Unable to stop himself, William brushed the fingertip of his forefinger over her wet lash. “If it were up to me, I would stay here with you for as long as you needed, but I cannot.”
She attempted to smile, but it fell flat. “I wish it would be so too.”
Rachel gently removed his cloak from her and handed it to him. “Thank you, William. I’ll see you on the morrow.”
“I hope for the best, Rachel,” he said.
As she went off, William clutched his cloak on his lap. He had to force his feet to stay where they were because he was liable to leap up and rush after her. When she disappeared through the doors, the rigidness in his body vanished.
He felt his heart grip at the thought of another man tasting Rachel’s lips. While he had no standing to feel jealous against whoever it might, he still felt the burn of it smoldering in his heart.
Getting to his feet, William left for his rooms and passed maids rushing from room to room to prepare for the ball that evening. From what he knew, the family was going to hold three balls, two sennight apart, and the painting would be displayed that night.
He could always rest that evening or take a walk to the nearby town. He washed quickly and went to the window with his drawing book. He did not have to search for inspiration; Rachel was occupying his mind, and all he had to do was grasp his pencil.
***
Heavy-hearted, Rachel entered her room, thankfully with her mother none-the-wiser about her absence. Jane, however, was a bit frantic, “My Lady, Her Grace will be here soon. She is fixed in making this night memorable for all the ton.”
Rachel looked at her. “He kissed me, Jane.”
It took her maid a moment to realize what she meant, but when she did, Jane’s mouth dropped in shock. “Mr. Smith kissed you?”
“Yes,” she said while sinking to a chair, feeling her fingers tremble. She made sure to clasp them on her lap, then admitted, “It was more than I had imagined it would be, Jane. I have heard about how kisses are, but I never expected to feel it. It was passionate and sensual, and I think William genuinely cares for me.”
Instead of looking impressed, Jane looked troubled, “While I am happy for you, this might be the worst thing for youtoday. It is the day of the ball, My Lady. Are you going to concentrate on meeting the Lords if you will be thinking about Mr. Smith?”
“I will have to find a way,” Rachel said while standing. “I still do not know why Mother is doing this as my dresses are horrid. The only reason these men are coming is that my parents are wealthy. I would not be surprised if some of them are fortune-seekers.”
Jane nodded, “Shall I call for your breakfast and your bath now?”
“Yes, please.”
As her maid moved off, Rachel turned her head to the window, beautiful emerald eyes flashing in her head, and immediately, warm, tingling desire settled in her chest what she would do to feel his kiss again. The mere thought of it had her insides melting liquid.
Her fingertips pressed on her lips again with hope.
***
Jane had done the finishing touches on her hair and dress, but because her dress was plain, the focal point was to be her hair. It was down to her waist and strewn through with a single string of pearl.
Her heart was lodged in her throat while she stopped at the top of the stairs that led to the ballroom. Her father was standing beside her in a full dark suit, and his commanding presence was likely to deter any snide looks or comments at her drab dress.
The butler cleared his throat. “Announcing, His Grace, Duke Hurstmere, George Hampton and Lady Rachel Hampton.”
Descending the steps to the massive ballroom, Rachel surveyed the gay scene. Women were dressed in every shade of the spectrum, and men were in dark suits and impeccably tied neck cloths. Rachel had expected a drab room, but pots of flowers were dotted around the room, and the soft scents of lavender and lily-of-the-valley perfumed the air.
She felt dozens of eyes on her, but she kept her head up and did not look at anyone until she got to the bottom steps. She spotted a few men lingering at the room’s mouth that held the buffet tables overflowing with picnic foods.
They were surrounded by a circle of ladies, all in the latest stylish, French-styled dresses, silk fans in their hands. They stood with a coy elegance that Rachel wished she knew how to mimic. She could only wonder how they kept conversation; as far as she knew, men and women had little topics in common.
“Ah, Lord Banbury,” her father said, naming one of the three men they had indicated they wanted her to marry.
Rachel tore her gaze away from a sandy-haired, handsome man who stood at the end of the room to face a lord who was paunchy, balding, and kept mopping his face with a sodden handkerchief.
It took all she could not to recoil in horror.
“Your Grace,” the man nodded while tucking the cloth into his inner pocket. “Lovely ball you have, my compliments to Her Grace. And Lady Hampton, I am incredibly pleased to meet you.”
