her spine all the way to its base. He toyed there for a brief instant as if he longed to travel onward, then dropped his arm casually to his side.
Her nipples tightened, uncontrolled warmth seeping into her cheeks. She restrained the urge to cross her arms over her chest, grateful for the shift and stays that kept her reaction from being visible. Flashing him a look, she noticed he appeared utterly unrepentant.
Lord above, what if someone has seen?
But a quick check around the room showed that no one was looking at them, the majority of people far too busy talking or making their way onto the dance floor.
With a clearly wicked light gleaming in his gorgeous eyes, he extended an arm. "Shall we?"
For an instant, she nearly refused, then decided better of the impulse. Seemingly quiescent, she laid her hand atop the luxurious black fabric of his sleeve.
She touched more of the elegant cloth a minute later as she set one gloved hand onto the firm expanse of his shoulder, her other palm clasped securely inside his own.
Once again, his other hand was at her back, positioned in a spot just south of where it ought to be. The same was true for the distance between them, their bodies a good two inches closer than those of any other couple on the dance floor.
When she tried to step back, he refused to let her, holding her in place with nothing more than a gentle tensing of his muscles.
"
Shh,
be still," he murmured. "You are exactly where you ought to be."
She was opening her mouth to contradict him when the music began. Suddenly they were gliding, her slippered feet floating across the polished wooden floor to the dulcet strains of flute, violin, and cello.
If her first waltz had been exhilarating, this second dance was sublime, as close to soaring on clouds, she suspected, as a human being could come. Her pulse fluttered as he took her sailing, his every move one of confident control and finesse.
He took advantage of a turn to draw her another inch nearer, his eyes for her alone. "So tell me, madam, why is it you have been avoiding me this past fortnight?"
Her lips parted and she felt her eyes widen faintly before she had a chance to rein in her surprise. "Pardon me, my lord, but I am afraid I do not know what you mean," she dissembled.
His eyes gleamed. "Of course you do, but we'll let the matter drop for now."
"There is no
matter,
" she insisted, refusing to admit he was right. "If our paths have failed to cross lately, I am sure it is merely a case of circumstance."
"Ah. Well, that is good news indeed. I had wondered if you might have taken me in dislike for some unknown reason. I am greatly relieved to know I may be at ease on that score."
He swung her in another gliding arc. "In honor of our friendship, I must ask that you allow me to teach you to drive a carriage, if you are truly set upon such a course."
"I am. But I must decline your offer, since I have already promised Lord Ottwell that he may teach me, as you well know."
"Yes, but Ottwell only agreed in order to spare your feelings. I am sure he would not complain too loudly should you wish to withdraw."
"But I do not," she returned, giving him a polite little smile.
"I feel it my duty, then, to warn you that he's not much of a hand with the ribbons."
"I am sure he does well enough."
Vessey shrugged. "I don't generally care to tell tales, but the man is ham-fisted. You would do better to hire your local butcher for the task."
A burst of laughter escaped her lips. "Surely you exaggerate."
"I assure you, I do not," he said, his expression serious.
An inkling of real doubt crept in, but she held firm. Of all the foolish ideas she might entertain, agreeing to let Lord Vessey teach her to drive was one of the worst. Besides, after this evening, she planned to start letting circumstances keep them apart again. For her own safety, she had no other choice.
"I thank you for the warning," she said, "but Lord Ottwell and I will do fine together."
His arms
Her nipples tightened, uncontrolled warmth seeping into her cheeks. She restrained the urge to cross her arms over her chest, grateful for the shift and stays that kept her reaction from being visible. Flashing him a look, she noticed he appeared utterly unrepentant.
Lord above, what if someone has seen?
But a quick check around the room showed that no one was looking at them, the majority of people far too busy talking or making their way onto the dance floor.
With a clearly wicked light gleaming in his gorgeous eyes, he extended an arm. "Shall we?"
For an instant, she nearly refused, then decided better of the impulse. Seemingly quiescent, she laid her hand atop the luxurious black fabric of his sleeve.
She touched more of the elegant cloth a minute later as she set one gloved hand onto the firm expanse of his shoulder, her other palm clasped securely inside his own.
Once again, his other hand was at her back, positioned in a spot just south of where it ought to be. The same was true for the distance between them, their bodies a good two inches closer than those of any other couple on the dance floor.
When she tried to step back, he refused to let her, holding her in place with nothing more than a gentle tensing of his muscles.
"
Shh,
be still," he murmured. "You are exactly where you ought to be."
She was opening her mouth to contradict him when the music began. Suddenly they were gliding, her slippered feet floating across the polished wooden floor to the dulcet strains of flute, violin, and cello.
If her first waltz had been exhilarating, this second dance was sublime, as close to soaring on clouds, she suspected, as a human being could come. Her pulse fluttered as he took her sailing, his every move one of confident control and finesse.
He took advantage of a turn to draw her another inch nearer, his eyes for her alone. "So tell me, madam, why is it you have been avoiding me this past fortnight?"
Her lips parted and she felt her eyes widen faintly before she had a chance to rein in her surprise. "Pardon me, my lord, but I am afraid I do not know what you mean," she dissembled.
His eyes gleamed. "Of course you do, but we'll let the matter drop for now."
"There is no
matter,
" she insisted, refusing to admit he was right. "If our paths have failed to cross lately, I am sure it is merely a case of circumstance."
"Ah. Well, that is good news indeed. I had wondered if you might have taken me in dislike for some unknown reason. I am greatly relieved to know I may be at ease on that score."
He swung her in another gliding arc. "In honor of our friendship, I must ask that you allow me to teach you to drive a carriage, if you are truly set upon such a course."
"I am. But I must decline your offer, since I have already promised Lord Ottwell that he may teach me, as you well know."
"Yes, but Ottwell only agreed in order to spare your feelings. I am sure he would not complain too loudly should you wish to withdraw."
"But I do not," she returned, giving him a polite little smile.
"I feel it my duty, then, to warn you that he's not much of a hand with the ribbons."
"I am sure he does well enough."
Vessey shrugged. "I don't generally care to tell tales, but the man is ham-fisted. You would do better to hire your local butcher for the task."
A burst of laughter escaped her lips. "Surely you exaggerate."
"I assure you, I do not," he said, his expression serious.
An inkling of real doubt crept in, but she held firm. Of all the foolish ideas she might entertain, agreeing to let Lord Vessey teach her to drive was one of the worst. Besides, after this evening, she planned to start letting circumstances keep them apart again. For her own safety, she had no other choice.
"I thank you for the warning," she said, "but Lord Ottwell and I will do fine together."
His arms
Similar Books
