Page 82 of The Duke's Vice

He held his hands behind his back, hoping to stop himself from doing anything stupid to the man. It took all of his strength not to lay hands the blasted Duncary when he asked for a dance with Beatrice.

Seeing them together was too much for him to handle. He thought enough time had passed that he would be able to be around her without consequence.

He was wrong. If anything, it only made it worse. As he stood there, watching her whisper something in Duncary’s ear Graham’s body tightened with tension. She left Duncary’s side and went out on the veranda. His eyes drifted back to Duncary who was looking at him with a smirk on his face before turning to talk to a friend.

Graham’s eyes flew back to the veranda’s door.

She’s out there by herself.

Without another thought Graham found himself walking through the veranda door. He stopped short when he found the veranda empty.

He walked to the outer wall and peered out over the sprawled out gardens.

There!

Beatrice was walking on a path that led to a fountain. Graham trailed her and waited until she sat on the bench and took a deep breath.

“I thought you knew better than to wonder by yourself at night.” He said as he stepped up to the bench she was sitting on.

Beatrice rolled her eyes as she groaned. “For someone who wants nothing to do with me, you are certainly going out of your way to seek me out.” She grumbled.

Feisty. He liked her this way.

“The ending to our arrangement did not go as either of us planned.” He started.

Beatrice looked up with a pointed look.

“But that does not mean that I do not care for you.” He sat down next to her on the bench.

She immediately jumped up. “No. I cannot do this. Not now. Not with you.”

Graham was surprised by her outburst. “I can’t sit with you?”

She pulled her arms over her chest, closing herself to Graham. He felt a sharp pain in his chest at her reaction. She looked so fragile standing in the moonlight.

I did this to her. See? You can’t stop hurting people.

Graham rolled his lips. He was not used to having conflicting feelings. He rested his elbows on his knees and hung his head. This was why he had his own list of do’s and don’t’s with one of them being no repeated dalliances with the same woman.

Attachment, from either side, was not something he handled well. Except, it was usually the woman who became attached. This time, he had a sneaking suspicion that he was just as guilty.

That did not sit well with him.

“I’m sorry, Beatrice. I wish things were different.” He offered.

Beatrice cut his useless words off with a laugh.

“Just stop.” She pleaded. “Enough with this game of acting like you are doing me a favor. You said your peace weeks ago, I have moved on. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

Graham rubbed his hands on his face. “Yes. No.” He sat up. “I don’t know any more.”

Beatrice dropped her hands to her side. Utter defeat and exhaustion colored her expression.

“Are you saying you didn’t want me to move on?” Her eyebrows rose in question. “What? Am I supposed to be like a little puppy and pine for you with no reciprocation?”

Graham looked to her. “You pined for me?”

He couldn’t help it. Knowing that he wasn’t the only one in turmoil these past weeks soothed a little part of his soul.