The Perfect Duchess (Completed)

Chapter 5. 1795 

Charles. "The queen has so many beautiful young ladies for us to take."
Benjamin. "She certainly does, but it's quite tricky choosing the right one."
Charles smiled deviously. "Then we may as well have our way with all of them."
James shook his head with disapproval. Charles Maxwell, the duke of Richmond, and Benjamin Stanberry, the duke of Grafton, weren't the sharpest tools in the toolbox when it came to women. When it came to taking women to their bed, the two gentleman had become experts. And not in a good way.
Charles glanced at James. "What do you think of them Remington? Do you find them to be beautiful?"
Benjamin. "I'm sure you find one of them to be lovely at least."
James wasn't listening to their conversation anymore. His attention was fixed on Camille as she ran into the ballroom. His heart nearly stopped as he noticed how pale she was, her eyes wide and wild with fear. What had happened? He moved swiftly away from his fellow gentleman, his feet propelling him across the ballroom toward her.
Noticing James making his way toward her, Camille felt a wave of relief cascade through her body. She needed to speak to someone about what happened to her earlier with Richard, and Genevieve wasn't the right person at that moment. Once the duke of York was within arms length of her, she reached out and took his hand, leading him out of the ballroom and onto the terrace. She needed to speak to him alone. No one else needed to know about Richard and his advances.
James stared at her, his heart pounding and his eyes filled with concern. He took her other hand into his, squeezing both of them gently. "Camille, whatever is the matter? What happened?"
Camille started shaking like a leaf, tears cascading down her cheeks before she could stop them. "The king... he put his hands on me."
James felt his body become tense and rigid, felt the color disappear from his face. Richard had touched Camille. He had touched her. His fingers tightened around hers, his eyes boring into her soul. "Did he do anything else?"
Camille swallowed hard. "He kissed me, and his hand touched my breast and..."
James held up one hand to silence her. "You don't need to go into detail Camille. I just want to know one thing, did he take you to his bed?"
Camille shook her head. "No, he didn't. I pushed him away before he could do anything else. I believe I may have left a nasty bruise on the back of his head."
James raised one eyebrow. "Where were the two of you?"
Camille. "We were on the staircase. The king came and took me away from the ballroom. I found myself pressed against the banister of the staircase. Richard was trying to make advances on me, and would have succeeded, but I made sure he didn't. I didn't bother looking behind me as I came back into the ballroom. But I did hear him fall on the stairs."
James smiled softly. "You are one brave woman Miss Eau Claire. But I must ask, are you all right? Do you need someone to escort you back to your chambers?"
Camille. "I'm all right your grace. And no, I don't need to be escorted back to my chambers. However... I don't want Richard making any further advances on me. I don't know how to keep them at bay."
James moved a little closer, his sweet warm breath flowing across her face. "I believe I might have a solution."
Camille felt her heart give a jouled as she gazed into his gorgeous green eyes. "And what is that solution your grace?"
James caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. "We are going to form a lovely attachment."
Camille's eyes widened. "Do you mean a courtship?"
James. "Yes, I do mean that exactly. That way, the king won't have any need to touch you."
Camille felt her heart beginning to race in her chest. If she and James formed the perfect attachment, Richard would leave her alone. She wouldn't be subjected to his putrid advances. She would be on the arm of one of the most eligible gentlemen England had to offer. She would be on the arm of the Duke of York. She gave him a gentle smile. "Your grace, I believe that's a wonderful idea."
James smiled back just as tenderly, his thumb moving to softly glide across her lips. "Wonderful."
The young couple gazed into one another's eyes, ignoring the cold air that blew across their skin. Little did they realize that their perfect ruse was going to become very real. It was only a matter of time before the flame of love passion and desire took hold of both of them and captured their hearts.