The Ugly Duckling Debutante (House of Renwick #1)(22)

She lifted her head to look at him. “Why now?”

“Why, indeed,” he muttered, feeling pitiful and powerless.

She said nothing about his confession, though he knew she had heard it. “Sai, I—“

“Yes?” Her eyes looked innocent and hopeful.

“I…” He shook his head. Why was this so hard? He refused to lose the bet, but then again, nobody would actually see them up here. What would be the harm? She had asked him to kiss her. Why shouldn’t she experience what it would feel like to be led down a dark hallway and kissed senseless?

Forgetting everything except his own needs, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her with all the unsatisfied passion he posessed. Her body went limp against his, as he took in more and more of her taste. Everything about her was fresh and alive. She tasted of newly picked strawberries, warm and inviting. He took the liberty of running his fingers through her hair and realized his mistake. It made him hungrier for more. He would never be satisfied with merely kissing this woman. Never. He cupped her chin and kissed down her neck, feeling her tremble with delight each time his lips met her skin. She seemed to purr as he left trails of kisses down her cheek; her eyes were closed, but he wanted nothing more than to see the two large emeralds aglow with desire gazing back at him.

“Open your eyes,” he whispered huskily.

For once she didn’t argue, but obeyed his bidding. It was enough to completely undo him. He picked her up and found her mouth again, this time with everything he had been thinking and feeling since meeting her. If he was going to kiss her, he wasn’t going to hold back, especially if she was to belong to someone else. His heart felt like it would beat out of his chest, the intense longing shot straight through his body, making him want to moan and shout all at once. This madness had to stop, or he would do more than just steal a kiss from the innocent girl.

Unwillingly he set her feet back on the ground and hesitantly distanced himself from her. Her breathing was ragged. Her hair had fallen out of its pins, and her lips looked swollen and ripe. He didn’t think it possible, but she was more beautiful than before. Her eyes held questions he knew he would have to answer. He struggled to say something, something to reassure her misgivings.

Then he heard someone clear their throat.





Chapter Eight



Lady Fenton walked out onto the patio between them. Nicholas thought it best not to say a word, though he was half-tempted to jump to his death when he saw his cousin’s face.

“I can’t say I’m surprised,” Lady Fenton finally said.

Nicholas’s emotions filled with panic, worry, fear, but mostly panic. As the ramifications of what had taken place settled fully on his shoulders. Being alone with a woman on the balcony was always frowned upon, especially when said woman was an innocent like Sai. He knew his cousin wasn’t the nicest of the ton, nor was she immune to the gossip. Some would say she was always the one who knew first what everyone else found out second.

She turned toward Nicholas. “I expect you to make this right.”

Nicholas winced, when he saw Sai's face turn red with embarrassment. How dare she embarrass Sai for something she had no control over?

“Sai did nothing. It was me.” He knew he sounded like a small child whining to his nanny.

“Oh, I am aware of what Sai did and did not do. She could have easily pushed your advances away instead of fluttering her eyelashes at you. I must admit this is partially my fault. Sai has never been one to attract attention, you can see why.” She pointed in Sai's direction, making the crimson in her cheeks deeper than before. Was this woman mad? She was putting down the most beautiful woman at the ball as if she was someone’s ugly maid.

Nicholas should have said something, but the shock rendered him mute yet again.

“Unfortunately, the duke and I saw everything.” Her tone was menacing.

Why was she up here with the duke in the first place? Nicholas wanted to ask, but he thought better of it. He didn’t want his life to end tonight because Lady Fenton had stabbed him with her fingernails.

Answering the unasked question, she turned to Sai. “He was following you to ask for your hand in marriage. Now it seems he thinks you will say no to someone such as he—especially with this rogue following you about like a lovesick puppy.” She gestured toward Nicholas. He felt like dirt.

“Therefore, I have a plan.” She looked between the two of them and smiled ruefully. “The two of you will marry.” Nicholas’s mouth gaped open and Sai gasped. “It wasn’t the match I intended, nor am I the least bit happy she will have to settle for an earl rather than a duke, but I fear there is nothing even I can do. Half the ton will know of what took place tonight by the time you reach the ball again.”

Sai's once crimson face was now paler than the moon.

“You can’t force us to marry!” Nicholas spat, suddenly angry that he would be the reason such an opportunity would be taken from Sai.

“Watch me,” Lady Fenton barked. “Three weeks." She held up three fingers to punctuate her announcement. "The banns will be read, and you will bear him children,” she said turning on Sai. Nicholas was powerless to shield her. “You will gain yourself a title, and you will put all of this sneaking around nonsense behind you.”

“You can’t do that to her,” Nicholas flared desperately. “She has the right to choose whom she wants. At least speak to the duke—tell him I seduced her, that my reformation had been a ruse! I’ll do anything. Just don’t force us to marry on my account.” He felt like an absolute martyr. Sacrificing his own happiness in order to rescue Sai from the fate of marrying someone so unworthy as he. Sai appeared to be on the verge of sobbing. He couldn't let Lady Fenton do this to her.