Thawing A Duke's Heart (Faces of Love Series #1) by Jessie Bennett Page B

the whole family. Occasionally, he would slip in sly comments about his ‘affection’ for me. He even winked in my direction once. To all the others his act was pristine, but I knew him well enough now to understand that what he was saying and doing didn’t reflect the particular emotion he was presently feeling toward me.
    Dinner was finally coming to an end. We were all to go to the large sitting room. The men would smoke their cigars with brandy, and a game of cards was to be brought out. I wasn’t going to bear the guilt of his glare any longer.
    “I think I shall retire to my room,” I said to Mother as quietly as possible. “I am not feeling well. A headache, I think.”
    “You will do no such thing!” she snapped back at me. “After all my hard work, and everything going so well,” she said and huffed. “I won’t let you foil me again. Not this time, Mary. You ruined your chances with William. I refuse to let you do this again.” She sighed. “I am sure it is just too much wine or something. It will pass.”
    “Is everything alright?” Gaffton asked from behind us.
    “Quite fine, Your Grace. Mary was feeling a bit dizzy is all. She is fine now.” Mother made sure to say that last part poignantly in my direction.
    “Ah, wonderful,” Gaffton said.
    He took my hand and nestled it in into the crook of his arm to escort me out of the dining room. I don't think he really meant anything by it. It was just a usual habit for him to take my arm and escort me after all the months we had spent paired off with Dunlop and Elisabeth. Of course, my mother didn’t see his comfort with me the way it truly was. I settled into the fact that at least it had its purpose in the presence of her ladyship.
    He tilted his head ever so slightly and whispered down to me, “It would seem that even with a little effort it is not hard to convince your family of your lies. Then again, with a title like a Duke, and all that comes with it, I am sure they care little of much else. It’s entirely too easy to convince them that I am your beau when it is so obvious that I could never…”
    I filled in when he paused, “Have feelings for someone like me.” I added this mournfully. It had been stupid what I had done. I had wanted an easy fix, and it had blown up in my face.
    He tugged me with his arm and pulled me off to an alcove before entering the sitting room. The space was small and we were nearly touching chest to chest. He looked down at me. I was preparing for the full of his wrath. I don't know why, but the thought that I had disappointed and shamed him this way was more then I could bear. In a way, I was happy to get it over with, to end my suffering. I looked down, closing my eyes, preparing for the onslaught.
    I felt both of his hands cup around my chin. He slowly lifted my head. I opened my eyes to see sorrow in his. I knew I must have hurt him more than I could imagine. Acting the beau must have brought up memories of a time that he did love, of Abigail. It tore knots inside to know that I had not only enraged him with my conniving, but made him relive heartache and sorrow.
    “Why would you say such a thing?” he asked me softly.
    My eyes filled with tears. The emotion of the last two days began to spill out suddenly. I did my best not to cry, but once one tear made its escape, I couldn’t seem to make it stop. He sighed deeply and wrapped his arms around me. I melted into his embrace. I soaked in his sweet lemongrass smell as I buried my head into his strong chest.
    “Shhh, Mary. My sweet Mary,” he cooed to me as he held me tight against him. He waited patiently for my fit to subside.
    Reluctantly, I pulled back from him and he handed me a cream-colored handkerchief from his coat pocket. He brushed a stray lock that had fallen, and tipped my chin to look at him again. “I only meant that I am the last person in the world for you. I am incapable of love. I have lost all faith in it. You know this. How your family