Cecelia didn't say a thing. She simply smirked at her sister until she admitted, “I did enjoy his company. He is not like other gentlemen.”
Cecelia furrowed her brow. “How so?”
Mary looked at her and lifted a shoulder. “It is difficult to explain.”
“Try,” Cecelia encouraged.
She was most intrigued.
“When we were talking, I felt as if he were actually listening to me, actuallyseeingme.”
Cecelia's chest ached.
The way her sister spoke of the viscount was clear, even if she didn't wish to admit her feelings. And it made Cecelia long for something similar herself.
After all, that was exactly what she had been hoping to find for herself. Yes, she must find the right man to marry to secure both hers and her family's future, but just like any other young lady, she hoped formore.
“Be careful, Mary, or you shall make me jealous,” she sighed and dropped down onto her back.
Staring at the puffy white clouds painted upon her blue ceiling, she thought again of his grace and his heroics.
Had he seen her yesterday in the maze? Had he actually looked at her andseenher as Mary spoke of with Walter?
She thought perhaps that he had, once his anger at the situation had subsided, at least.
An odd sensation knotted in her stomach, radiating up into her chest. It tingled throughout her body and made her breathless for a moment.
What it was, she didn't know, but it made her sure that she had to give his grace a chance, that she had to lay some trust in him if she was ever to achieve her father's last wish.
“Oh, Cece, it is I who is jealous of you!” Mary exclaimed, her tone filled with anticipation. “The thought of you going to the masquerade tonight fills me with envy. You shall have such a wonderful time, and I shall be left here waiting for you to come and tell me all about it.”
Cecelia's insides twisted into knots at the thought of the masquerade.
There was a time when she would have loathed the idea of attending such a ridiculous thing.
Yet, Mary might be right.
She might actually have fun this evening if she were to allow herself to.
She bit back laughter at herself. Was she truly becoming the very thing that his grace had accused her of being, a frivolous young lady?
It was truly laughable, and yet, a part of her was truly excited at the thought of getting all dressed up and dancing the night away, spending a little time withhim.
After their moment in the maze, Cecelia had to admit that she liked the idea of seeing the duke again.
And though she had had more than one pleasant conversation with several gentlemen over the last week or so, she had never felt that way about a single one of them.
“It shall be your turn next year,” Cecelia reminded her.
Mary poked her in the ribs and pointed out, “Only if you find your match. Mama will keep me locked up here until you do. I'm surprised she allowed me to attend yesterday.”
Cecelia laughed as she remembered how their mother had insisted Mary could not get in the way of her finding a husband.
“Does she believe you will snatch a husband up right from under my nose as if he is the only man on earth I shall be able to marry?”
They laughed together at that, and Cecelia sighed with relief. Perhaps this Season wouldn't be so bad after all.
***
