Clara felt her body become warm at those words. Brandon was wanting to kiss her. She gazed deep into his eyes, her heart fluttering, and smiled softly. "You may."
Returning her smile, Brandon moved his right hand to caress her left cheek, his eyes fixed with hers. Leaning in, he brushed his lips against hers for a soft kiss. After a moment, he pulled back, his eyes twinkling. "Was that all right?"
Clara smiled. "It was perfect."
Their lips came together for another sweet kiss, this one turning passionate. Their tongues began a delicious waltz of desire, their arms intertwining around each other. In that moment, they knew their relationship had changed from friendship into more.
***
Bronson. "You must be joking. Did the Duke of Manchester truly kiss you last night?"
Arthur. "With your permission no less."
Clara was blushing a brilliant pink by this point, having been teased by her brothers all morning. She smacked them both on the shoulder. "Will the two of you stop your teasing? Yes, the Duke kissed me last night, with my permission. Are you satisfied with my answer?"
Arthur smiled. "Yes we are sister. And we apologize for teasing you, we can't quite help ourselves."
Bronson. "Are we to expect the Dukes presents today? Or sometime this week?"
Elizabeth chuckled softly. "Indeed we are. The two of you do remember that we have our ball tomorrow night."
Bronson. "Do you mean to say Clara does remember?"
Clara rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him. "I do remember that we have a ball tomorrow evening brother. I told mama that Brandon must be invited."
Bronson raised one eyebrow. "The two of you call each other by your Christian names now?"
Arthur elbowed him in the ribs. "They are courting you idiot."
Clara smiled at her brothers before turning her attention to Elizabeth. "How many people are we to expect mama?"
Elizabeth glanced at the list of guests for the ball the next evening. "About 50 my dear."
Clara nodded. "Good, our dining room and ballroom are both large enough to accommodate."
Elizabeth. "Exactly. Do you know what gown you are going to wear?"
Clara sighed. "I am torn between two options. I don't know which one to pick."
Elizabeth. "Show me which ones they are and I will help you."
Smiling, they rose from their seats at the breakfast table and made their way upstairs. Clara walked into her bedroom and opened her closet, retrieving the two gowns she was torn between. She hung each one on one of the round door knobs of her closet.
Both ensembles had off the shoulder sleeves and sweetheart neck lines. One was a lovely blush pink and the other turquoise. Both were composed of silk with iridescent crystals along the bodice.
Elizabeth. "They are both very beautiful my love. Either one would be perfect."
Clara nodded. "I know, and that is my dilemma. I don't know which one to choose."
Elizabeth. "Why not the turquoise? Save the blush pink for another ball. You still have plenty of them to attend."
Clara smiled. "That is a brilliant idea mama, thank you for your assistance."
Elizabeth smiled. "You are very welcome my love, I am happy to be of help."
Clara watched her mother turn and leave before glancing back at her gown of choice. She smiled at the lovely turquoise gown, knowing that a certain Duke would very much approve. Placing her ensemble of choice onto the bed, she put the blush pink gown back into the closet for another time.
Clara walked over to the large glass window overlooking London. She gazed out into the city, watching as carriages drove by. She smiled to herself, excited and anxious to see Brandon again.
***
The following evening, Clara stood with her mother and brothers in the foyer of Harrington Park, waiting for the first guest to arrive. She felt excited and nervous, not knowing what to expect for that evening. Of course, she was expecting Brandon to arrive.
Arthur. "You look lovely sister. That color turquoise suits you perfectly."
Clara smiled at him. "Thank you brother."
Elizabeth. "Oh, there is the first carriage of the night."
Clara smiled as she welcomed her first guests of the night. She knew a few of them from childhood, but most were acquaintances. She was complemented by both gentlemen and ladies on her lovely appearance.
Nearly half an hour later, a carriage drove up to the house that made Clara's heart skip a beat. She recognized the Manchester coat of arms, which consisted of a dark red and gold shield with a black and gold bumblebee in the center. Brandon had come at last.
Once the carriage came to a stop, the footman stepped out, walked around to the other side, and opened the door. He moved aside as Brandon emerged from the vehicle, looking incredibly dashing in his three-piece black silk suit with a turquoise button up shirt white cravat and black boots. His smile was brilliant, his eyes lighting up as he saw Clara and her family waiting for him.
Elizabeth smiled as Brandon approached. "We are very pleased to have you joining us this evening your grace."
Brandon smiled, brushing her knuckles with a polite kiss. "I am honored to be joining you Lady Harrington."
Brandon turned his attention to Arthur Bronson and Clara. He smiled. "Good evening to all of you."
Arthur. "Good evening to you Manchester."
Bronson elbowed Clara in the ribs. "Someone has been very anxious for you to arrive."
Clara became bright pink, shaking her head with mortification. "Please excuse my brother your Grace. He and Arthur have been teasing me for the last 24 hours."
Brandon chuckled, gently taking her hand and brushing his lips against her knuckles. "That is perfectly all right miss Harrington. Thank you for having me here."
Clara. "Thank you for joining us."
The group went into the house, closing the door behind them. Moments later, the Harrington family escorted their guests into the dining room for dinner. Everyone took their seats, which were assigned based on couples.
As Clara took her seat next to Brandon, she felt as if she was floating on clouds of joy. Now that they were courting, they had the opportunity to spend more time together without being interrupted. Unfortunately, little did they realize that their happiness would be ruined before the evening was finished.