“I want you to be happy, and with me, you will have that. I was set to leave London for a short-term employment opportunity in France, and if we were to be married, you would stay, and I would feel safe with my siblings being left here,” he stated matter-of-factly, spinning her around and making her head buzz slightly from the alcohol and the confusing confession.
“So, you want someone to watch your family while you are off?” She tried her best to not sound completely annoyed by the idea. “Pardon my confusion, but do you not have servants for that?”
“I do, but you know how children are, Miss Snow. They want family to take care of them. If we were to be married, you could meet all of them, get to know them, and I just know they would adore you.”
“My Lord.” Alice gazed at him, confused.
This was why he was so adamant about marrying someone this year—to have someone to watch over his family while he is off living a life. It was not the most romantic thought in the world, but she wanted to give him a chance.
“If you are actively pursuing me from now on, you must know that the Duke is doing the same. I will give the both of you plenty of time so I am able to get to know you and weigh my options.”
“That sounds lovely, Miss Snow. Please reach out to me if you have had a change of heart and have decided. I am in a bit of a hurry, as you can imagine. I am anticipating your correspondence.” He bowed as the song came to an end, and he led her off the dancefloor.
Alice was a bit shocked by what he just told her, and so she made her way to the wall, taking a seat on an empty couch that obviously had someone’s drink splashed on it. She scooted away and placed her hands in her lap, contemplating.
She wondered if she could truly marry someone who would never be around, but perhaps it would be freeing. She had been under the watchful, distrusting eye of her brother for so many years that it may be an entirely new experience to just be alone for a while. Except for the pack of children that she would be in charge of.
“Miss Snow?” She looked up to see the Duke looking down at her, smiling. “I saw the Earl just a moment ago, and he gave me a bit of a threatening look. I assume that has something to do with you?”
“Probably. He would like to publicly court me. I am just feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment. I will manage.” She stood up, determined to not mope around all evening.
“You are worthy of all the attention you receive, Miss Snow,” Rowan said quietly, brushing his knuckles against hers.
She felt like the air was knocked out of her lungs when he did little things like that, the smallest touches and breaths against her skin driving her mad.
He knows that two can play this game.
* * *
Rowan watched as she shuffled past him, looking over her shoulder and giving him a look he could hardly fathom. Somehow, her icy blue eyes burned and sparked with a fire he wanted nothing more than to dive headfirst into.
“Would you like a drink, Your Grace? I am going to get another.”
“Are you sure you have not had enough, Miss Snow? You seem quite spirited tonight.”
He could not keep his eyes off of her small waist as she walked away from him, and he ran his hand down his face, masking the smile that came from her obvious teasing. If he could, he would drag her to his castle and not let her leave until she was totally satisfied. The way her gown hugged her hips in all the right places was beginning to daze him.
“Your Grace, I am a grown woman. I will decide what I do with my night. You do not have a claim on me.” She narrowed her eyes at him, testing him.
“Meet me in our hallway, Miss Snow.”
He could not take another moment of her attitude, and turned on his heel, marching toward the dark hallway before he grabbed her in front of the entire ton. He dipped into the darkness without anyone noticing, and made his way down the corridor, checking each door he passed for an open one.
As he reached the second to last door, the cold brass handle turned and the door creaked open, showing a dark drawing room ornately decorated in gold and taupe hues.
He stepped inside, took off his waistcoat, and tossed it onto a chair, pacing as his desire built and he anticipated her arrival. After a few moments of mulling over the thoughts of her naked body, he heard the door creak open.
Alice peered inside, her eyes not adjusted to the darkness.
“Get in here, Miss Snow,” he mumbled. He raked his eyes down her body as she snuck in, smiling. “You tempt me on purpose, you sly thing.”
“I simply wondered what you would do if I decided to play your own game.” She shrugged, a smirk dusting across her cheeks as she bit her lip. “I thought we said we would not do this again.”
He walked over to her, grasping her tightly around her shoulders, and smashed his lips against hers, annoyance at her behavior at the forefront of the kiss. He could feel her begin to squirm in his arms, getting more flustered as he kissed her with urgency.
“How could I keep myself away from you for more than a moment?”
His hands wandered down her arms, tickling her skin and creating goosebumps across her perfectly smooth skin. She hissed out a breath as he grabbed her wrist and held it against the small of her back, pulling her in for another kiss. As soon as his hands started to wander further, they heard a commotion in the hall outside, and light could be seen from under the door.
