“Declan?” she repeated.
His heart thundered in his ears. Another kiss. His tongue. Her eyelids, her cheeks, her lips again. His hands returned to the silk stockings beneath her dress. Her perfectly formed bottom filled his hands.
“I love you,” she whispered. She twined her hands around his neck. “It’s terribly inconvenient, I know, but it could notnotbe said. We’ve risked everything for these five minutes. Let us make it worth more than stolen kisses.”
“Helena,” he moaned. Her words were a swirl in his head. His brain was caught somewhere between lust and terror, but he was cogent enough to not say more than her name. Her name could not hurt him. Or her. Or this moment.
“It’s true,” she said, pressing on. “It’s not fairor useful, but I do.” She laid her head against his chest. He felt the soft, warm skin of her cheek on his bare shoulder. Her hair fell over his arm. He grabbed a loose handful, filling his fingers with the flower-strewn locks. He held on to her as if he would sink into the ground if he let go. They embraced like the world was falling apart.
“We cannot stay here,” she finally said. She looked up. Her green eyes were very bright.
“Yes,” he whispered. He kissed her again.
“Anyone could have seen us come in,” she said.
“No one saw,” he said, but he’d no guarantee of this. He’d all but dragged her here. He’d considered nothing but his need to have her in his arms.
“We cannot indulge in recklessness now,” she said.
He laughed. “I’ve never been so reckless in my life until I met you.”
“I’m going back out,” she said, sliding her hands away. Stepping back. He let her go. He clenched his fists at his sides. She smoothed her hair and flowers molted to the floor.
“Did you see the woman with whom I was speaking?” she asked. Her voice was raspy. She glanced at him and then away, blushing slightly. She looked happy but a little uncertain. He felt like glass in a storm. One strong gust and he would shatter.I love you.
Helena went on, “The tall girl, dressed as Cleopatra? That was one of the two potential girls. Lady Rodericka Newton.”
Declan couldn’t remember any woman beyond Helena.
“She’ll not suit, I’m afraid,” Helena went on, shaking her head, smoothing the silk strips that fringed her gown. “She comes across as . . . sort of . . . humorless? Domineering, I’d say. When you came upon us, she was giving me advice on how I might improve my costume.”
“You’re joking,” he said. “Your costume is the best of the night.”
“Thank you.” She smiled with genuine pleasure. Declan’s heart shattered.
She went on, “She’d already informed me that she’d made a list of music she felt the band should play, including the order of songs, and given it to the conductor. She’s found fault with the temperature of the soup and lectured several footmen.”
“A bashful sort of girl, is she?” Declan asked.
“Bashful?” Helena laughed. “Oh yes, definitely. She’s under the impression that she’s somehow responsible for this ball, and she barely knows the hosts. She said she and her mother would make some recommendations for future events, but they were only invited because her father is a viscount from Yorkshire and they are new to town.”
“She wasn’t sensual enough for Lusk,” Declan said, turning to crack the door and peek out.
“Look who’s taken note of sensual women at this ball,” Helena teased.
Declan closed the door and turned back, sweeping her into his arms. “I only see you, sweetheart.” He dipped her back and kissed her. “From the beginning, I have only seen you. God help me.”
When she was breathless, he lifted her upright and checked the door again. “I will go first. Itmakes no sense for me to be alone in a music room. If you are discovered, at least you can pretend to play a musical instrument.”
“I am a rather accomplished pianist.”
“Really?”
“Sadly, no,” she said. “I’m terrible. But I can pretend.”
Declan returned to the door. “After five minutes—don’t rush it—wander out. Have you seen the other potential girl?”
She nodded. “Earlier. She was lounging in a room down this corridor.”
