“I only wish I could practice with someone who doesn’t set off my nerves as the Duke of Branville seems to.” She wrung her gloved hands, casting an unsettled glance in the other duke’s direction.
“Very well.” Thomas sighed as though the idea cost him dearly. “Meet me in the gardens. I’ll kiss you. There may even be a flirtatious exchange.”
Delilah thought he was jesting. Thomas had to be jesting, didn’t he? Only she didn’t have a chance to find outbecause he added, “See you there in a quarter of an hour,” before he essentially bolted from the ballroom.
She was left to stare after him, blinking and wondering what she’d got herself into. She hadn’t meant to imply thatThomasshould be the one to kiss her. The notion was ludicrous, but now she had to go out into the gardens to tell him so. She didn’t want to leave him out there waiting. That would be unkind.
So, she did what any good debutante with a planned rendezvous would and waited twenty minutes, to be safe, before she sneaked out the French doors on the far end of the room and scurried around the side of the house.
The Hillards’ gardens were particularly well-designed for a rendezvous. They happened to include a maze of hedgerows, and everyone knew hedgerow mazes were the perfect place for an assignation.
Delilah bit her lip and glanced back toward the house with its glowing windows. No one was outside on the wide stone patio at the moment. She turned to contemplate the large hedgerow. The maze was lit with tiny white candles, glancing off the shiny dark green leaves of the hedges. She presumed Thomas had already made his way into the maze. Where else could he be?
She took the first tentative step onto the gravel path and forced herself to inhale a deep breath. Why was she nervous? This was nothing to be nervous about. Only Thomas would be at the end of this path, not Branville. She lifted her skirts and hurried forward.
He was standing in a patch of moonlight next to a stone bench in the center of the maze. The soft light highlighted his dark hair, one cheekbone, one bright eye as he casually rested a hip against the side of the bench.He’s gorgeous. The realization nearly made her take a step back. What was she doing? She had no businessthinking Thomas, of all people, was gorgeous. He was her friend. Her closest friend. They’d enjoyed making sarcastic comments about members of thetontogether for years. He finished her sentences. He knew her thoughts. He indulged her love of chocolate ices at Gunter’s, and helped her when she brought him yet another hurt puppy or kitten she found on the streets.
Thomas wasn’t supposed to be handsome. He was Thomas. Only hewashandsome. She had to admit it. Very well. He was a man, full grown, and she was a woman, full grown. But they were still friends, and that was what they would remain. However, if he wanted to help her feel less nervous by giving her a kiss, she would take him up on the offer. It didn’t hurt that he happened to be handsome, did it?
The memory of their kiss during the scene at the rehearsal briefly flitted through her mind. She’d managed to force it from her thoughts for the most part, due to sheer stubborn will. But the truth was, that kiss had made her feel funny inside. It had sent butterflies winging through her belly. She’d told herself a hundred times that the act of kissing itself must be responsible for such a reaction. She’d find out tonight if he kissed her again, wouldn’t she? If she had that same reaction, she’d know. Kissing was simply a highly enjoyable pastime.
“What took you so long?” he asked, jolting her from her shameful thoughts.
She smoothed her hand down her middle and cleared her throat. Why was she shaky? She was never shaky around Thomas. “Ladies must wait an extra five minutes before arriving at their assignations.”
“I see. I believe you failed to tell me that part.”
“You hardly gave me a chance to explain.”
“Very well.” He folded his hands behind his back andpaced a few steps. “Would you like to begin with the flirtatious exchange?”
“With you?” She laughed.
He stopped to look at her. “Yes, I’m told that’s part of this. And we want to do it correctly, don’t we?”
“You’re being ridiculous, you know.” She said it accusingly, but she could have sworn at least one butterfly was flitting around her middle.
“I’m not going to count that as part of the flirtatious exchange,” he replied.
“Thomas, I—”
He took two long strides and pulled her into his arms. Her heart beat so loudly where her breast pressed to his coat she was certain he could hear it.
“I believe I should begin by telling you that you look beautiful tonight,” he said in a husky-soft voice. His face had changed, and his expression looked downright… serious. He was a good actor. He was going to be a wonderful Demetrius.
“Thank you, Your Grace.” She’d never called himYour Graceunless she was making a jest.
Those kind, solemn eyes—the eyes of a handsome stranger, suddenly—searched her features. “You smell like… lilies.”
Her perfume was made from lilies. Thomas wasn’t acting. He had actually sniffed her perfume. Disconcerting, to be certain. She swallowed hard.
He leaned down, and his lips brushed the side of her face, her ear, her temple. Goose bumps rushed along her skin. What was happening to her?This is Thomas. This is Thomas. This is Thomas. She couldn’t remind herself enough because the feelings in her chest and… lower, were anything but friendly. Or perhaps they were too friendly.
His lips touched hers, lightly, lightly, and the breath caught in her throat. That wasn’t so bad. It wasn’t nearly as embarrassing as—
Then his mouth slanted across hers, and his tongue slid between her lips. White-hot sparks of something that felt nothing at all like friendship shot through her body.
She clung to him, fingers clutching his finely made coat and then inching up slowly to wrap around his neck.
