“My dance. After which I shall take you in to supper.” He linked her arm through his and drew her out onto the floor. “You look lovely, by the way. London suits you.”
The quadrille began, separating them, then bringing them back together. It wasn’t the best dance for a continuing conversation, so Letitia didn’t even try to begin one. He’d told her she was lovely. Well, what of it? He’d probably said that to at least a dozen other ladies thus far.
And would he be off to his mistress when this evening concluded?
That was the sticking point. Letitia had told herself it was none of her business so many times she wondered why she couldn’t quite bring herself to believe it. Her affection for James was just that. The affection of one friend for another. Neither were obliged to disclose their business to each other. So she danced, smiled and exchanged a few words where appropriate.
And bravely fought the urge to either walk away from him, burst into tears and cry all over him—or just grab him by the ears and kiss the blazes out of him.
“You look tense,” he commented at the conclusion of the last figure.
“I do?”I wonder why.
“Come, let’s catch a breath of air.” He kept her hand in his as the dance ended, placing it on his arm as he walked her through a set of double doors and out of the crowds.
“Where are we going? Isn’t supper through there?” She waved her hand at a large area filled with tables that adjoined the ballroom.
“Yes, supper is in there. But we’re not going there.”
“James,” she tugged his arm. “Where are you taking me?”
“Letitia, for once in your life, don’t argue.”
She gasped, her anger rising in her throat as he marched her along a hallway, turned into another and kept walking. It got darker as they progressed. “Where on earth are we?” She pulled hard. “Tell me, James. This is absurd.”
“I have known the Seton-Mowbrays for many years. I’ve been here many times. Max is a friend, although we do not share a lot of the same tastes and interests.” He slowed his pace. “Thus I am well acquainted with not only this house but the servants.”
He finally stopped at a door close to the end of a corridor. “We may be private in here.”
Opening it he led her through and closed it behind her, locking it with an audible click.
She found herself in a small cosy parlour. A fire lit the room, and on a side table was a collection of dishes, most likely the same as those offered the guests in the formal supper room.
“Well, this is…” she was at a loss for words.
“It is the first chance I’ve had to get you alone for weeks.” James walked up behind her, put his arms around her and kissed her neck.
“James,” she whispered. “Don’t.”
“Hush. We have matters lying between us, Letitia. I want to banish Augusta from your mind completely.” He spun her around and held her by the shoulders. “Listen and listen well. This is the truth. Shewasmy mistress many years ago. Long before I met you. We had not seen each other for at least two years before the day she arrived at my doorstep.” He reinforced his statements with a little shake of her shoulders. “She left later that day and I haven’t seen her since. It’s her way—to always be outrageous—but you weren’t to know that. And you never gave me chance to tell you. So I made sure I would have that chance.” He neared her. “Now that I have done so, onlythisremains.”
She was in his arms again, her head against his shoulder, her lips parting in welcome as he plunged his tongue past them into her mouth. “The taste of you plagues, me, Letitia.” He kissed her again, deeper, more forcefully, demanding she match his movements.
“James,” she murmured, breaking the kiss and sucking in a breath of air. She’d lost the capacity to argue, to protest, to even think, the minute he touched her.
“Yes, love,” he answered, drawing her to the sofa.
“More…” Her mind blanked and her heart and body spoke instead.
She’d only begun to learn about desire. That first taste had whetted her curiosity and aroused her appetite. Now she had chance to walk further down that alluring path with a man who knew every step of the way.
“I will.” He tumbled them both onto the cushions and whisked her skirts out of the way. “I will.”
