lord.”
“What would you expect of me?”
“That you would marry for convenience and search for love elsewhere.”
“That's precisely what my father did. I'm certain my mother, being a sensible woman, expected nothing else of him, but I believe it hurt her all the same. I swore to myself that I would have something different.”
“That isn't always possible, though.”
“It will be for me.”
How would it be possible? He must have an annulment in mind. He would have to be rid of her before he could consider marriage, unless he thought there was nothing wrong with bigamy.
“How can you be certain?” she asked. “You have no guarantee that you'll find your soul mate.”
“No guarantee,” he agreed, releasing her ankle. “Only hope.”
He stood until he gazed down at her from his full height. His head was above hers, his face cast in shadow. Julia should have let go of his shoulders, but she felt peculiarly off-balance, as if that would mean releasing her hold on the only solid thing in the world.
“We've met before, you know,” he said softly.
The words sent a chill of alarm through her. “You're mistaken.”
“I've never forgotten that night.” His hands were firm on her waist, holding her steady as he stared into her upturned face. “It was three years ago in Warwickshire. I had walked from the castle to watch the village May Day celebration. I saw you dancing.” He was silent then, watching as her expression changed from bewilderment to recognition.
“Oh,” Julia said faintly. “I didn't realize…” At first she had thought he was referring to their marriage. Good Lord, so he was the stranger who had kissed her that night! She lowered her gaze to the center of his chest, remembering how the kiss had haunted her for months afterward. It was incredible that fate had drawn them together yet again. “I asked you that evening if you were one of the Savages, and you denied it. Why didn't you tell me who you were?”
“I had no way of knowing how you would react. You might have assumed I would try to take advantage of you.”
“You did—you kissed me against my will.”
A reluctant smile crossed his face. “I couldn't help it. You were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. You still are.”
Julia tried to pull away, but he kept her anchored against him. “What do you want from me?” she asked unsteadily.
“I want to see you again.”
She shook her head vehemently. “You can't buy another evening with me, even if you purchase the entire Capital Theatre.”
“Why not? Because your husband would object?”
“I've told you I won't discuss him.”
“I won't let you refuse without explaining why you won't see me.”
“Because I have no interest in an affair with you…and given our respective situations, that is the only thing you would be able to offer me.” Julia's blood drummed in a volatile rhythm. His body was so close to hers, she could hear his breathing, sense his heat, and she was drawn to him like a moth blundering toward a flame. She wanted to tilt her head back and feel his mouth on hers, and press herself against him. There had never been temptation like this, a promise of something extraordinary within reach. But she would not give in to the self-destructive urge. It would be disastrous.
“I won't see you again,” she said, twisting until his hands dropped away and she was set free. “I must leave.” She hurried back to the fountain, and paused at the juncture of two paths.
Savage's voice was just behind her. “This way.” They walked back to the house in silence, seized with a tension that neither seemed able to break.
As the carriage rolled away with its lovely occupant tucked safely inside, Damon wandered alone across the marble floor of the entrance hall. He felt more restless than he had ever been in his life. His mind was filled with her; he relived every moment of the past few hours and craved more.
He wanted her. He wanted her with an
“What would you expect of me?”
“That you would marry for convenience and search for love elsewhere.”
“That's precisely what my father did. I'm certain my mother, being a sensible woman, expected nothing else of him, but I believe it hurt her all the same. I swore to myself that I would have something different.”
“That isn't always possible, though.”
“It will be for me.”
How would it be possible? He must have an annulment in mind. He would have to be rid of her before he could consider marriage, unless he thought there was nothing wrong with bigamy.
“How can you be certain?” she asked. “You have no guarantee that you'll find your soul mate.”
“No guarantee,” he agreed, releasing her ankle. “Only hope.”
He stood until he gazed down at her from his full height. His head was above hers, his face cast in shadow. Julia should have let go of his shoulders, but she felt peculiarly off-balance, as if that would mean releasing her hold on the only solid thing in the world.
“We've met before, you know,” he said softly.
The words sent a chill of alarm through her. “You're mistaken.”
“I've never forgotten that night.” His hands were firm on her waist, holding her steady as he stared into her upturned face. “It was three years ago in Warwickshire. I had walked from the castle to watch the village May Day celebration. I saw you dancing.” He was silent then, watching as her expression changed from bewilderment to recognition.
“Oh,” Julia said faintly. “I didn't realize…” At first she had thought he was referring to their marriage. Good Lord, so he was the stranger who had kissed her that night! She lowered her gaze to the center of his chest, remembering how the kiss had haunted her for months afterward. It was incredible that fate had drawn them together yet again. “I asked you that evening if you were one of the Savages, and you denied it. Why didn't you tell me who you were?”
“I had no way of knowing how you would react. You might have assumed I would try to take advantage of you.”
“You did—you kissed me against my will.”
A reluctant smile crossed his face. “I couldn't help it. You were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. You still are.”
Julia tried to pull away, but he kept her anchored against him. “What do you want from me?” she asked unsteadily.
“I want to see you again.”
She shook her head vehemently. “You can't buy another evening with me, even if you purchase the entire Capital Theatre.”
“Why not? Because your husband would object?”
“I've told you I won't discuss him.”
“I won't let you refuse without explaining why you won't see me.”
“Because I have no interest in an affair with you…and given our respective situations, that is the only thing you would be able to offer me.” Julia's blood drummed in a volatile rhythm. His body was so close to hers, she could hear his breathing, sense his heat, and she was drawn to him like a moth blundering toward a flame. She wanted to tilt her head back and feel his mouth on hers, and press herself against him. There had never been temptation like this, a promise of something extraordinary within reach. But she would not give in to the self-destructive urge. It would be disastrous.
“I won't see you again,” she said, twisting until his hands dropped away and she was set free. “I must leave.” She hurried back to the fountain, and paused at the juncture of two paths.
Savage's voice was just behind her. “This way.” They walked back to the house in silence, seized with a tension that neither seemed able to break.
As the carriage rolled away with its lovely occupant tucked safely inside, Damon wandered alone across the marble floor of the entrance hall. He felt more restless than he had ever been in his life. His mind was filled with her; he relived every moment of the past few hours and craved more.
He wanted her. He wanted her with an
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