didn’t seem capable of staying away from her.
5
The stairs leading to the exit of the Royal Opera House were crowded as Garrick guided Ruth downward from the balcony above the Grand Tier. He’d always enjoyed the opera, but tonight was the first time he’d found himself watching the woman he was with more than he had the stage. Seeing her enjoyment had given him more pleasure than he cared to admit. Then there had been the occasional glance she spared him at different points during the performance. Over the course of the evening, it had created an unexpected intimacy between them as she silently signaled her appreciation of the music.
They reached the wide landing of the Grand Tier to join the rest of the Marlborough Set making their way out of the theater. A flurry of activity in front of them signaled the departure of the Prince and Princess of Wales from the royal box. The crush of people forced Ruth into his side, and he unconsciously wrapped his arm around her waist in an effort to protect her.
As the crowd parted for the royal couple and their entourage, he felt Ruth go rigid against him. Puzzled, he turned his head to see a look of distress on her features. His gaze followed hers, and he saw an elderly gentleman with the royals staring back at her. Disgust darkened the man’s features before he quickly dismissed her without another glance.
Garrick turned back to Ruth to see a smooth mask of composure fall over her face, but her violet eyes were dark with a pain he immediately wanted to ease. When the crowd around them began to surge forward again, she didn’t move until he gently pushed her toward the stairs leading to the lobby.
“Are you all right?” he whispered in her ear as they followed the royals and their entourage.
“What?” She turned her head, and immediately closed herself off to him as she met his gaze. With a shake of her head, she looked away. “No. Not really, I’ve the beginnings of a headache.”
“Then the sooner we’re out of this noise, the better.”
He knew damn well it wasn’t a headache that had her out of sorts. Whoever the gentleman was who’d dismissed Ruth so coldly, he had upset her deeply. An old lover perhaps? His icy behavior had struck Ruth to the core, and Garrick didn’t like that someone had hurt her. He ignored the warning that echoed in his head at this possessive thought.
With his hand at Ruth’s elbow, they made their way through the crowd toward the first flight of steps. Behind him, a feminine voice commented about the scandal of older women and younger men. If he hadn’t been so close to Ruth, he wouldn’t have noticed the small stumble she made. A quick glance in her direction showed she’d heard the observation.
She’d been insulted twice in the span of minutes, and despite her obvious effort to ignore the slights, they were taking their toll on her composure. The need to protect her swelled inside him, and he leaned into her.
“Should I be worried?” he murmured. At the startled expression on her face, he arched his eyebrow at her in mock irritation. “My vanity would be deeply insulted if I discovered I was vying with a younger man for your attentions.”
For a moment, she simply stared at him in amazement before she laughed. It was a vibrant sound that said he’d managed to ease the pain others had caused her. Amusement sparkled in her eyes, and her mouth curled upward in sweet temptation.
“You sound like a jealous suitor rather than a friend,” she said with a smile. It irritated him that she could discount him so easily.
“Perhaps I’d prefer something more than just friendship.”
It was a ridiculous thing to say, especially when he knew nothing of the kind would ever happen between them, no matter how much he might desire her. And he did desire her. It wasn’t a fact he enjoyed admitting. But it didn’t keep the tension between them from accelerating until a primitive rhythm pounded its way through his veins.
As her
5
The stairs leading to the exit of the Royal Opera House were crowded as Garrick guided Ruth downward from the balcony above the Grand Tier. He’d always enjoyed the opera, but tonight was the first time he’d found himself watching the woman he was with more than he had the stage. Seeing her enjoyment had given him more pleasure than he cared to admit. Then there had been the occasional glance she spared him at different points during the performance. Over the course of the evening, it had created an unexpected intimacy between them as she silently signaled her appreciation of the music.
They reached the wide landing of the Grand Tier to join the rest of the Marlborough Set making their way out of the theater. A flurry of activity in front of them signaled the departure of the Prince and Princess of Wales from the royal box. The crush of people forced Ruth into his side, and he unconsciously wrapped his arm around her waist in an effort to protect her.
As the crowd parted for the royal couple and their entourage, he felt Ruth go rigid against him. Puzzled, he turned his head to see a look of distress on her features. His gaze followed hers, and he saw an elderly gentleman with the royals staring back at her. Disgust darkened the man’s features before he quickly dismissed her without another glance.
Garrick turned back to Ruth to see a smooth mask of composure fall over her face, but her violet eyes were dark with a pain he immediately wanted to ease. When the crowd around them began to surge forward again, she didn’t move until he gently pushed her toward the stairs leading to the lobby.
“Are you all right?” he whispered in her ear as they followed the royals and their entourage.
“What?” She turned her head, and immediately closed herself off to him as she met his gaze. With a shake of her head, she looked away. “No. Not really, I’ve the beginnings of a headache.”
“Then the sooner we’re out of this noise, the better.”
He knew damn well it wasn’t a headache that had her out of sorts. Whoever the gentleman was who’d dismissed Ruth so coldly, he had upset her deeply. An old lover perhaps? His icy behavior had struck Ruth to the core, and Garrick didn’t like that someone had hurt her. He ignored the warning that echoed in his head at this possessive thought.
With his hand at Ruth’s elbow, they made their way through the crowd toward the first flight of steps. Behind him, a feminine voice commented about the scandal of older women and younger men. If he hadn’t been so close to Ruth, he wouldn’t have noticed the small stumble she made. A quick glance in her direction showed she’d heard the observation.
She’d been insulted twice in the span of minutes, and despite her obvious effort to ignore the slights, they were taking their toll on her composure. The need to protect her swelled inside him, and he leaned into her.
“Should I be worried?” he murmured. At the startled expression on her face, he arched his eyebrow at her in mock irritation. “My vanity would be deeply insulted if I discovered I was vying with a younger man for your attentions.”
For a moment, she simply stared at him in amazement before she laughed. It was a vibrant sound that said he’d managed to ease the pain others had caused her. Amusement sparkled in her eyes, and her mouth curled upward in sweet temptation.
“You sound like a jealous suitor rather than a friend,” she said with a smile. It irritated him that she could discount him so easily.
“Perhaps I’d prefer something more than just friendship.”
It was a ridiculous thing to say, especially when he knew nothing of the kind would ever happen between them, no matter how much he might desire her. And he did desire her. It wasn’t a fact he enjoyed admitting. But it didn’t keep the tension between them from accelerating until a primitive rhythm pounded its way through his veins.
As her
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