He took a measured step forward, as if he were negotiating with a feral cat who would scratch his eyes out if she took a mind to it.
When she didn’t respond with a step backward, he eased another step forward.
Now, they were within touching distance. The next move was hers. Though she didn’t seem to understand it.
He cleared his throat, like a nerve-beset green youth. “You’ll need to place your hands on my shoulders.”
Gray eyes glared up at him. “I resent this entire situation.”
“I’m aware.”
Her shoulders lifted and fell on a deep breath.
At last, slender, gloved hands came to a tentative rest on his shoulders. Her head tipped back, so she could hold his gaze. No shrinking miss, this lady, even as the pheasant feather in her hat drooped and wet tendrils of hair clung to pale cheeks and hung lank about her shoulders.
Her eyes… They weren’t merely remarkable and arresting.
They were beautiful.
She cleared her throat.
And irritated.
Those eyes most definitely glittered with irritation.
Right.
He supposed he needed to speak the next words… “And now I’m going to put my hands on your waist.”
He didn’t understand why, but he sensed she needed to be warned, even though she must’ve understood where he would have to put his hands.
She nodded, and for the split of a second, emotions other than irritation flashed behind her eyes.
Uncertainty…vulnerability.
Here he was, about to put his hands around the waist of a lady in the middle of Hyde Park.
Anunmarriedlady, that vulnerability spoke.
It was just him and her, here.
Her dark, straight eyebrows lifted with annoyance and most definitely impatience, and he snapped to.
And wrapped his hands around her waist.
CHAPTER FOUR
Beatrix hadn’t experienced the feel of a man’s hands on her person in…years.
Since the last time she’d danced with a man.
Since her come-out ball, to be exact.
These hands… They were strong hands, long-fingered and most definitely up to any task set beneath them.
And the shoulders beneath her palms were broad, the dense muscles pure banked energy.
And there was his scent…woodsy and clean, like pine and sea.
