Who Dared?

Charles was in the ninth heavens. Beth was speaking to him like it was the most natural thing between them to do. Her lips as they moved, her hands as she gestured and her voice were exciting him all over. He had no knowledge she affected him so. And her hair, it bounced as she spoke, coming to life with each movement. He almost reached out to touch it. He quickly sent a good amount of peas into his mouth.

Breaking out of the trance her hair had put on him, he asked. "Do you want to? If not, you could simply say so." He placed a small piece of cold turkey on her plate. She hesitated but ate it. He released the breath he did not know he was holding. He ate a piece too.

"Lady Marjorie says it is a family tradition. I suppose I could. I am_ I am Lady Carlisle after all." His heart missed a beat.

A family tradition? Charles almost scoffed. The Carlisle Christmas Ball had only been ever since his mother joined the family but he would not tell Beth. He shovelled a hefty portion of mashed po