Page 56 of Winning Her Duke

She would have let him ruin her. Because she thought him a friend. Because she thought he cared about her. Because she trusted him.

He’d thought she could trust him.

He was horribly mistaken.

This was not how a friend behaved.

*

Gia slumped to the nearest chair when Hale left the room. She knew he wasn’t angry at her, but what did it matter if the end result was the same?

She’d kissed him and ruined everything.

Picking up the painting of him, she took in a shaky breath. The difference between the smiling image in her hands and the man who’d fled after whispering an agonized “Forgive me” were incomprehensible.

She’d known her feelings for him had grown beyond friendship. And she’d known she’d needed to keep those feelings restrained so she wouldn’t lose him.

Her fingers brushed over her lips that still tingled from his kiss.

Yes, she’d painted him. But he’d smiled rather than been appalled.

Yes, she’d offered a flimsy excuse. But he’d offered a flirtatious retort. Even encouraging her to cross the line from friendship to more.

Yes, she’d kissed him. But it was he who had kissed her first.

It was his tongue that had reached for hers.

It was his hands that had explored her body.

And it was his feet that had walked out the door.

They’d been equal. Both wanting what the other was so willing to give. But what was she to do now?

Over the next week, things went back to normal for the most part.

That is, the way they’d been before she’d met the Duke of Roxburghe.

Gia went riding in Hyde Park alone. She spent her days painting until visiting hours when she entertained the few remaining men who flirted and attempted to get her alone for this reason or that. She expected their attentions would wane soon enough when they finally realized she wasn’t interested in an affair.

She worked with Xandra, building the mare’s trust. She’d even managed to encourage the mare into a bridle while making sure it came off as Xandra’s own idea.

When the horse had walked with the lead without throwing her head or stomping, Gia had been most pleased. Until she’d looked over to share the moment with Hale and remembered he wasn’t there.

But this was how she’d wanted things. Just her and her horses.

She didn’t wish to marry. Not that Hale would be a candidate for her husband. He was merely a distraction.

He’d kissed her and moved on. In the end, he was no better than the other men attempting to lure her to seduction. He’d simply grown weary of the game after a kiss.

She’d mistakenly allowed such liberties and might have allowed a few others if he’d not had at least enough honor to stop them. She shook her head. It was likely the risk of being caught in the drawing room and forced into marriage, rather than honor.

After all, he was a rogue. Less fogue than she’d originally thought. Had that been part of his ruse?

She should have known better than to trust him. But despite knowing their separation was for the best, a large part of her still missed him.

He wasn’t at any of the entertainments she attended. She had stopped looking for him after the second ball, knowing he was avoiding her.

She thought she might have seen him when she’d visited the training paddocks, but if he was there, he managed to stay out of view.