Chapter 105
Mendora’s mouth fell open as Solaire disappeared, a scoff trembling in her throat. How had seeing him again almost reduced her to a pile of mush? Stifling the urge to follow him, to unload her anger and resentment on him, she implored some breathing exercises.
The mist over her eyes clearing in time for Mendora to hear the question, “Who is Finn?” Lavinia turned her attention to Mendora. The Marquess’ words had struck a cord and once more alluded to more that Lavinia was yet to become aware off.
“A friend,” was her only response as she shifted her mind to other matters. “It seems much has changed since I was last here,” Mendora could not comprehend the intimacy that was bred between her family and Solaire.
“A lot has happened to make us question the hostility between you,” Teresa dabbed at her pristine up do. “You once told me you thought yourself in love with the Marquess,” Tristan’s eyes shifted to his sister. He’d not known much of her relationship with the man and had long thought that the engagement was arranged in some way. It was news to him to know that his sister was in love with the man. He felt foolish, especially since Tristan had thought that Mendora and Finn has some chemistry to explore. After all they were always speaking in code. Not that Tristan minded, in fact Finn was one of the few men he trusted and he’d thought he’d not mind it if his sister were to marry the man.
“I was a fool,” Mendora snapped, her lips pulling taut. “Never mind that,” she waved the topic of, “I think today should be spent with us acquainting ourselves,” she immediately took hold of Tristan’s arm, plastering a large smile on her face to hide the fact that her mind was solely preoccupied with Solaire. How he knew of Finn’s existence was beyond her but she would not let it phase her either.
Tonight was to be a game and while Mendora was ready to stick it Solaire. To make it abundantly clear that she was a new woman, a part of her felt drawn and heavy. Emotions had led her astray before so she’d depend on her mind alone.
Let the games begin, she exhaled as Tristan and Teresa began finding their interests. The engagement between herself and the Marquess needed to end in the presence of the ton. Respectful and civil. No damage to either of them and they’d be scotch free to pursue whatever their hearts called for.
This was what she wanted. It had to be. There was no more time to afford to doubt. Action had been taken and she had to see it through. For her sake. For her sanity. For her pride.
***
“Where’s your new friend?” Mendora would be lying, largely to herself, if she’d asserted to not have known the exact moment he arrived. The mere fact that he choose to head directly for her, speaking in that low, intoxicating voice was of no consequence to her knowledge of him arriving. She was able to hear the hushed whispers of the women.
For all Solaire’s faults he was still widely sought after and a pang of something she preferred not to put name too, sparked in her chest. A painful reminder that she was not yet as far removed as she wished to be.
When they are disconnected from their promise he may soon choose another woman to fill her space. And she should be thrilled to think of him finally leaving her alone. And yet, she felt that was all he really ever did. No real change to grow accustomed to.
“Busy,” Mendora responded, knowing exactly who he referred to. She turned around, her eyes travelling up from his chest to meet his eyes. Eyes that were trained on her parted lips as he folded her arm in his. She allowed him to touch her, to draw her close. Not because her body was craving it but because to the ton they were betrothed. Her absence had caused a bit of a stir despite her mother’s excuses. It was important to portray a united front.
Mendora inhaled, as he steered her to the dance floor. It would provide them better opportunity to speak privately, away from the matrons who were intent on a story to take home to their estranged husbands.
Feeling her this close to him. Her subtle heat soothing the cold that had been penetrating his bones since she left. And yet he knew she had a point to prove. Hell, his little vixen had actually declined the carriage he’d sent over to collect her. To his utmost surprise, Mendora had already left by the time he stopped, leaving him to accompany Lavinia and Teresa. Which was really no issue since he’d been accompanying them to balls in Mendora’s absence and have grown an attachment to his would be in laws.
“Busy running a clandestine club to rival my own?” he gripped the small of her waist, drawing her body against his for the waltz. Luckily for them, they were already engaged or else to have been caught waltzing with a man like a Solaire would bring scandal to any unmarried woman’s name.
His head had dipped lower, the tip of his nose brushing against her ear as the words flowed out like an accusation. Mendora’s lips quirked upwards, her eyes being drawn to his. This energy between them, raw and riveting. And most unhelpful for her objective. Their faces dangerously close as she stretched her neck as high as possible to glare at him.
“I am terribly confused, My Lord,” her voice sickeningly sweet. A silent dare reflecting in her eyes, a stance that she was not ready to confess.
“Do not think me a fool,” his grip tightened on her, he could feel the fabric at her waist filling his palm. Oh how he wished to rip it off and feel her warm, smooth flesh. The memory lighting a trail of distraction that had him steering clear of his path. “I know you saw me last night just as plainly as I saw you,” the full blow of where she was, in an environment that promoted loose morals, struck him. He didn’t want to think of her participating. Of any other person being permitted to pleasure her.
“How can you be certain you’d seen me?” Mendora went on the offensive, attempting to gauge his reaction to the new club. From what she’d heard, his was slowing down since the running of hers began. Although she knew that was in part due to his neglect.
“I’ve spent nights falling asleep with you in my arms after caressing and pleasuring every inch of you. I reckon I’d even know what you taste or smell like if I couldn’t trust my eyes. I’ve learnt every bit of you, Mendora. I know it was you.” his voice turning husky in her ear and her pesky heart thudded noisily. Her knees ready to buckle beneath her at the images coming to life in her head.
“You need to cease speaking to me like that,” the words a mess, her cheeks flushed as she finally looked away. “It’s in the past and it would do us no good to have it aired where others might get wind of it,” she appealed to his senses, but Solaire would not hear it.
“Is that why you stole my idea? Because you wanted to end all thought of me?” he continued, teasing her, knowing fully well that she could not be serious about putting their relationship in the past. He was also becoming aware of the eyes falling upon them. They were closer than most couples and it did not bode well that it had been over a month since they were together. The ton was hungry for a sight of Mendora and Solaire. The transformed beauty and the reformed rake, “or was that all Grueland?” he could not control the tightening of his throat as he breathed the man’s name.
“*I*,” she sucked in a large breath, being this close to him had her winded. Her lungs screeching for mercy, “perfected it.” A breathy exchange had not been in her agenda for tonight’s meeting and yet here she was, feeding into every word to come past his lips.
“With *his* help?” Solaire wanted to know their connection. No he needed to know. Would her answer chance his feelings?
Shaking her head and staring at him squarely, her anger refocused. “How does my friendship with Finn concern you?”
“Unlike you, I think it would be more problematic if it didn’t concern me,” Solaire responded watching for her response.
“Listen,” she needed to manoeuvre the conversation. Solaire didn’t deserve to query her decisions or the people she choose to have in her life. “I am rather intent on clearing up a few things as it regards us,” her voice lowered as another couple swerved closer towards them. “our engagement to be precise.”
“I am open to tabling discussion on your recent exploits in expansion of your request,” he too had things he wanted to clear up. The sooner the better.
“Good,” Mendora smiled. “I think it would be more appropriate, as the season is coming to an end, to attend the final gatherings betrothed and then following a week or two we can officially announce the dissolution of it,”
“The dissolution of our engagement?” the clarification was for himself. He had not known what he was expecting her to pronounce, but this had not been it.