Meant to Bea

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The razor gently glided down his chin, and to his neck. Bianca watched Race's upward and downward movements with the razor as he shaved the stubble on his chin for several minutes, enjoying every second of the action before her, while pretending to read a book. He took a towel and wiped his face clean, before placing the towel back on the dressing table.

He was leaving her, albeit for a few days. She tried not to imagine her life in his absence, as she watched him get dressed.

"Will you help me?" He turned to her.

Nodding, she rose to her feet, and placed the book on the chair. She crossed the room, retrieving the fabric from his hands.

"You should learn to tie this." She leaned forward and placed it around his neck.

"I like it better when you do it." She felt his hands wrap around her waist, and pull her forward until she was bumping into him. He kissed her neck. "I love it when you do it." He nibbled on her earlobe, evoking a soft giggle from her lips. "I love you."

She pressed her lips to his cheek. "I know." Leaning back once more, she tied the cravat as best as she could with her mind mostly focused on his arms still curled around her waist. She could barely concentrate on anything else with Race around. And while it had been three weeks since he confessed to being in love with her, her heart still skipped, and her limbs weakened everytime she him heard repeat those same words. "Still, you must tie your cravat yourself once you are in London."

"Are you sure you do not wish to come?" He raised a brow.

Her hands fell to her side once she had finished performing what had somehow become her duty; the tying of his cravat. "I am certain." She didn't want to socialize and attend balls. She hated the season, and while she knew Race would most likely run into her sister in London, she trusted him. Besides, if she wasn't mistaken, then Carla had most likely found herself a prospective husband by now.

"I do not wish to leave your side, Bea, but it has become imperative that I do not ignore some of these invitations to social gatherings, extended by your father's —now my— business partners. Camden believes it is unwise to ignore them."

She nodded. Race's half brother was right; it would be unwise for Race to miss the season. Not only was he a stranger in the midst of England's elites, he was a man whose birth was as a result of a less than honorable union. Everybody expected failure from him, and if he was going to succeed, he needed to not only prove his worth to some of her father's contacts, he needed to make new friends as well.

Bianca on the other hand, loathed those gatherings. She never could fit in when she was unmarried, and now that she was married to a man considered a bastard, there was no doubt tongues will wag the second she steps into a ballroom.

"I know and I understand. It is but a few hours away, and the second you choose to return, I shall be here waiting."

He nodded. "I must leave now." He leaned forward and captured her lips. She kissed him in return, before pulling away.

"Perhaps you must find a valet to help you with your cravat." She motioned to it.

He glanced down briefly, and lifted his eyes up once more, a frown now creasing his face. "I do not suppose I want anyone else tying this. I shall simply neglect to wear one."

She opened her mouth to argue, but nodded to his words instead. She did like the idea of being the only one worthy enough to tie his cravats, even if it was a silly idea.

Race departed for London that morning. Left alone and with nothing to do, Bianca ate her meals in the confines of her bedchamber. There were days she took short walks in her mother's garden, but most of the time, she stayed in her bedchamber, and did nothing but await Race's return to Camden.