Once Upon a Temptingly Ruinous Kiss - Bree Wolf Page 0,71

sneak away to meet with a gentleman alone.” A smile came to her face, most teasing in nature. “Still waters run deep, do they not?”

Leonora turned away, unable to bear her sister’s inquisitive eyes any longer. “I only did what I did because…” She shrugged. “I don’t want to be afraid anymore.” She turned to meet her sister’s eyes. “I want to be myself again.”

Christina’s gaze grew serious. “And he’s helping you do that?”

Leonora nodded.

“You trust him that much? To be alone with him, you must,” Christina remarked, her eyes thoughtful once more, contemplating and assessing. “Still, if you are ever found alone together, you’d be ruined.”

“I know that,” Leonora replied, feeling a new lightness come to her heart. Perhaps she truly ought to speak to her family about everything that had happened. After all, she knew now that she would never be able to forget. “I know the risks, but to me they are worth taking. I have been afraid for too long, and now, at least, I am doing something.” She bowed her head, remembering the moment Lord Sedgwick had stepped too close.

“What is it?” Christina asked, placing a comforting hand on Leonora’s shoulder.

Leonora sighed. “These last few weeks, I’ve come to feel…stronger. I felt more confident and almost certain I could handle any situation. Yet, when Lord Sedgwick…” Her voice trailed off as a tremor ran down her spine at the memory of his intention, the look in his eyes and the way he had leaned closer. “I froze. I simply froze. Everything I thought I knew, everything I thought I had learned was gone in that moment.” A frustrated growl rose from her throat, and her feet began carrying her down the path, unable to remain still any longer. “Was all for nothing? Will I forever be unable to handle myself in these situations?” She spun around and looked at her sister. “What am I to do?”

Long strides carried Christina to her side, a look of certainty in her eyes that Leonora wished she possessed herself. “There is no right answer,” Christina told her, her gaze imploring as she once more grasped Leonora’s hands. “You are doing all you can do. You are trying. You’re doing your best. Do not ask more of yourself.” She paused, and her gaze once more trailed to the hedge. “Do you like him?”

Leonora tensed at her sister’s inquisitive question. “He is a kind man,” she replied, making to turn away, unable to face the deeper meaning in her sister’s question. “He is most respect—”

Christina’s hands tightened upon Leonora’s, not allowing her to escape. “Do you like him?” Christina’s eyes fixed on Leonora’s, making it perfectly clear that she would not let this go.

Leonora swallowed, bowing her head, unable to face this. “It does not matter if I like him or not. Today proved that the past will always overshadow the present. If I cannot bear a man’s presence, how am I to marry? And if I cannot marry, then I will never have a family of my own. The future I thought I would have is no longer within reach. I’ll simply have to accept that.” Again, Leonora made to turn away, and again, her sister stopped her.

“I understand that you must feel discouraged,” Christina said gently. “However, you are not the only one to find herself facing an unwanted suitor.” A chuckle drifted from Christina’s lips, and she straightened her shoulders, brushing a golden curl back into her hood. “Last Season, Lord Kenton tried to steal a kiss and although there was no reasonable explanation to refuse him, I found I did not wish to kiss him.” Leonora watched her sister most carefully, surprised to never have noticed that side of her. “Yes, he’s kind and amiable. He comes from a good family and his reputation is free of any whisper of scandal. He spoke of marriage, and I have no doubt that he would’ve proposed soon.” She shrugged. “By anyone’s opinion, I should have considered myself lucky to have gained his favor. Still, I…I simply couldn’t. He leaned in, and I…” Again, she shook her head, her gaze distant as she remembered that moment. “I liked him, but I did not like him the way I ought to in order to consider him as a husband.” Her eyes once more returned to focus upon Leonora’s. “Perhaps Lord Sedgwick simply wasn’t the right man for you. Perhaps it had nothing to do with what happened and everything to do