Everything I Do, I Do For You

Chapter 10

Kellan knew he had hurt Belinda the other day. But he also knew that something in her had shifted. Never the optimist but always the gambler, he decided that she was utterly disgusted by him, but interested nonetheless. He would see her again tonight at the ball, she had specifically asked if he would dance with her. Something in that comment reaffirmed his belief that his plan was working. Maybe even a little too well.

Last night, his dreams were flooded with her presence. Her face, an underappreciated beauty. Her demeanor, volatile, but not something he couldn't live with. If -no when he did convince her to marry him, she wouldn't make the worst partner. She probably would not even care about his extramarital pursuits. Heaven knows she didn't want him thinking about her body.

"She'll make an adequate wife" Kellan paced back and forth in front of his parent's portrait, "She seems arrogant and crude, but she'll do"

He tried to imagine what their response would be. Would his mother tell him to be sensible? Or would his father think that his worries were unfounded, and worse, unmanly? And of Belinda, would be a suitable household runner? Was she fair enough, in face and control?

"Well she is pretty of course. She can sire a fair heir for us."

"What is that sir?" Kellan turned his head to find Edwin standing to the left of him holding a jacket.

"Oh. You don't need to worry about it. Just talking about my plan to myself."

"Too woo the young woman?" Edwin seemed partially interested, "Is that still going on?"

"Yes." Kellan took the jacket from his servant and quickly distanced himself from his parents' painting, "And I guess I must be going if I wish it to continue to go well."

He couldn't find Belinda when he first arrived.

"She must be hiding" he whispered to himself upon seeing the duke and duchess hobnobbing with others. If he were Belinda, he thought to himself, where would I go? Probably home, he laughed to himself. But no, she had asked him if he would be there. Either she had stood him up or-there. He saw a partially lit hallway just adjacent to the main hall. She was surely down there.

He found her, hunched close to the candle, scribbling away in her journal.

"You didn't stand me up" he said

She glanced upwards, closed her journal and tucked it away, "Did I make you think I would?"

"Well yes. If I am being honest."

"Good." Belinda stood up and took his arm, "I enjoy keeping you on your toes."

He led her out to dance. "Before we start," he settled his left hand softly above her hips, "I must let you know that I am an adequate dancer"

He watched a smile sweep across her face, "Good."

The music swelled and the two took off. He counted the steps in his head. One two three.

One two three.

One two three.

One two...

"Bloody" the words hissed from closed teeth. Belinda's foot nearly took off half of his own.

"Oh sorry" she said, almost so sweetly that he knew she didn't mean it.

They returned to their rhythmic movement

One two three

One two three

One two three

One-"You have a lead foot, woman"

"Do I?" she batted her eyes

"I'm starting to think you are doing this on purpose." he said, keeping his feet further away from hers.

"Oh, I just possibly couldn't. But if a good dancer is a characteristic you look for in finding a wife, then I guess you should just let me go" She released her hands from him.

"No!" he said almost too quickly, "You can't get away from me like that"

"Oh, I guess I can try to dance a little better, then"

Kellan couldn't help but notice how quickly Belinda's dancing improved. Almost like she was never a poor dancer at all. He couldn't help but admire her persistence and acting ability. If she wasn't a duke's daughter, she could surely be on the stage, or even on the rope for acting as a charlatan. He could even see her dressing up as a young man to get into college. She would make a fun classmate, he thought to himself, if she never was caught.

He kept her dancing for nearly three songs. She didn't seem to mind though, as she spent the entire time talking about herself. Kellan noticed that she only seemed to talk about her negative qualities though. "I am a horrible snorer"

"I curse like a drunken student"

"I will absolutely not eat lamb."

"I don't like the color green at all, it reminds me of vomit."

"If you are trying to repel me" he started, "it's not working at all."

"What? I would never stray away from a nice young man like you. I am just speaking honestly." Belinda cocked a smile.

"Why don't we go get some punch. Unless of course, you have some opinion of it."

Belinda didn't answer, so he led her aside.

Once their way to the refreshments, he watched Belinda take her drink, and wiggle her way back into the crowd. Temporarily, he lost her. But he knew just where she'd be.

"Did you think I wouldn't know you'd be back here?" he found her back in the darkened hallway from before.

"Well, yes. I did." she replied cooly.

"Good, I also like keeping you on your toes too," he sat down next to her, "even if you are using them to hurt mine."

"We'll both be in trouble if someone finds us back here alone." Belinda said.

""We're not alone" he said, "We're in perfect view of the main hall. In fact, look," he pointed his hand, "Bitty Carterbank is watching us"

"I don't think she's watching" Belinda said, "I think sometimes she just stares out into space."

"She could be jealous that I am over here with you," Kellan said.

"I doubt it. Everyone but you seems to understand that I am trying to be unavailable." she answered.

"But yet you are spending time with me," which leads me to think maybe you are willing to be available to me" he said, taking in her full form in the partial light. Her eyes, only a few days before balls of flame, had softened into the glowing embers of a fireplace. A gentle reminder of comfort. Her lips parted softly and were a delightful shade of pink. He leaned in close, wanting a taste. He watched her lean in as well, pursing her tantalizing lips...