Surprised by her vehemence, he shook his head. “It is meant to be endearing.”
“How many women?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I beg your pardon.” Matthew wondered if he ought to steer her off the dance floor. If she were going to question him on his number of sexual partners, he would need a glass of brandy, a pen, and a piece of paper.
“How many women have you called by the same nickname?”
He breathed a sigh of relief.Was that all that was bothering her?
“None. Only you.”
She gave a quick roll of her eyes and glanced away.
“Truly.” He spread his fingers upon her back, feeling the warmth of her body seeping through the thin rose silk of her gown.
“When you first looked up at me, I thought you were adorable but also sensual. What’s more, you were somewhere you were not supposed to be and by yourself, so I assumed you were mischievous, too. The first word that popped into my head waskitten.”
He spun her around at the end of the dance floor and started up the other side.
“And I won’t promise not to call you that,” he added.
Her beautiful mouth turned down, looking displeased.
“I have never called anyone else by that name.”
“What did you call them, then?” she asked flatly. “What about Lady Varley? Was it onlyEmiliayou murmured to her when tupping her?”
Purity had shocked him down to his toes.What the hell?
He wanted the dance to end in order to speak without the infernal twirling and turning of their heads. However, when the music stopped, he wouldn’t be able to speak privately with her, not at the ball. It wasn’t as if they could find a secluded corner or stroll out into the garden.
Even if she was willing, it was the last thing they should risk before their marriage while trying to restore her reputation.
Helplessly, he looked down at her. “May I call upon you tomorrow?”
“No,” she bit out.
“Purity,” he said desperately.
“I have never given you permission,” she pointed out, “to use my first name.”
“I’ve had my tongue inside your mouth,” he reminded her, making her eyes widen as she glanced around them. “I believe I may use your given name. Besides, if not kitten or Purity, what would you have your fiancé call you?”
“Perhaps I would rather you were not my fiancé at all.”
And then Lady Purity did the unthinkable. She yanked her hand free from his grasp and walked away, blazing a path between the other dancing couples.
For a moment, Matthew stood motionless. When another pair of dancers nearly collided with him, however, he roused himself from his stupor and followed her. His delightful kitten had turned into a hell-cat, and he had no idea why.
Having directed his footmanto the Diamonds’ front door with his calling card, Matthew waited outside in his carriage, tapping his hand on his trouser leg. For two days, he had sent sweet notes and large bouquets of flowers, apologizing for he knew not what while asking Purity to give him a chance to explain, nonetheless.
After she’d abandoned him in the middle of a waltz, striding directly to her parents, the three Diamonds had left within minutes.
The earl had sent him a warning look, and Matthew kept his distance. But unlike Purity, he had stayed through the rest of the ball, explained his fiancée had a megrim, and continued to accept the bountiful congratulations.
His patience was now at an end. When his footman returned with a shake of his head, Matthew thought he might explode like gunpowder.
“I was told Lady Purity is not accepting visitors, my lord.”
