Her Wicked Proposal novel Chapter 29

As an only child, she'd never known the joy of having siblings. To be openly claimed by Cedric's family now that her father was gone strangely made her want to weep. "Does your brother enjoy the opera as well?"

Anne knew so little of Cedric. Truly knew him, that is. She knew his mannerisms, his way of charming those around him, and what was officially recorded about him. She'd made it the purpose of her first season out to know him, but as a man he was still a mystery. What color did he favor, what was his favorite dinner dish? Did he enjoy the opera? There was much that she wished to know, and her eagerness for this surprised her.

"Cedric isn't much interested in the arts, but opera seems to be the one exception. He rents a box in Covent Garden," Horatia said. "He hasn't gone since..." Her voice trailed off; there was no need to finish her sentence. "But I think he should go. Opera is more about music than the scenes and actors."

"That is true," Emily agreed. "It is settled then. We must convince Cedric to attend the opera. You must ask him, Anne."

"Me? Why me?"

"He might feel flattered that you wish to be seen with him in public."

"I'm marrying him, there is nothing more public than that," Anne argued.

"Yes, but a night at Covent Garden with him will make him believe you aren't ashamed of him."

"I'm not ashamed..."

"We know that, but men can be such fickle and sensitive creatures, despite their bravado. Show him how you feel," Emily encouraged. "Words have little meaning to men. They don't want verbal reassurances. They want kisses in the rain, long tight embraces, and quiet afternoons shared together."

Horatia smiled knowingly at her. "Emily's right, Anne. Cedric feels that he's a burden to everyone, but if you can entice him to take you to the opera, he will feel wanted, desired." Even as Horatia said it Anne's mind flashed back to the library, where Cedric believed she did not want him. Could his sense of self-worth and desirability be that damaged? She'd half believed he meant only to play her right into his arms, but she now knew the sad truth. He really did believe himself undesirable, that no woman would have him.

The question that Anne faced was whether she could entice him into her arms long enough to reinforce his self-worth, while not throwing her own heart into the mix. To prove he was desirable would expose her to the greatest heartbreak she would ever know. Was she strong enough to withstand such a tearing of that part of her she'd protected all these years?

The last person she'd dared to love had died a week ago. Anne wished that she wasn't so afraid of love, but it was terrifying. To love someone so completely meant you gave them the key to your soul, and with that they held the greatest power over you. Her father had been the only person she'd dared to trust with that key. He hadn't disappointed her in that, but his death had been all the more painful because of her love for him.

"Go on, Anne, ask him," Emily encouraged.

Anne looked over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of Cedric at the card table. Surrounded by his friends he looked healthier, happier, as though their good spirits had revived him somewhat. Anne suddenly wished she could do that for him, make him smile and relax enough to just be himself and be happy.

Anne rose and started toward the men still deep in conversation. The soft rumble of their voices was like summer thunder after a light storm. It was a peaceful sound, the low murmurs, but her presence now halted it.

"Lord Sheridan," she began, her voice almost cracking with tension. She tried to ignore the weight of the five masculine stares. Cedric was directly in front of her, his back mere inches away, and the sudden proximity of him brought flashes of their passionate moment in the library. He turned his head toward her.

"What is it, Anne?" His tone was not irritated like she expected but patient. Without thinking she laid a hand on his shoulder, feeling the steel of the muscles beneath her palm.

"Your sister said you rent a box at Covent Garden."

Cedric's brows rose in surprise. "I do."

"Would it be possible... I should like to see the opera that is playing tomorrow night."

"You wish to have me loan the box to you?" There was a deadness in his tone built from his assumption that she would attend the opera without him.

"No, no. I wish for you to escort me." She squeezed his shoulder a little, hoping it would encourage him.

"You do?"

"Of course."

"Dinner, too?" Cedric suggested hopefully.

"That would be lovely," she answered in all sincerity, and was rewarded with Cedric's smile. He covered her hand with his.

"Things between you and Anne are better than I expected," Godric said in obvious relief.

"I think she's warming up to me," Cedric boasted.

Lucien sniggered. "I'm not so sure. I think your friendly pat just now set you back a week in your wooing."

"There's always the carriage ride home, I suppose." Cedric sighed dramatically, to which his friends laughed.

"Are we really all going to the opera?" Jonathan asked. There was a hopefulness in his tone that made Cedric's heart tighten. Having only recently discovered he was a legitimate brother to a duke and not a servant as he'd been raised meant he still held a certain caution that hadn't been present before. Jonathan had not been ill-treated, but he had not lived the lavish life Godric had either. Events they took for granted he still looked upon as grand adventures.

"Of course we are," Godric assured him.

"Which opera are we seeing, anyway?" Charles asked. He had never been one for theater, but he wouldn't miss out on a group event that promised to be a night of hilarity at the expense of his married friends.

"I believe the current opera is Gioachino Rossini's latest work, Matilde di Shabran," Ashton said.

Lucien quirked a brow at the usually business-minded baron. "I didn't know you kept abreast of the latest operas."

"We all have our little indulgences."

"Of course, but most of us satisfy that in the beds of lovely women...er, wives," Lucien corrected when Cedric coughed a warning.

"You are lucky that I already shot you for that," Cedric retorted.

"Thank you for that polite reminder." Dueling with Lucien over Horatia's honor had been one of the darkest days the League had ever seen, but Cedric had a bad feeling more were still on the horizon.