“I’m entirely different,” Henley murmured, releasing the curl and leaning forward to slide his nose along hers.
He grinned when she gasped softly but didn’t pull away.
It was all the encouragement he needed as his lips found hers.The shock of first contact spiraled through him, yet he kept the kiss gentle, soft, lingering as he slowly drew away, watching her eyes lock on his.Belatedly, he noted she never closed her eyes.
She blinked, then cocked her head slightly.Her eyes narrowed—not in irritation but as if seeing him for the first time.
Recklessly, he tilted his head forward, waiting, watching her expression.If she backed away, he’d do the same.
He was just about to lean back when her eyes fluttered closed.Henley closed the distance, meeting her lips once more.His hands clenched at his sides, though he longed to pull her into his arms.He resisted, taking pleasure in the waiting.He lingered in the kiss, then angled his head and nipped her lower lip, smiling against her soft gasp.She never broke the seal of their kiss—instead, she leaned in.
His body sang with the knowledge of her acceptance, but their time was stolen.With regret, Henley withdrew, leaving a few quick kisses before fully retreating.
He stepped back, studying every nuance of her expression: delight, wonder, confusion, indecision—the last two weren’t his favorites.
“Ah, there you are!”
Henley’s blood chilled to ice at the sound of his mother’s voice.
“Ah, yes, here I am,” Lady Anna replied, smoothing her skirts in a universal sign of unease.
Henley watched his mother’s gaze sharpen at Lady Anna’s reaction.
With a warning glance to him, she addressed Lady Anna again.“Your mother and father are searching for you, my dear.”There was an undercurrent in her tone—too much delight and warmth.
Lady Anna nodded and, with a final glance at Henley, exited the hall.The open door let the ballroom music echo inside.
“I don’t know what just happened, but that lady is going to be your sister-in-law, so I’d tread carefully,” Henley’s mother murmured as she passed, heading toward the same door.
Yet Henley didn’t see her leave.All he heard were the words that created the problem.
Because his brother was planning to marry the very woman he’d just compromised.
Chapter Five
He wouldn’t dare.
Lady Anna’s gaze raked across the ballroom as the music for the final waltz of the evening began to fill the room.The moment her eyes met Henley’s she knew she’d underestimated everything about this evening.Yes, yes, he would dare.In fact, he was taking very decided steps in her direction, one dark eyebrow rising as if challenging her, questioning if she’d dare refuse him.She wouldn’t, of course.To refuse him would create gossip, and she didn’t want to be in the society papers in the morning—unless it was regarding Edwin, which was another situation entirely.How had the evening gone so awry?It had seemed so simple and now, it was rather maddening, actually.
She only wanted the attention of one brother, not both.But she wasn’t one to lie to others, or herself, which required her to admit she’d felt… something… during that kiss.The kiss with the wrong brother at the wrong time.She swallowed against the odd feeling of anticipation and anxiety that rose in her throat as Henley bowed before her.
“I believe this is my waltz, Lady Anna.”His tone was subdued, but his expression was alight, as if savoring their delicious secret and willing to wield it as a weapon at first opportunity.
Good Lord, she hoped she was wrong.It would ruin everything.
Including her.
“Indeed, it is,” she answered, offering her hand as he led them into the swirling dancers.
His hand was warm on her waist, and she hazarded a glance toward his expression, curious what she would read.Often, she’d thought this brother was the more difficult to understand of Pere’s siblings, but perhaps it was because she never actually looked deep enough.His thoughts were read easily enough in his expression, if one cared to search.Dark eyes smiled back at her, then darted away.
“I should apologize, but I ought also tell you that I’m not going to.I wouldn’t want you to have an expectation I will not realize,” he said with a smooth tone, then met her eyes once more.
Anna resisted the urge to scoff and settled for a tightening of her lips as she forced a smile that hopefully didn’t appear as forced as it felt.“Odd that I should gather that already, but thank you for making it abundantly clear.But I assure you, I have no expectations of you at all, my lord,” she answered with the same tone he used.
His lips quirked to the side, as if he was suppressing a grin.“Ah, well, I wasn’t implying all that, rather the opposite, but you’ll find I’m not one to back away from challenge.”
“I didn’t realize I was involved in a competition, because I assure you, I will be no one’s prize.I consider myself with slightly more value than that.”
