Everything I Do, I Do For You

Chapter 14

Kellan knew he couldn't see Belinda on Tuesday. Everyone in the ton knew that, and made sure that he knew too. So Tuesday was spent in continual contemplation. Half way through the day, he had come to his peak conclusion. Belinda Bassett was in love with him. And believe it or not, he was in love with her. He looked down at his table of notes. He seemed to have written her name over 100 times. He didn't know if he'd need a mistress just yet, but he certainly knew she would be a great person to spend time with. Her standoffish behaviors were simply endearing.

"I think I've done it." He said, staring up at his mother. "I just hope... No I know that she feels the same way about me."

"I am proud of you son" he could practically hear her saying.

"I can't see her tonight, she is off with her family." he said, "but tomorrow I shall tell her how I feel."

In the back of his mind he toyed with the idea that she may reject him. She had made sure to tell him that others had tried and failed. But maybe she had lied. Maybe she was just playing hard to get. He escaped right back into his office. How could he prove to her that he loved her?

He glanced down at his desk. His pages of notes! She clearly was someone who enjoyed writing, and this would clearly get through to her. With the careless manner of love, he gathered the papers and stacked them together. Tomorrow, he would see her. He had promised to meet her at the St. Clair house, she had said they were relatives in some form, and that it was most important to keep the ruse up in front of her family members. When they had a moment to slip away, which he knew that they would because she had done so at every event so far, he would give them to her. If he were to ask privately, it would hopefully mean more to her.

"Belinda Bassett. You are enough to drive a man mad," he said out loud.

The next night, he dressed in his finest clothing and grabbed his stack of paper. He glanced up at the clock. He had never been so prompt to anything in his life. This must have been love.

When he arrived at the St. Clair house he headed straight for his hosts.

"Lord and Lady," he bowed, "I understand you are related to Miss Belinda Bassett,"

The woman nodded, "Yes. She is my sister's child."

"Is she here yet?" he said almost too eagerly.

"She is on her way I am sure. My dear sister, bless her heart, tends to run late. Are you to be her potential suitor I have heard much about?" Lady St. Clair asked.

"Yes! Well at least I do hope so." he said smiling.

"You must be quite a man to woo her. She actually took tea with my mother and sisters yesterday. She has been avoiding that for nearly two years. I suppose soon enough you shall be calling me aunt Hyacinth." the woman smiled.

He couldn't understand the significance of the tea remark, but the last comment on being part of the family made his heart swell. Of course his sister in law and niece were a very important part of his life, but the opportunity to have more. More love and more care, seemed perfect.

Before he could answer, he heard a most familiar voice, "Good evening Aunt Hyacinth, Uncle Garreth" Kellan spun around, reaching for the letters in his pocket.

"This young man here was just looking for you," Hyacinth said, nearly pushing Kellan forward.

"It is a pleasure to see you, sir" Belinda bowed and extended her hand. Something felt different about her presence today. Something felt-dare he say good.

He took her hand and kissed it, "The pleasure is all mine. And if you please," he turned to face the duke and duchess, "I would like to take your daughter to dance."

"Of course" the duke nodded.

Kellan took Belinda's hand and led her away. He knew he had initially planned to wait until she was ready to rest to give her the letters, but he couldn't help but keep walking with her.

"I do say you have passed a majority of the dance floor" Belinda said.

"I thought you were the type of woman who liked to hide away at events like these. I was just making things easier for you."

"By shunning me away?" she raised an eyebrow,'"Besides, if anyone knows where to go around here, it would be me." Commandingly she led him down a few hallways, he didn't mind her forceful nature. If anything this proved that she must have felt something for him.

"Since they are family, I feel quite comfortable going further within the house." she said

"Aren't you afraid that someone might notice our absence?" Kellan questioned

"Are you? I can just claim you were helping me find somewhere to clear my head." she said, slithering her arm out from his and opening a door. "Come sit, let us talk."

"They were in what he could only assume was a spare bedroom. Fumbling for the documents in his pockets, Kellan stumbled over his words, "Belinda. I need to tell you that I love you. And I understand that you are not the type of person to fall in love, but if these," he handed her the papers, only slightly crumbled by his hands, "if these can prove anything to you, I hope that they can prove that I feel so strongly about you."

He watched her take the papers, read a few and then look up at him, tears nestled slightly in the corners of each eye. "Damn you. Damn Caroline as well," she whispered.

"I'm sorry," he said silently.

"I told myself that I would never marry. But then I go and fall in love with you too. You win. You have wooed me." She said putting the letters to her heart.

"And you have wooed me." he answered, "more than I ever realized."

Leaning inwards, Kellan received his long awaited kiss from Belinda Bassett, the woman he loved. And the woman that loved him.