Free Thawing A Duke's Heart (Faces of Love Series #1) by Jessie Bennett

pushed his hips one last time. I let out a small scream in an explosion of emotion. It was as if a dam had burst. He took my mouth with his to quiet me. Suddenly, he stilled.
    “What was that?” I heard my mother’s voice from nearby, not far enough down the hall.
    Gaffton bolted upright in an instant, grabbing me and pulling me up also in the process. I could hear the turn of the library door. It all happened so quickly, and with the explosion I had just felt, I wasn’t right on my feet. I fell into Gaffton’s arms. He caught me just as I heard a gasp from my mother.
    I turned my head to see my mother and Lady Cadwell standing in the doorway. Mother looked like she was about to faint. I could imagine how horrible the scene was. I was completely disheveled, trying to kick the last of my dress down to the ground, my hair was probably a wreck, and my lips still tingled from the liberties he had taken with them.
    Gaffton immediately took a step back, still keeping one arm outstretched at my shoulder to keep me steady for a second longer. He cleared his throat. “Lady Mary was just giving me a tour of your fine library.”
    I was still doing my best to catch my breath when my father and Lord Cadwell came in behind them.
    “Ah, there you are, Your Grace. We have been wondering where you went off to. Come and try some of my fine brandy,” Father said, completely unaware of what Mother just interrupted.
    Worse, she didn’t even see the full severity of it. Father must have thought that Gaffton had been here with us three women and not just myself, because he was completely innocent to any wrongdoings.
    Mother immediately burst into tears, turned and fled the room. Father looked after her, confused. Lord Cadwell was just as confused. “What was that about?” Cadwell asked the group in general. Lady Cadwell stood as still as a statue, unable to respond.
    “I am sorry to say that I must take my leave,” Gaffton said finally. He turned to me and bowed properly. I curtsied out of habit, but was unable to look him in the eye.
    He stopped in front of my father before leaving. “I am sorry. I…I am grateful for your hospitality. I highly respect you.”
    Father stood there, confused at the meaning of Gaffton’s words. “Of course, Your Grace is welcome here anytime.”
    With that, Gaffton walked out of the library and quickly out the townhouse. I immediately excused myself to my room.

CHAPTER 11

Disgraced

    * * *
    I lay in bed , waiting for Julia to come upstairs and into our room. I should have been mortified. I should have felt disgraced. All I could do was rub the tingle still on my swollen lips. Mother would never speak to me again, I was sure of it. She would most likely send me away. To where? I wondered.
    No doubt that the events of tonight would reach the ton by week’s end. I was completely unmarriageable. I should have been happy about it. That meant Mother couldn’t berate me any longer. I wouldn’t have to pretend to be trying. I was strangely disappointed though. I had developed feelings for Gaffton as a friend over the last few months, but tonight was a turning point. It wasn’t just the passion. I wanted to be with him for the rest of my life. I wanted to make him happy, to have a family with him, to be by his side always. My heart had been irrevocably sealed to his.
    My heart immediately sank at the thought. He didn’t feel the same. I suddenly realized the hurt that he had felt for Abigail. It was as if something was being torn out of my chest. I curled up on my side in bed, contemplating the fact that I would forever love him, and he would never feel the same for me. He had said it himself; it was lust and nothing more to him.
    I had that sudden desire to do anything to make the pain go away, bury my heart, anything possible that I could do to feel nothing. I completely understood him now. I knew he had built his wall to prevent any more heartache, but never realized he was also numbing himself to