“You did,” I said in a low voice.
He opened his mouth and then closed it again. “That was different.”
“Why?”
“It was a Christmas tradition.”
“Was that all?” I whispered.
He stared at me for a moment and then he turned back to the railing, leaning his forearms on top.
“What about when I’m engaged?” I asked him.
“Your fiancé can teach you everything you need to know about things like that.” His voice was dry. “By that point, you will havesecured his promise, if not his heart, and the rest will come naturally.”
“What if it doesn’t?”
He straightened and ran his hand over the back of his neck. “Some things cannot be taught, Keira. They are an extension of the love and attraction two people share. You have nothing to worry about.”
“What if my fiancé doesn’t love me? What if he’s not attracted to me?”
“That cannot be possible. Any man with eyes would find you attractive.”
My cheeks grew warmer. “Then what of love?”
“It’s a rare gift in our circles. If you find it, you are one of the fortunate few.”
My heart pounded as I watched him, knowing he was right. I had found it, but it could never be acted upon.
“I spent the first part of my life unloved,” I whispered, lowering my gaze to look at my hands. “I cannot imagine spending the rest of my life suffering the same fate.”
“Keira.” He gently reached for my hand. “It is my fervent prayer that you get everything your heart desires. You deserve it more than anyone else I know.”
His touch was soft and tender. It sent a tingling sensation up my arm and into my chest.
I lifted my gaze to his and something powerful passed between us.
“Oh, I do apologize,” an older woman said from behind Alec. “I didn’t realize we were interrupting a moonlit rendezvous.”
Alec pulled his hand away from mine and turned, revealing Mrs. Garfield and Louise.
“Well, well,” Mrs. Garfield said. “Here I thought Mr. Vanderbilt’s greatest competition was the aristocracy in Europe. I had no idea the real competition was much closer to home.”She smiled. “Does dear old Maude realize what’s happening right under her nose?”
“It goes without saying that nothing is happening between Clara and I,” Alec said.
“You were holding her hand.”
“I was comforting her.”
Mrs. Garfield’s sly smile made her look like a cat. “Is that what we’re calling it now?” She lifted a shoulder. “I would hate for rumors to circle about Miss Clara before we get to Europe. You know, the British are even more concerned about reputations than us Americans.”
I wasn’t sure if it was true, but I didn’t want to take any chances.
“Alec has always been a gentleman,” I said.
“It doesn’t matter to me. But I would be more careful the next time you have atête-à-tête. Perhaps it would be best not to do it so publicly. Come, Louise, we should leave these two to return to theircomforting.”
As they walked away, Alec gave me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry.”
