Cecilia:

What the devil? I lifted my head, my eyes widening as the low melodic notes floated into my ear. How... What...? Rory could sing, and he could sing magnificently at that. I felt his eyes turn to meet mine, a look of victory gleaming in his eyes and I felt a warm blush creep over me. 

I returned my eyes to focus on my music, not that I needed to stare at it as intently as I was, I had been playing this piece since I was young and I was quite accomplished in the art of the piano forte.

The piece came to a finish and without a moments hesitation I pulled Rory's face down to mine, momentarily forgetting what I had intended to say as I found his near proximity infuriatingly breathtaking.. 

I was snapped out of my reverie by his teasing words, "I really don't think we should do this now with all the guests watching," I watched as an impudent grin spread across his face, his words causing my face to flush at his insinuation of why I had pulled his face to me.

"You are a filthy rogue," I snapped in response to his suggestive comment. "I did not know you could sing so well." 

I threw Rory a suspicious look, where had he learned to sing like that. He had ruined my whole plan to publicly humiliate him damn the wretched man. I refrained from growling at the infuriating man as he continued to smile roguishly at me.

What other hidden talents did he hold that I was unaware of? I narrowed my eyes at him, watching him closely, staring into his swirling honey eyes as if they would disclose all his deepest secrets to me. 

"What else are you hiding from me?" I wondered aloud when his eyes did not reveal his deep, dark secrets like I had hoped they would.

"If only you knew my lady," he replied with a chuckle, his eyes however held a melancholy look belying the humour in his laugh, "If only you knew..." He repeated himself, his words quieter the second time. 

I tossed him a perplexed look, if only I knew what? What did I not know? I let out a bleat of protest, I was not one to settle for not knowing. 

When I turned back to ask him what he had meant though, he had moved towards the guests seated on the chaises conversing with them politely as they complimented his singing.

I made my way over to join our guests and decided to take the opportunity to talk to Denny who was seated slightly away from the bulk of the guests. 

"Well you certainly make for a handsome couple," he winked at me jovially, his eyes filled with humour.

"Tosh," I laughed at his teasing comment, slapping his shoulder gently.

"Who would have thought it? Little, feisty Cecilia married to the ungracious, hot-headed Rory, and by the look on your face earlier, it seems our little Cecilia has changed her mind about the aforementioned." He winked at me before sending me a toothy grin.

"I... Are you saying... Me and... Me like... Look on my face...? What the devil has got into you Denny? Are you out of your mind?" Contrary to my words a small blush began to creep up my neck, his words prickling my skin uncomfortably.

"Why, I do believe that is a blush I spy," he chuckled again, enjoying every second of my embarrassment. His words only heightened the redness of my cheeks as I swatted my hands at him helplessly.

"I am not blushing!" I hissed at him through my clenched teeth.

"Well that is not what I see," he chuckled quietly, "I do believe you are quite attached to your tiresome husband my dear Cecilia."

My mouth opened in protestation at his ridiculous words, but before I could respond and tell him just how I felt about my pig of a husband, he had left his seat and had wandered over to Rory. Oh God, what was that devil of my friend going to say?

I remained glued to my seat after my conversation with Denny, when I looked back to where Denny had left to I could see him talking to Rory with a serious look plastered onto his face. 

Denny turned around and threw a wink in my direction which I noticed Rory frown at before whispering something in Denny's ear which made him noticeably shudder before gulping and nodding profusely. God what was going on over there?

"Gentlemen," I greeted Denny and Rory in the hopes of receiving some sort of explanation. "A beautiful moon tonight do not you think?" I gestured with one gloved hand to the large windows through which the bright silvery moon was visible.

"Indeed, I suspect it is soon to be a full moon," Rory spoke up, giving Denny a pointed look.

"I do think I have missed something, pray what were you men talking about before I joined you, I must say the conversation looked most scintillating. Why, I was quite jealous! So do tell me, what is it you two have been speaking of so seriously over here?"

"Oh, it was nothing much... Just some... err..."

"Business, business my dear Cecilia," Denny finished off as Rory's face coloured before he sent a scowl in Denny's direction.

Business the King's arse! What in God's name were those two doing, and why was Rory scowling at Denny? Ugh, I held in a groan of frustration. My curiosity had been peaked but I decided to let it go for now, I would wheedle it out of Rory eventually. 

I had almost forgotten the failure of my plan earlier, although, exploiting Rory's mellifluous singing had almost made up for it. A complacent smile settled on my face, yes, Rory's singing may have just made up for my defeat.

**********

The last of our company left around eleven o'clock after a few rounds of cards and music. I managed to stop myself from yawning both from tiredness and boredom as we finally managed to remove everyone from the house. 

Rory came up beside me and wound one arm around my waist, drawing me to him as we waved off the final guests. I stiffened slightly at the gesture but there was something warm and comforting about having his arm around me and I let my tired body relax into him.

Ellis closed the door as the carriages drove off into the darkness leaving a fading trail of yellow as their lights flickered in the wind. I shivered as a gust of cold air brushed against my skin, goosebumps raising on my bare arms. 

I felt Rory's arm tighten around me, drawing me closer to him as I let out another involuntary shiver. His warmth spread through me instantaneously and I found myself leaning my head against his chest, eager to soak up as much of his warmth as I could.

As I sleepily leaned my head against Rory I noticed the smell of hay and wood encircle me and filter through my nostrils. I took a deep breath, inhaling his masculine aroma, something about it excited and relaxed me at the same time.

Just to the side of my head I could hear his rapid heart beat thumping dully, muffled beneath his waistcoat and shirt. Unconsciously I lifted my hand and placed it on his torso, searching for the thudding of his heart, once I found it I let my hand rest there a moment longer before realising the intimacy of what I was doing and hastily removed my hand from his body.

"I think we need to get you off to bed," Rory spoke lowly, his voice sounding quietly strained. I felt another wave of sleep wash over me as he mentioned sleep. I nodded dumbly and lifted my head from his chest to offer him a drowsy smile.

I disentangled myself from Rory and made my way over to the foot of the stairs, accidentally tripping over the hem of my dress. 

"Bollocks," I muttered under my breath. I heard a chuckle behind me as Rory's hand slid once again around my waist, steadying me.

"Easy there," he shook his head at me and tilted his head to look at me, a mixture of humour and despair painted across his angular features as if he were looking at an untrainable puppy. I growled at his almost pitying look.

"I am quite capable," I snapped at him.

"Right now you look as if you are going to fall asleep where you are stood, I hardly think your sleep walking skills are adept enough to get you from the bottom of the stairs to your chamber. Now then," his arms scooped my up off my feet so he was holding me to him and I let out a small shriek, wrapping my arms around his neck to make myself more secure.

"Put me down this instance! How dare you manhandle me in such a way you scoundrel!" I sleepily complained, my anger growing as a smile swept over his face. Ignoring my complaints and thumps on his chest, he soldiered on up the stairs, that stupid smile still plastered to his face.

Resigning myself to my hopeless fate of being stuck in the Devil's arms I grunted before squirming into a more comfortable position.

 I felt my droopy eyelids closing and allowed myself to settle into the warm, solid chest behind me as I let sleep take me.

Not long after being claimed by sleep I felt my body being placed beneath the covers of my bed and suddenly the warmth left me. 

I reached out my arms in the hopes of finding the warmth that had been stolen from me but they grasped at empty air. I brought my hands back and snuggled into my covers hoping to find some warmth there.

Just before I was fully plunged back into sleep I felt a hand on my forehead pushing back the hair from my temple and a soft warmth pressed against my head leaving a tingling sensation in my skin. 

If I didn't known better I would've thought Rory had kissed me but I pushed the ludicrous thought from my mind as sleep finally gripped me. 

Hello Readers!

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