Page 7 of A Duke Of Her Own
Her eyes widened and mouth trembled with the force of her emotions. Francie tipped her head back and stared at the ceiling for a brief moment. When she looked at Alexander again, doubt and pain glared from her eyes. “I would be a fool to ever think of loving someone again or expecting such a connection that you describe.”
Alexander’s chest felt tight and unknown emotions wrenched through him. “Again?”
CHAPTER4
Tears sparkled in Francie’s eyes but did not spill over. “I loved someone once … and I thought he loved me.”
He devastated me, remained unsaid, but glared from her eyes. “I am sorry he proved himself to be insincere,” he said gruffly.
Her brows drew together in an agonized expression. There was a sorrow that carried a sense of reluctance in her gaze then her lashes lowered, hiding her emotions from him. “It was three years ago. I do not think of that man anymore. Nor do I care to foolishly yearn after or hope for a second chance with love.”
Her revelation had implications for his planned courtship that Alexander couldn’t ignore. Francie was not the kind of woman who would readily lower her emotional defenses. She had clearly constructed barriers around her heart from her past experiences and an innate sense of caution. His courtship would need to be crafted with patience and understanding, a gradual dismantling of her defenses rather than ruthlessly pursuing her as was his nature. He would have to show her that his feelings were both serious and sincere.
Moreover, Alexander would need to be attuned to her vulnerabilities, recognizing the moments when she might be willing to take a small risk in opening up to him. It was a delicate balance: pushing too hard could cause her to retreat further behind her walls, yet failing to act decisively might mean missing opportunities to deepen their connection.
Bloody hell. He scrubbed a hand over his face.When have I ever shied away from a challenge?
There were many ladies on the marriage mart who would readily marry Alexander. But it was this lady before him who seemed to like and appreciate him without knowing of his wealth and power in thetonthat he wanted. What if she knew he was a duke? Would Francie still speak so frankly and endearingly with him? His gut said yes. She was too genuine to act with artifice.
“I never suspected you would feel like this, Francie.”
Her expression grew stark, and their gazes collided. “You would not know of it, would you? Have we not been very careful to only speak about mundane things? Do we truly know each other?”
Alexander stared at her, wondering if she realized the wall had been fortified by her. Each instance when he had probed for more details about her life, Francie would retreat and stare at him with pained wariness. She would then change the conversation to impersonal matters, and he had allowed it. Could he stand to continue doing so when she spoke of taking a damn lover?
Something harsh burned at the back of his throat. “We do not speak of many things, but I know you.”
A complicated look flashed across Francie’s eyes, “I—”
“I have seen you many times in the woods walking with your face buried in a book. You delight in the written words, and you do own to a romantic nature, for I have seen you twirling and laughing when something good happens in your story.”
Her entire body faltered into stillness.
“You have a yearning for travel, do you not ?”
Something tender and shockingly vulnerable settled on her face. “I have never said so!”
“Does this not reveal the tacit understanding we seem to have of each other?”
Her chin jutted, and she stubbornly said, “It does not.”
Alexader narrowed his gaze on her and said, “I have sensed a yearning within you, a deep-rooted desire for exploration and adventure that I hear whenever you speak about the untouched beauty of the Aegean Sea, a place you’ve yet to see. Your eyes widen in wonder as you contemplate the ancient monuments of Egypt and the historic ruins of Rome. You read many travel books even though they are not as exciting as the gothic romances you like to devour. It’s as if your soul is restless, curious, and longing for the unfamiliar. Each travel book you read, you read as if you envision the possibilities for yourself, and each place represents a unique story yet to be explored.”
She waved a hand, as if dismissing his words. “You cannot know that!”
“Your sighs and delight as you read is enough to convey your feelings to me. You are captivated by the idea of standing on soil you’ve never touched, breathing in air tinged with the scents of foreign lands. You fantasize about bustling markets in distant cities and discovering cultures rich in history. You close your eyes, Francie, and see yourself sailing aboard a ship, trekking through vast wilderness, or finding solace on a secluded ocean at the edge of the world. You have never said these words to me, Francie and I ask you now, am I wrong in my assessment?”
Her eyes glistened fiercely with unshed tears. “No,” she said huskily, pressing her fingers over her mouth.
And I vow once you are my wife,I will show you the world, he silently promised her.
“Your compassion is evident, too. When little Tommy twisted his ankle and was terrified of being left alone in the dark forest, you did not hesitate. You carried him on your back for miles, straight to his mother’s doorstep."
“Tommy is only six years old,” she responded, her eyes shining with emotion. “He wasn’t heavy.”
“Yet you were so exhausted by the ordeal that you did not stir when I carried you back to your home,” Alexander said.
He noticed her pulse quicken, her eyes betraying a rush of memories. She had only extricated herself from his arms when they had reached the threshold of her cottage, her cheeks flushed as she thanked him and retreated into her home.