The Duke Identity (Game of Dukes #1)(72)

Tessa dropped any pretense of being miffed as she reverently took the box from Grandpapa. Even though she’d never met her grandmother, she’d heard countless tales of the other’s beauty, courage, and virtue. Althea Bourdelain Black was the stuff of legend.

“What is it?” Tessa breathed.

“Open it, and you’ll see.”

With hands that trembled, she lifted the lid. Her throat cinched at the sight of the familiar, heart-shaped ruby framed in gold. Small but distinctive, it was the pendant Althea wore in her portrait. In real life, the ruby had even more fire. When Tessa turned it over, she saw words engraved in the gold.

To A. B. The Pride of a Family.

“Oh, Grandpapa,” she said tremulously, “how Grandmama must have cherished this gift from you. I’ll strive to be worthy of it.”

“I didn’t give Althea that necklace or the matching ring. Both were from ’er family.”

Tessa looked at Mama, who’d worn the ruby ring for as long as she could recall; the other, too, looked surprised.

“I always thought you gave Mama these jewels, Father,” Mavis said.

A misty, faraway look entered Grandpapa’s eyes. “When Althea made ’er choice to be my wife, it weren’t without sacrifices. The Bourdelains came from noble stock and refused to forgive Althea for marrying beneath ’er. Not only did they disown ’er, they wouldn’t let ’er see ’er younger brother. She adored the lad. A few years later, she discovered ’e’d died, and she ne’er got to say goodbye. For years, the sight o’ those rubies brought tears to ’er eyes.”

Tessa’s chest ached at the tragic tale. “Poor Grandmama.”

“Althea ne’er stopped wearing that necklace and ring because she ne’er stopped loving the Bourdelains, no matter ’ow they treated ’er. She was strong enough to bear the pain with the love. ’Ad the ’eart o’ a lioness, my Althea did, and now it lives on in our daughter,”—he looked at Mavis, who gave a watery smile—“and our granddaughter. ’Tis only right that each o’ you carry a part o’ ’er.”

“I am honored,” Tessa said softly.

“And let it be a reminder: like my Althea, you are a true lady. You bow to no one,” Grandpapa said sternly. “No matter where you go, you ’old your ’ead up ’igh, you ’ear me?”

“Yes, Grandpapa.”

His words seemed to soak into her skin, her veins, becoming the throbbing truth of her heart. She looked at Bennett; in that instant, his gaze was unguarded. She saw herself in those rich dark depths…and the reflection was beautiful.

“Blasted clasp,” Grandpapa grumbled. He’d lifted the necklace from the box and was attempting to undo the tiny fastener. “My ’ands ain’t what they used to be.” He shoved the necklace at Bennett. “You do it.”

Taking the necklace, Bennett went to stand behind her. The knowledge that mere inches separated them caused her respiration to be erratic. Energy crackled in that sliver of space, his virile scent spinning her senses. And the more she tried to hide her desire, the more heightened it became.

Holding the ends of the necklace, he lowered the pendant onto her bosom. Her breath hitched when the ruby heart made contact with her skin, the gentle friction like a caress. The pendant dragged up, up, and when his fingers brushed against her nape, her nipples were already budded against her bodice. The rasp of his callused fingertips melted her insides like wax. Warmth flooded her heart, between her thighs, all of her turned molten with wanting.

“There you go.” Bennett’s words had a husky edge. Had he, too, been affected by their exchange? One that, by all rights, ought to have been ordinary and mundane?

Gathering herself, she turned to face him, and her knees grew wobbly at the banked fire in his eyes. Longing that he was doing his utmost to hide, but that she could see: because she knew him. Because she loved him. Because her lioness’ heart had led her to this man and no other.

“It suits you, Miss Todd,” he murmured before stepping aside.

Not half as well as you do, she thought.

She vowed to herself that they would be together soon enough. Once they stopped the villain behind the hellfire and her family was safe, she would let nothing keep them apart.

The butler arrived with a tray of champagne, and Mama came to join them.

Raising a sparkling flute, she said, “To Tessa’s second debut. May she make us proud.”

“She always does,” Grandpapa said gruffly.

Tessa blinked back sudden heat and held her own glass up high. “To the House of Black. May we never succumb to enemies and always fight for family and for love.”

“For family and love,” her mama and grandpapa echoed.

Tessa looked at Bennett—and saw the flash of naked longing on his face. She felt the urge to abandon pretense, to invite him to join the circle, be by her side where he belonged; the slight shake of his head warned her not to.

It took all her willpower, but she quelled her impulse. For the good of everyone, she would keep their affair secret. For now.





26





The ball was a crush.

Mirrored walls amplified the seemingly endless throng of people, all dressed in extravagant finery. The gilded columns and towering potted palms added to a closed-in feeling despite the large size of the ballroom. Cloying perfumes mingled with the heavy scent of burning beeswax from the three blazing chandeliers.