“He does not wish to inherit?” Lisbeth asked.
“Goodness, no. Harlow is an outdoorsman. He sees how many hours Warrington puts in, sees how it consumes him, and wants to run for the hills.”
Anna frowned a little. “Warrington does not seem inclined to marry again, even though his mother is very persistent in her persuasion.”
Lisbeth sensed that Anna did not approve of the dowager’s methods of… persuasion.
“I am sure when the right woman comes along he will fall. I hazard to say that it would take a great and consuming love to change him.” Gabrielle caressed her belly and looked towards her husband who was in a group of men talking. He glanced over, as if sensing her gaze, concern etched on his face. Gabrielle shook her head when he went to leave the group and return to her.
“I take it yours was a great and consuming love match?” Lisbeth asked.
“Yes, although it did not start off that way.”
“She hated him,” Anna put in.
“I did not hate him. I merely disliked him with a passion,” Gabrielle qualified.
“Ah, here is Bellamy come to claim his dance,” Anna announced with a smile for Lisbeth. “I see something special between you two as well. Oh, it’s no use trying to say otherwise. I’m very good at these sorts of things.”
Lisbeth didn’t get to answer and really she was relieved. For, what to say? She wasn’t sure what she and Bellamy shared right now, only that she was enjoying it for what it was. She didn’t want to think about tomorrow. Not yet.
Chapter Sixteen
“Ladies,” Bellamy saidas he approached. “Lady Blackhurst, I believe this is our dance.” He offered her his hand and suddenly she felt nervous. It seemed ridiculous to be so, considering how intimate they had been together, but just the feel of his hand in hers made her heart beat erratically. The tingles started again, and she realized with a resounding thud that she was completely, utterly, and beyond redemption in love with him. But was it a great and consuming love? Part of her was jumping for joy while the other part was nervously worrying that these feelings were a very bad idea.
He led her to the dance floor and took her in his arms. It felt right to be there. He looked down at her and frowned. “Smile, Lisbeth, it is only a dance.”
“I know that.” But she could not summon the smile he requested. Her body was reacting to his touch as it always did. They made the first turn before he spoke again.
“I’ll kiss you,” he said.
“What?” She looked up at him then. She was already blushing at her own thoughts.
“I will, kiss you, right here, in front of everyone if you don’t relax.”
“Do not talk nonsense,” she replied worried that he may make true on his threat.
“You think I won’t? Care to make a wager?” He laughed then at her expression. “No wager then.” He took her into aturn, pulling her closer. He was a good dancer, sure-footed and confident. It was easy to dance with him, except for the emotions that were playing havoc with her head and the constant turning of the dance.
“You make me mad with wanting you,” he said softly in her ear. She closed her eyes, letting his words wash over her. When she opened them and looked up at him, she felt her face flush red. When he looked at her the way he was now, she knew what he was thinking and she wanted it too but…
“Why would you say such a thing on a dance floor in front of hundreds of people?”
“Because,” he said in a whisper. “I want you to know exactly how I feel when you are in my arms, when I look into your eyes, when I smell your perfume.” He held her secure in his embrace, leading her in the steps that were so new to the world of theton.
“You should not say such things. It is unfair.”
“Unfair? To whom? Me and my distracting desire for you or you and your female sensibilities?”
“I refuse to answer that question,” she replied, pinning him with one of her glares.
He laughed. “That only makes me want you more.”
They said nothing further for a few seconds until Lisbeth tried to get back onto a safer subject. “Where did you learn to dance the waltz?”
“In Germany. Did I ever tell you that story about the—”
“Bellamy,” she whispered, clutching his shoulder in alarm. The room began to swim around her making her feel dizzy, out of control.
