The tenderness in his hold sent warmth through her like lightning in a summer storm. His hands buoyed up more than just her form, caring for her soul and her heart. The selfish part of her wished to remain there, but she simply couldn’t. “You must leave for your own safety. Every moment—”
“Please, Charlotte.” Alex swallowed. “Just a few minutes.”
She looked at him, his mouth a beautiful, tortured line. She’d make him leave; she had to. But she could allow him one dance, she supposed. She blinked and nodded slightly.
The corners of his mouth drew up. “To answer your questions, I came dressed as a musician and then changed into whatever you call this.” He glanced at his feather-covered lapels and blew another wagging feather from his cap out of his view.
Charlotte’s eyes widened as she took in his costume.
“You’re a crow.” She sighed. “And a blueish-green one at that.”
“You can thank Mrs. Dunsdale for the costume. At least it’s better than that tunic.” He shook his head, and his eyes shot toward the musicians. The first smile since they’d started dancing threatened to show on his lips. “She thought it would be something if our coloring complemented each other’s.”
“Ourcoloring? You told her you would be—”
Alex cut her off as he spun her under his arm. “I did. And when she suggested a crow, I thought of a murder of crows just outside your window that always try to warn me away from you. Better to join them than spite them, I figured, so here I am.” His smile grew with the brief levity, and she wanted to hold that moment in time forevermore.
Then his eyes grew more serious and dark behind his mask, and his voice dropped even lower. “You would laugh at all the plans I’ve considered, Charlotte.” Just hearing her name from his lips sent joy to her fingertips. The other faces and masks and costumes seemed to melt into the gas sconces like glowing, dripping honey, and she found herself able to focus only on Alex’s eyes. “But being here is more than just a plan. I came here because I thought, from your letter, that you deserved a way to become free to make your own choice.”
She held her breath as she studied his face. She hadn’t even allowed herself to dwell on that thought, but it was what she wished for more than anything. He switched directions and pulled her closer, the warm feel of his breath cascading against her cheek as she released her own breath. “Since I saw you, my life has been pure torture without you. After all that was said and implied and wished for regarding our future when we were in the woods... for that to just be torn from us...” He glanced down, and his extended hand caressed her gloved fingertips. “I meant every word. Imeanevery word. I love you. I admire everything I know about you. I love your strength of character and your kindness. I enjoy the barrage of words you speak when excited, and I adore the way your eyes wrinkle when you smile. Your beauty keeps me up at night. And what I don’t know of you yet, I wish to know.” The dance steps pulled them shoulder to shoulder as they promenaded, and she caught a bit of his minty scent in the air. “When I said in the woods that I would find some way to make it work, I meant it.” He drew a quick breath. “Don’t think me too mad, but I’ve decided it was worth the risk to come here tonight and give you an option. I have devised a way for you to leave this castle.”
Had she heard him correctly? Escape the future she’d been resigned to? Charlotte’s entire being filled with hope. Her heart beat doubly fast against the music; her breath caught in her throat. Until she realized how implausible it was. How selfish she was to want to escape.
She closed her eyes. “No, that would put you in too much danger. If my brother so much as realizes you are here, you know he’s threatened to kill you over my honor. You know how volatile he is, and it’s only getting worse. He has the best aim in all of Northumberland—”
“Charlotte.” Alex’s voice was low. “You don’t have to have his consent in order to leave,” he whispered. “You are an independent woman. I have a horse waiting in the woods to take us away after the ball. I know you are a woman of principle, so that horse would take us directly to the vicarage.” She watched him swallow and slow the next part of his words. “And at the vicarage, we could be married, if that is your wish and you accept my hand.” His confident eyes filled with hope and promise, and her heart skittered at their intensity. “I did not want to ask you this way. I wanted to spend days and weeks together and then tell you of my heart. But circumstances do not allow it.” He sighed. “This idea is bold and presumptuous, but under the circumstances, I did not think we could afford more time for me to court you properly.”
She studied the strong line of his jaw as she took in his meaning. He did want to marry her.
Tonight.
But even if she did want that—and every part of her heart screamed that she did indeedverymuch want it—could it really be possible?
She swallowed. “The banns. What about the banns?”
An eyebrow rose above his mask and a smile took up the exposed parts of his face. “Does this mean you are considering my proposal?”
That face. Even half-masked, it wielded far too much power over her heart. “I have always considered you, and you know that. I told you in the woods I always wished the man I chose would be you.”
From across the room, the gold glint of Harris’s mask caught her eye as he danced with another lady. What was she thinking? She had already agreed to marry Lord Ainscough!
“I wish you wouldn’t get your hopes up like this.” She sighed. “I told Lord Ainscough I’d accept his hand.”
“But you aren’t married yet, are you?” His eyes flooded with dread.
“Well, no, but we do have an understanding, and tomorrow our engagement will be announced.”
Alex smiled. “Ah, good. I knew there might be an engagement, but that is surmountable.” He winked at her, diffusing her stress with his humor. Only he could do such a thing at this moment.
Filled with determination, he leaned toward her. The smell of mint swirled into her senses, and she fought the urge to fall farther into his arms. “No matter the risk, Charlotte, I want to marry you. I won’t live my whole life wishing I’d been brave enough to take a chance. There’s no need for the banns. I have procured a special license through Mr. Laurence’s connections.”
“You are sure? You have the license, and this would work?” She dropped her voice even lower and raised one brow. “Do you have all your wits about you? You ought to know I don’t condone any kind of intemperance.”
Alex laughed, and the sound of it melted what remaining part of her heart hadn’t already been seized by him. “I promise I am completely of sound mind, though dancing with you most definitely lessens my ability to think straight.” He smiled. “The license is ready. I racked my brain these last few days trying to find a way to appease Chris, but I don’t think it can be done. This was the best plan I could conceive.”
The dance called for them to turn, but Charlotte remained still. Though his face remained masked, his eyes shone bright and sincere. “You—you are serious.”
“Yes.” He nodded, still smiling, but softer now. “Your brother forbade me from seeing you, but that just made me think of you more.” He sighed. “When you sent that letter saying you wished to protect me, I couldn’t hold back any longer. You were, like always, putting others before yourself. But your feelings... they haven’t changed?”
