CHAPTER 24

She looked at him stunned not expecting that he would want to offer for her so soon but never the less she was happy because he was the only man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She already received numerous offers from her many suitors who found her charming so she was glad Ronnie was acting fast before her father agrees to one of them "When will you be leaving?"

"At midnight, during the Calangas ball"

"So soon, why are you just telling me now?"

"I didn't want you dreading it, I am sorry"

"I will miss you" she buried her head back into his chest.

"I will miss you more."

After their walk in the park he dropped her home in his carriage before driving off to his house.

That same night Madison along with mademoiselle and Jen headed over to the Calangas ball all decked up in their finest ware.

She was swaying lightly to the music along with Ronnie and enjoying the dance before the song ended and he led her to the huge French doors of the balcony.

"Don't you look lovely tonight" he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ears.

"Thank you and you also look charming" he only smiled back picking up both her hands and kissing them.

"Can I get you a drink?" he enquired lovingly.

"Sure" he left her standing outside as he went back inside to get their drinks and after a while she heard footsteps and then felt a presence.

"it seems like we have an odd tendency of bumping into each other at the most unusual places" she knew it was him before she turned because of the deep timber of his voice.

taking in a deep breath she turned around to find the duke of frostway standing not too far away from her with a cheroot dangling between his lips.

He walked over to her "I am beginning to think that you prefer being outside than inside a ball room"

"so do I" she answered eying him wearying, from the few times she had come across him she had found him utterly annoying as he had alway made snide remarks and was always being totally unpredictable.

"Star gazing again?" surprisingly she didn't hear mockery in his voice or maybe he did a good job covering it.

"No, it seemed like tonight the stars have no plans of shinnying bright" the night looked oddly dull to her as only a few stars were seen in the sky but they never the less still looked beautiful as the few that were present formed a shaped which looked very much like a sun flower.

"It seemed like it wanted to shine only as a flower" she looked over to see him also looking at the sky, she was quite impressed, not everybody could identify what it was at first glance. "Would you like to take a stroll as you wait for your companion?"

She was shocked to her bones as she hadn't expected the question from him. He must have notice she was waiting for someone as her eyes constantly kept darting to the doors.

the man always seemed rude and nonchalant when she was with him and now that he was trying to be cordial and civil she decided not to be the rude one. Glancing over to the double French doors she saw that Ronnie was still nowhere to be found and she had been waiting there for a while now, thinking a little stroll won't do her any harm she obliged.

He puffed out the smoke from his cigar and she felt her nose wrinkle, she had never been around a man smoking before so the smell was new and repulsive to her.

"Does it bother you" she heard him ask after a while of roaming around the gardens.

"Bother me?" she seemed confused

"The cigar" he provided not seeming offended about her trail of thought.

"Actually, the smell is quite foreign and it is a bit unsettling." taking one last puff he threw the cheroot before stamping on it. "Thank you"

The kept walking in silence being the only people outside and Madison felt a bit uncomfortable as it wasn't a comforting one, Trying to break the nerve ending silence that engulfed them she started the conversation. "So how is Lady Catalina, did she attend the ball with you?"

"Unfortunately no, she was rather busy today. And you Madison are you here with Mr. Jamison." she didn't fail to notice he addressed her by her first name and her companion by his last.

"Yes" she saw him nod his head before looking at the balcony doors and back to her.

"it seems like you are actually interested in him"

Not knowing how to respond to the statement she stared at him feeling there was a hidden meaning to his words. "Did I happen to give you reason to think I felt otherwise?"

He laughed before continuing to look straight into her eyes "yes you did, I didn't picture you as a woman who settled for less, I thought you were an ambitious one"

"If you are talking about titles and riches then know I do not care for either one of them"

"Really now?" he stepped closer to her entering her personal space "every woman dose, it's all about the luxury and titles for them."

"Why do you think all women are opportunists" she stared at him with pressed lips trying not to lose her temper at hiim.

"Because they are" he stated as if it was a matter of fact.

"Then what are you doing here with me if you think I am a scheming person or do you doubt your theory?"

"certainly not, you are like puzzle I want to unravel Madison" he stepped closer to her making her retreat back "you claim your different, better, but how different can a woman be, they all use what they have to get what they want"

"And you men all buy it" she stared right into his blue eyes "and for a man like yourself who have a problem with women character you seem to be around them quite often."