throats as they make eye contact with the Duke. Sebastian slips from the room with Aileen, and Samuel gives a subtle nod to The Duke before he turns to me.
He clears his throat again. "Miss Devereux, while I was away at Hamilton I missed the gardens here terribly. Perhaps you could join me for a promenade?"
"I must apologize to Your Grace, I must finish this handkerchief for Sir Jacques." I look past the Duke to gauge my family's reactions.
My brothers are holding back laughs, my sister-in-laws look saddened, and my mother looks furious.
"Sir Jacques?" He repeated.
"Yes, one of my many suitors, so I must decline your offer. I would like to finish this before he arrives in four days." My mother stands abruptly.
"I'm sure you could finish your needle work after tea time, Sabine." We stared at each other. Fire ablaze with neither of us backing down.
My father cleared his throat making me break my stare off with the Viscountess. "Sabine...mind your manors."
I wince when he says my name instead of calling me Rose. I sigh and stand. "Perhaps the Viscountess is right." I force a smile.
My father smiles at me and shoots glances across the room. "Very well enjoy yourself Rose."
I huff silently as I take the Duke's arm lightly and we glide from the room gracefully. We walk in silence until we are outside at the entrance of the gardens. I stop and turn to the Duke as he searches my face again. I place my hands on my hips as I venture further into the garden. I hear his footsteps follow me, and I turn around quickly to face him with fake anger.
"Sabine, are you quite alright?" He grabs for me and I take a step back. I see movement to my right. Sebastian and Aileen.
"I am quite alright thank you, Your Grace." I look around the garden and notice a few of my siblings lurking in the shadows.
"We are alone. You do not have to call me Your Grace." He smiles.
I scoff. "Your Grace...we are not alone. We have an audience."
He stops me mid sentence. "Did I dispel you in some way Sabine?"
"You did not reply to my last letter, and you show up here with no wine in hand." I say slowly to keep the laughter from spilling from my throat.
"I apologize if you felt I abandoned you Sabine. I had finished my work and headed straight to Hereford." He takes a step closer. I giggle.
"I am jesting Elijah. For the onlookers. What sort of things did you do while you were away?" I say amusement laced in my voice.
"I was handling a few estate affairs, and preparing for our arrival at my family’s summer estate in London. I want your family to be comfortable when they arrive. In a few months” He laughs and takes another step closer.
"That sounds like an awful lot of boring work. Is that all you did?" I scoff and look at the peonies we saw the last time we were here together.
He sighs. "I also...dealt with a few things from my past."
"Like what?" I finally look at him and my breath catches in my throat.
"A woman...from my past appeared. I wanted to properly end things with her." I study his face.
"Why?" He steps closer and our eyes lock. I glance around to find Bash and Aileen are gone.
"I thought it would be cruel to keep her on. Don't you think so?" His mouth hovers closer to mine and I can feel a pull towards him.
"I think it would be very cruel indeed, Your Grace." He smiles as his hands lightly touch my bare arms.
Heating my cold skin. I gasp lightly from the sensation of his touch. My face contorted in confusion. I've never felt this before, and it was terrifying. What was happening? Why did he have this effect on me?
"Please call me Elijah." His lips brush gently against mine and I only linger slightly before I hurriedly move back from his touch.
"Elijah...what are you doing?" I breathe heavily and try to calm my nerves.
"Sabine, forgive me. I do not know what came over me." I look away and nod.
"Right it is fine. Perhaps it is the long journey." I glance at him and meet his eyes.
"Yes, perhaps." He moves closer. I gracefully move away from him and deeper into the garden.
"So how were your travels?" He appears beside me and we walk together closely.
"They were quite boring. I brought you a fantastic wine back, and another gift. It is back at the estate." I smile.
"What is it?" He miles back.
"You shall have to wait and see Sabine."
Our arms make contact as we walk slowly among the flowers and fruit trees. Elijah recalls me of tales of his short trip to the country, and his clean farewell with Lady Catherine Worthington. She had been one of the women he had emerged with in scandal, and she had come back to society to rekindle things. I wondered why he would not, and recalled his mention of having others to sustain his hunger for lust. The thought angered me, and I had to admit I found him quite agreeable. He was handsome, charming, and there was a pull I felt towards him. I stop walking and begin to walk back towards the garden entrance quickly. He grabs my hand and stops me. He looks at me and I pull my hand free from his grasp.
"You feel it too?" He smiles and nods.
"Feel what?" I avoid his eyes.
"Sabine...please. I know it angers you to think about Lady Worthington. Just as it angers me to think about the few weeks you have spent with the dozens of other men that have called on you, and Sir Jacques.”
"Why would my courting Sir Jacques anger you?" My heart thumps in my chest.
"If you would like me to say it then I shall. There is something intoxicating about you… Sabine. Emery. Rose. Devereux. Since our first encounter at the Quill and Egg this feeling has taken a hold of me. Your smile... God that smile, and your frown when you think. You are smart, and graceful though you try your hardest not to be. And your laugh. I have missed you terribly these last three weeks I have been away. I know this is a bit soon, but if you should permit me to court you I am willing."
"I...but are you sure? I want to take courting seriously. Are you willing to give me that?” I searched his eyes.
"I am sure, but I would like to take things slowly and see where things go. I am willing to give it a try if you are. Do you find that agreeable?" He leans in closer.
"I should think it is." He pulls me into him and our lips collide.
He kisses me with vigor, and I know it is wrong, but I could not help the pull. I indulge in the kiss and it seems to last forever until we hear laughter close by. We break from the kiss and stare at each other for a moment. My body is hot and tingling all over. We smile at each other as Sebastian and Aileen turn the corner. We turn our smiles on them and I take the Duke's arm. Bash and Elijah make eye contact and Aileen smiles knowingly before she approaches me and fixes the now smudged rouge on my lips. I cover my lips and look at Elijah in shock as he tries to discreetly remove the rouge smudges from his lips as well.
Sebastian laughs. "This is the last ounce of privacy I will give you with my little sister Hamilton. I hope you enjoyed yourself because I do not intend to allow you free reign of her virtue."
"No need to worry Bash. I am serious about courting your sister." I tighten my arm around his.
"You had better be. We may tease our Beanie, but do not mistake our teasing for anything other than love." Sebastian glares at him for a moment.
"I never have Bash." Elijah smiles softly.
"Wonderful. Treat my sister with care or you shall have six very angry Devereaux men to deal with Your Grace. Come dinner should be ready." He smiles and gently guides his wife along the rocky dirt path.
"I intend on it." Elijah whispers for me to hear and we take the walk back to the estate.
We join everyone for dinner and partake in the jokes and gossip. My mother smiles as Elijah and I make eyes at each other throughout dinner. Afterwards we all sit in the parlor and Elijah and I stay close to each other, but not too close to cause a scandal, as I read him a few passages from the book he brought me from his trip. He walks me to the staircase and kisses the inside of my wrist before leaving towards his rooms on the other side of the mansion. The warmth from the kiss causes my body to heat and tingle all over before I head in the opposite direction to my rooms. I undress and lie in my bed staring up at the ceiling thinking over what has happened. What about Sir Jacques? What will I tell him? I had no Idea what I would say to him, but I could not deny that there was a pull I had towards Elijah. Perhaps this could work out in my favor?
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