She did not pull her hand away. She did not avert her eyes, as she most definitely should. Instead she stared while that kiss and those dark eyes enlivened her whole body.
He drew her closer, closer, until she either had to step toward him or fall. She did a bit of both, stumbling awkwardly, and found herself in his arms.
He was going to kiss her. She was sure of it. That must not happen. Instead of pushing away, however, she could not move. His gaze paralyzed her and incited an unseemly excitement.
His arms embraced her. He looked down. Dazed, she closed her eyes and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
When nothing happened, she opened her eyes. Instantly the euphoria lifted, and she felt a fool. She tried to extricate herself from his embrace, but he did not allow it.
“Do you want me to kiss you?” he asked.
“Of course not. You are the last man I want kissing me, I assure you.” She refused to look at him and continued trying to pull away.
“That is not true. Let us be honest with each other in this if nothing else.” His head dipped and his lips hovered over hers.
Her breath caught. Heavens, but he was beautiful. And exciting. Even that darkness seduced. Thrills kept spiraling through her, begging to have excuses to become something more powerful.
“Part of the fun is the anticipation,” he said quietly, imprisoning her with his gaze. “Although there is always the danger of it building to a fever.” His lips brushed hers, ever so faintly, but enough to create a starburst of sensation.
It was a terrible tease. A provocative promise.
He released her and stepped back. She stood there speechless, and utterly defeated, shocked at how he had used her own words against her to imply they shared some sympathy on sensual matters.
“I must go.” She turned on her heel and marched toward the main path. With each step, her indignation grew.
He walked alongside her, too contented by far.
“I can’t believe you imposed on me like that,” she said in her besthow-dare-youtone.
“I imposed very little, especially given the circumstances. Indeed, had I made love to you up against one of the trees, I am not sure it would have been an imposition.”
“If you think so, you have been in France too long.”
She could not get to the carriage soon enough. She refused to look at him all the way to Gifford House. Once there, she barely suffered his insistence on handing her down. She steeled herself against the feel of his hand on hers, and the closeness of his body, and the way her whole being still wanted to react inappropriately.
She could not resist one last scold. Not only to remind him of proper behavior, but herself too. “Please remember in the future how a gentleman treats a lady, sir.”
“I know how to treat a lady. You, however, are also my future bride. That changes everything.”
She hurried to her door full of furious indignation. Once inside, she learned that this discomforting day would only get worse.
Theo, Emilia, and the dowager had come up from the country to join her.
Chapter Five
“Why are you so glum? You have not smiled since you entered the house.” Clara posed the question to her sister after seeking her out in her bedchamber that night.
Dinner had proven a trial, with her grandmother issuing edicts regarding the days ahead, and Emilia and Theo nodding like schoolchildren. The dowager dismissed out of hand Clara’s own objections to the demands the plans made on her time.
Emilia threw herself on her bed. “Grandmother wants me to meet Stratton. Since he is here in town, we followed him.”
“You have not yet been introduced?”
“Theo keeps inviting him to visit, only to be put off.” She pouted. “It is embarrassing to be thrown at him like this when it appears he would prefer to avoid me. Since I would like to avoid him too, I wish they would stop this pursuit of him. I realize he is a duke, but I found him rather frightening in appearance when he was on that terrace. Nor do I think it is fair that I am being offered to him like this before I ever have a Season.”
