“Well, daenae ye look like the angel ye are?” Paige said, nearly knocking over the seamstress as she stepped into the room.
“Thank you, Paige,” Cleopatra said with a smile stretching from ear to ear.
“Nay time to dawdle, dinner is bein’ served soon and there is someone special waitin’ for ye downstairs.”
“Do you think he’ll like this dress?”
“Aye, he’ll like it,” Paige said as she bowed.
Cleopatra stole one last glimpse of herself in the mirror and couldn’t help but think she was like one of the damsels she had read about in her books. Keeping her head high, she moved slowly to the door pushing aside everything else that wanted to clutter her mind.
It’s only supposed to be dinner. Nothing more, but I hope we will have a chance to be alone. I can only imagine what Jude will do when he sees me now. Perhaps the accident was planned. How cheeky would that be? I wouldn’t put it past him if he did damage my dress on purpose.
As Cleopatra made her way down the steps, she found herself longing for Jude more and more. Everything in her being screamed for her to remain with Jude. Everything about him intrigued her.
He was kind and thoughtful. She had never once heard him raise his voice to Hugh and he was grateful to his servants. Yet what really got under her skin was his ability to kiss her with such passion that he made the world spin. Although Jude was the only man she had really known besides the servants in her father’s house and she had no one to compare him to, still she was smitten.
“Ye’re a sight to behold,” Jude said as she noticed him waiting for her at the bottom of the steps. Cleopatra noticed Jude’s eyes drifting down from her face and stopping at her bosom. She felt wanted by him.
“You can thank your seamstress for that,” Cleopatra said as she took his hand.
“I must say, I daenae think I’ve ever seen a woman as enchantin’ as ye. The seamstress definitely kens how to bring out yer beauty,” Jude said as Cleo caught him gazing at her breasts.
Her heart fluttered as she squeezed his hand a bit tighter. All she could think about was how he made her feel in the library. Her face flushed from the heat rising in her as Jude’s lips curled up. It was as if he could read her thoughts and knew where they had roamed to.
As they walked through the main entrance to the sitting room, Cleopatra felt as if every eye fell on her. She knew it was the fabric of her dress that made her feel as if she were naked. But with Jude’s longing gazes on her, she didn’t mind it at all. If anything, she wanted Jude to want her.
“Why is everyone staring?” Cleopatra asked as she felt a lump forming in her throat. She wasn’t one to be the center of attention, yet here, with Jude she was.
“They are just admirin’ yer beauty,” Jude said flashing his crooked little grin that sent her heart fluttering. “Daenae think of them. It is only ye and me tonight.”
As they walked into the sitting room, Cleopatra noticed how the room had changed. It was brighter now with all the candles lit and the aroma of roasted chicken swirled about the room causing her stomach to growl. She hadn’t realized just how hungry she was until that very moment.
The plates were organized and spaced accordingly, giving Jude and Cleopatra just enough space between them to eat, but weren’t so far apart that she wouldn’t be able to hear him.
“I take it Hugh will not be joining us tonight?” Cleopatra asked as Jude pulled out her chair for her to sit. She nodded to the extra setting across from her.
“I dinnae ken if that was what ye wanted, I had hoped we might be able to revisit the library at some point,” Jude said with a wink.
So, he did know where my thought had drifted off to. Or perhaps his shifted there too. Oh, he does smell good and is so handsome. A lady could easily get swept away by his charms and charisma.
“But if ye did, he is more than welcome to come down. I had thought tonight would just be us though.”
“I see,” Cleopatra said as she lowered herself down into the chair. Jude quickly moved to his seat and sat.
Looking at the roasted chicken in the center of the table and the tall silver goblets, Cleopatra smiled. She had never dined in such luxury before. Placing the napkin on her lap, she noticed a servant rushing to fill her goblet up with a red liquid that smelled sweet and fruity.
“Have ye thought about me proposal?” Jude asked as he began eating the roasted chicken that was served. Cleopatra knew the question was bound to come up, she just wasn’t expecting it to happen so soon.
“I have,” she said as she nibbled on the bread roll.
“And? Pray tell, what is yer decision?”
“I’d like to stay,” she said glancing to Jude before quickly filling her mouth full of food to keep her intentions hidden. They sat in silence a moment, both considering the weight of her decision. She nibbled the food on her plate, stealing glimpses of him as they ate. Slowly, his face beamed as he scooted closer to the table.
“Are ye certain?”
“Truth is,” Cleopatra said as she felt her throat tighten with excitement and a hint of anxiety for being so forthright. “I’ve grown fond of Hugh. He is kind just like his father.”
Jude stared at her with a smirk on his lips as he leaned in closer to her. “Is that the only reason ye’re stayin’?”
Cleopatra sucked her breath in quickly as Jude’s hand grabbed her thigh. Immediately her eyes shifted to the servants standing around the room wondering if any of them saw Jude’s hand on her.
“Perhaps there is another
