Chapter Three
“I beg your pardon,” Rose said, though a tremor of anticipation shot through her at his bold words. “That is completely beyond the pale.”
“As is your strolling by yourself through these corridors. Good thing I came along and rescued you. For that at least, I deserve a kiss.”
“You deserve nothing of the kind,” she began when, to her astonishment, he laid hands on her, one at her waist, one cupping her head under her glossy black curls.
Good thing her hair was up, she briefly thought, or he would have mussed it terribly. And that thought was chased by the next one:Good God, he’s touching me. He’s really going to—
William didn’t brush her lips with his as a few of her suitors before Finn had done, nor did he offer her a peck at the corner of her mouth. No, his lips closed over hers he tilted his head, and their mouths fit together like two sides of a coin.
Rose stilled a moment, a flash of fear at what was happening, followed closely by a blaze of sensation so exhilarating, she felt breathless. For the briefest of moments, she could pretend it was Finn, for this felt the closest to his kiss she could imagine while not being him.
William moved his mouth, and then the tip of his tongue touched the seam of her lips. Unthinkingly, she parted them, and he slipped his tongue inside. Briefly, she felt him touch her tongue and then he withdrew. In that instant, though, something changed in her. Low, between her hips, she felt a flush of warmth. Just as with Finn.
Before she could react, to push him away or pull him closer, he broke it off. They stared at each other for what felt like forever. Was that surprise onhisface as well? She knew she ought to slap him for what he’d done, but she didn’t want to. She wanted him to kiss her again.
Perhaps something in her face expressed this, for he took in a quick breath and started to lower his head once more.
“No,” she whispered.
He froze at the single word she’d uttered, and then he drew back. She said nothing more, still trying to regain her senses and decide how she felt.
“I ought to apologize, I suppose,” William offered, though she could tell he didn’t intend to, nor would he mean it.
Besides, how could she demand an apology when she’d not only enjoyed the kiss but practically invited a second one?
“I think I had better return to the dance,” she said, wondering if he was going to want to form an attachment to her. She hated to dash his hopes, however she could not imagine becoming a couple so quickly on the heels of him and Maeve, or him and Sarah before her, or him and ...
God, what an idiot she was!And why was she thinking of becoming a couple? This kiss meant nothing to William Woodsom, and he was not about to start asking for her hand. After all, she was a widow. And he? No doubt he fancied himself quite stellar, working as he did for their esteemed lieutenant governor. However, his political position meant nothing to her.
“You need to release me, at once,” Rose added, realizing his hands were still on her.
He hesitated, then drew his hands back to his sides.
She pushed past him down the last step, hurried across the landing and continued her descent. The hallway was empty, thankfully, for he was close at her back.
“Let me go first,” she hissed, imagining her brother’s expression if he saw them entering the ballroom together.
“Rose,” William began, reaching out to detain her.
She would not be one of his conquests. She made sure to stay out of his reach and hurried away.
“Rose,” he said again as they entered the ballroom. “May I have the next dance?”
She barely paused in her desire to put more distance between them.
“I think not,” she said, and then looked back at him. Was he surprised by her refusal?
“I do not dance,” Rose added to soften her words, holding up her wrist as if he could see that every dance on her detested card was unclaimed by a gentleman’s name. Then she thought she’d better put him back in his place. “And I amMiss Malloyto you.”
Or Mrs. Bennet, she amended silently, unable to tamp down the guilt at letting another man kiss her.
She hurried to find Claire.
Should she tell her friend what had occurred?Absolutely not!Would she?Most likely.
***
