“Indeed!”
Spencer waved and disappeared into the crowd. Alexander continued his search until a flash of pale blue and light auburn curls caught his eye.
His breath stopped.
Theodora stood near the far side of the ballroom, speaking with the Dowager Countess and the Duchess of Winterleigh. Her blue gown was simple but elegant. The color made her eyes appear brighter, and her skin softer. She had her hair pinned in a way that exposed the delicate line of her neck, and he briefly imagined her with her hair falling freely over her slender shoulders.
What a sight to behold.
Despite their last meeting, he could not deny that she looked beautiful. And… nervous.
Theodora suddenly turned in his direction as if she felt him watching her. Their eyes met and Alexander immediately beganwalking towards her. He was surprised when she excused herself and made her way to him as well. Alexander cut through the crowd, ignoring the murmurs that followed him and the ladies who tried to catch his attention. He reached her at the same moment she reached him and they both opened their mouths.
“I am sorry,” they said in unison.
They froze, staring at each other in disbelief until they both fell into quiet laughter. The tension that had been strangling him for days loosened.
Theodora tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I am sorry if I did not behave correctly,” she said quietly. “My intentions toward your sister were pure. And I only wished to understand her better.”
Alexander shook his head. “No. I am the one who should apologize. I accused you of treating Rosalind as an experiment and that was unfair.”
She looked up at him, surprised. “You were worried, as a brother should be.”
“I was,” he admitted. “But that does not excuse my behavior.”
Theodora hesitated, then nodded. Alexander could not help himself; his gaze dropped to her soft, pink lips. Silence stretched between them as he gathered his thoughts and came to his senses.
Alexander cleared his throat. “If you are still willing… I would like to continue giving you my assistance. For your journey to disprove love.”
Theodora’s brows lifted. She thought about it for a second and Alexander’s heart stopped.
Why does her answer matter so much?
Finally, she looked around then whispered, “I will accept this if you tell me, honestly, how you felt during our kiss?”
Alexander was delightfully surprised by her question. He thought about it for a second before he answered her slowly and as truthfully as possible.
“I felt as though I needed more.” His words landed heavily between them as he gazed down at Theodora, noting the way her skin bloomed with color and her lips trembled. Alexander knew then that she felt the same way.
“Very well,” she said shakily.
Relief washed through him so intensely he nearly exhaled aloud. He noticed that the couples around them began drifting towards the ballroom floor as the orchestra shifted into a new melody and everyone began to dance a slow and elegant waltz.
Alexander extended his hand to Theodora, and she looked taken aback by his gesture.
“May I have this dance?”
She hesitated only a moment before placing her gloved hand in his. “Yes, you may.”
He led her onto the floor. Her palm felt hot against his own. Heads turned towards them and whispers began but Alexander ignored them and so did Theodora.
The moment he touched her waist, she inhaled sharply. Alexander felt the slight tremor that ran through her and he felt the corners of his mouth lift into a winning smile.
“Do you know how to dance?”
“Of course I do,” she replied haughtily.
Alexander chuckled as he guided her gently, his hand firm at her back, her hand light in his. She moved gracefully, though he could sense her tension, and her awareness of every point where they touched.
