Everything I Do, I Do For You

Chapter 7

"To see me?" Belinda said, her eyes peering slightly above her journal. "No one ever comes to see me. I've made sure of it."

"You can't say that anymore, now can you?" her mother said, "Now go greet your guest." Daphne took the journal from Belinda and tossed it onto her bed.

"Whomever it is, is not my guest," Belinda answered reluctantly standing up, "I didn't invite them here"

"I can understand your behaviors when we are out and about, but Belinda you cannot act this way when we have guests. Now go" The slight anger in her mother's voice made Belinda jump into action.

"Sorry" Belinda whispered, hurrying down the stairs.

She found her guest waiting for her in the drawing room. It was the Scotsman she had met the night before. Something Butler she recalled. "Mr. Butler, a pleasure to see you again" Belinda lied, forcing a smile.

"I hope you don't mind my coming to pay you a visit,"

"I do" she thought to herself.

"But I could not stop thinking about the charming conversation we had last night." he was clearly lying, but she didn't know why.

"Oh I wouldn't say it was charming" she said half concealing her bitter feelings, "But it was a conversation."

"Why don't you come and sit down with me?" he patted the seat next to him.

"Yes, well it would be very uncomfortable to stand all this time."

"Ahh there's that sense of humor I enjoyed last night." Kellan said.

She awkwardly sat down next to him, "Kellan, right?"

"Yes. And I could never forget your name, Miss Belinda."

Belinda waited until her parents seemed to be engaged in their own conversation to drop the fancy pretences. "What on God's green earth are you doing here?" her words were quiet yet sharp.

"I have decided to woo you" Kellan replied more loudly than she expected.

"Did my father put you up to this?"

"No. Not at all. This was all my idea."

"Well then unthink it!" Belinda said, "I will never fall in love with you."

"Miss Bassett, I am a man who gets what I want, and right now what I want is you."

"And dear sir, I can assure you that I always get what I want, and right now I want nothing more than for you to go away."

"Well, we'll just have to see who wants what more." Kellan smiled slyly. "Now your father says you play piano like an angel plays a harp, would you show me?" Kellan's voice returned to it's normal level.

Happy to get away from him, Belinda stood up, "Of course" She let her fingers dance across the keys, playing a Mozart piece. Each note she played meant time spent not sitting next to him, so she took some liberties in different measures.

"You play beautifully" Kellan said

"She gets that from her mother" The duke answered.

"I could play another if you'd like?" Belinda said.

"No, no come sit with me." Kellan backend her back over.

Reluctantly, she made her way back to him. Sitting in silence for a few minutes, she took the time to study his face. He was fairly attractive, with dark hair and eyes and the most symmetrical nose she had ever seen. But plenty of men had been attractive, and that didn't make her fall in love.

His equal silence led her to believe that he was studying her the same way. Probably trying to dive deeper into her and find a way to make her fall in love.That would never happen, she thought to herself. Good luck with that.

"You have nice eyes" he finally managed to say.

"Thank you" she replied, assuming that his remark was a compliment.

"Beyond playing the piano, what else can I learn about you?" he asked.

"Nothing more." she lowered her voice, "lest you try to use it against me."

"Well that is not fair is it. I was willing to tell you everything about myself last night, and you won't do the same?"

"Yes, and if you recall I told you not to bother, as I am never getting married."

"At least I know one more thing about you." Kellan said with a sense of satisfaction.

"And that is?" Belinda raised an eyebrow

"You're stubborn as a mule"

"That, unfortunately, she gets from me." the duke must have overheard that part of the conversation.

"Simon, I'd say you are more pigheaded than stubborn." the duchess answered.

"I also know that you have tea with your mother's family every Tuesday" Kellan added

Belinda was annoyed by his attempt to analyze her. "If you do know two things about me, then I guess it is only fair that you share two things about yourself."

"Ahh, you are falling for me already," Kellan said.

"No!" Belinda nearly yelled.

"Well, if you are dying to know. I am a fairly decent boxer." she watched him punch the air playfully, "And I have recently inherited an Earldom.

"Your title means nothing to me, if you think I am one of those girls. Besides, I am used to the life of a duke's daughter." while she did enjoy trying to make herself as unappealing as possible she felt the need to add, "Not that I require much to keep me entertained."

"Why yes, I would love to see you again, as long as that is alright with your parents?'" Kellan said loudly.

"What, that's not what I?" Belinda said

"Yes, you two are always welcome to spend time with each other, chaperoned of course."

"Will tomorrow work? I would love to promenade with you."

"I! No..." Belinda sputtered then relented. "That would be perfect."

"Wonderful" he kissed her hand, "I must get going, but I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow dear Belinda."

"I can walk you out" the duke offered.

At this moment, Belinda Bassett decided that she must come up with her own plan. She would play along with his game, and then. If by the end of the season he actually asked her to marry him, she would flatly refuse. If he was going to pull her along on some kind of wild mission, then the least she could do was have the last word.