Everything I Do, I Do For You

Chapter 12

Kellan sat dumbfounded with Belinda's shoes in his hands. She had only just given them to her when she had been called away, and now they were seemingly his for the time being. He wondered if she had left them with him on purpose. Of course she did, he had told himself. She is a smart girl, she always tries to think ten steps ahead of me. Then again, she seemed to be earnestly surprised by her father's fall. Regardless, here he sat with a satin pink pair of shoes in his hands. He would hold on to them for her, and give them back.

Now that Belinda had left, Kellan found himself with no real reason to remain at the ball. Belinda was at least partially falling for him, so to stick around and talk to other young women felt wrong-which Kellan couldn't help but notice was uncharacteristic of himself, the man who could and would have any woman he wanted. Nonetheless, he felt some sort of devotion, most likely to his scheme that shoes in hand, he made his way out.

Connor Fairfield caught Kellan before he could leave. "I see Miss Bassett left in quite a rush just a few moments ago. Things must not be working out then?"

Kellan laughed, then held up her shoes, "It was a familial issue. And if this token of her affection means anything" he wiggled the shoes around, "I would say things are working well."

"I'll be damned," Connor said, mouth agape, "But you still have only two weeks until my end of the deal expires, so you might have to think and act quickly."

"Lord Fairfield, you continue to underestimate me." Kellan tried to move away, "Now if you'll excuse me, I am heading home, no reason to stick around if Belinda isn't here any more, now is there?"

Connor put his hand out to stop Kellan, "Wouldn't you care to join me for a little bit of an after party? There will be some... less respectable ladies and booze."

"Not tonight," Kellan replied. Something about talking with Connor Fairfield made him feel like he was betraying Belinda's trust. Why he seemed to care so much about her recently evaded him, maybe it was that kiss. Or more appropriately, the lack thereof.

"You seem rather unfun tonight" Connor said, "If I didn't know any better, I would think you were falling for Miss Bassett"

Kellan tried to answer quickly, "Fortunately for you, you do not know any better" Kellan moved his friend's arm and made his way outside.

He didn't think he was falling for Belinda Bassett. Sure her potential kiss may have been something he was looking forward to, but that was just him being excited about his plan working. And on top of that, her refusal to kiss him. That had been rude, angering, maybe even a bit tempting. Kellan shook his head. He wasn't falling for her. She was going to fall for him.

"As fast as you can please." He asked the driver, "I need a drink more than anything."

"Yes sir" the driver said, unphased by his second comment. That was the nice thing about paid servants, he told himself. They weren't paid enough to care. Maybe Edwin was, but this man, certainly not.

"Driver, I am going to talk loudly about some things that are bothering me. Please disregard them, I just need to air them out."

"Yes sir" the driver replied, ever uninterested.

"I just don't get it," Kellan began. " I don't think I could ever be in love with her. She's impassible and stubborn. Our marriage is purely for title purposes. I know that I can do whatever I want as a man, but something about her makes me want to not. To be sensitive. To stay with her and listen to her pigheaded ways. I wonder if my mother was ever this pigheaded?" Kellan continued along his series of unanswered questions debating a subject that would probably be easily answered by anyone else. But love is hard to understand when gambling plays a factor in it.

"Sir," the driver asked. Kellan's heart temporarily stopped, afraid the driver would try to give him an answer."

"Yes?"

"We're here." Kellan let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Oh thank you." Kellan waited for the driver to open his door and got out. Grabbing the shoes on the seat next to him, he couldn't help but feel very relieved at his release of emotions. It hadn't given him any answers, but it felt good. Before heading off to bed, he stopped at his family portrait.

"Were you really this pigheaded mother? Or have I misattributed that to you?" Of course she did not answer. But Kellan imagined her speaking words of some sort of comfort. Smiling, he headed off to bed.

The next morning, Kellan woke up and dressed quickly. If there was a chance he was falling for Belinda Bassett, he would have to reevaluate his whole plan. Placing her shoes on his desk as a sort of trophy of the night before, he began to scribble thoughts down on some paper. He almost felt like her, scribbling down his opinions. His mind could not help but wonder what she had been writing about him. If he could read that, then he would know if his plan was actually working. But if he had betrayed her trust like that. He would feel awful. And he would also run out of time.

Opening up the large center drawer, he read over the note from Lord Fairfield. Only twelve days he reasoned, until Lord Fairfield's part of the bargain would be over. He didn't have to hold up to his part of the bargain. The time constraint had only been added after the fact. But something in his heart told him that he could do it.