“You think he might prove dangerous?”
“For you, yes.”
“Because he was not deterred by my lack of interest in courtship or marriage?” Forcing herself to stand tall, she stared back into his dark eyes. “You were not deterred either, it seems.”
“Perhaps not, but at least I am not pulling you into dark corners in order to smell your hair.” There was a dangerous edge to his tone. “Can you honestly tell me that his actions did not disturb you?”
Slowly, she shook her head. “No.”
“Then perhaps, even if you do not feel as though you know me well enough to heed my warning, you will listen to your own instinct?”
“Yes,” she assured him.
A moment passed, during which neither one of them moved. Eventually, Signor Antonio nodded. “That is all I need to know. Thank you.”
The relief in his voice melted her insides. With her heart beating rapidly in her chest, she accepted the arm he offered her, aware once again of the masculine strength he exuded as he guided her toward the dance floor in preparation for the waltz.
Chapter3
When the first notes of music rose through the air, Richard pulled Lady Eleanor into his arms, just as he’d longed to do since the moment he’d first seen her. Pure pleasure rushed through him, pushing away the anger that he’d felt at seeing Rotridge with his lecherous hands on her. Christ, he’d been tempted to give the man a sound thrashing. But he’d held back, aware that he would only be allowing an elemental possessiveness that he had no right to, to guide him.
Moving along the edge of the dance floor, he hesitated only a moment before setting his hand more firmly against Lady Eleanor’s back. Her eyes widened ever so slightly, which in turn made him smile. “You are managing very well, considering you’ve never danced this before.”
“You were right to say it would be easier than the other dances, though I do believe you are holding me inappropriately close.” Her words were followed by a delightful flush of pink across her chest.
Perhaps she was right. For a second, he considered adding more distance between them, but then thought better of it. The uncertainty that plagued him came from lack of practice, nothing else. It simply had to be tamed. “I disagree.” He deliberately tightened his grip on her, reveling in the way her lips parted with surprise while heat tore its way through him. She glanced around, her eyes slightly anxious. “Look at me,” he said. “We are only dancing. There is nothing wrong with that.”
Giving him her full attention, she quietly whispered, “Then why does it feel as though I am committing a sin?”
Her words, though innocently spoken, stirred his blood like nothing else ever had.Jesus!For the first time in five years, he was not only speaking to a woman, but holding one in his arms—a delightful one at that. Temptation did not even come close to describing the longing that was steadily building inside him, brought on not only by her beauty but by her sensuality and intellect as well.
Forcing back all thought of potentially kissing his way down the side of her neck and over the smooth skin of her shoulder, Richard struggled to gain control. “Perhaps it is the atmosphere,” he suggested. “Masquerades do have a tendency to encourage more carefree behavior.”
“I suppose it must be because of the anonymity. Hidden behind masks, people have the opportunity to do things they would not otherwise dare to consider.”
“Such as?”
She pursed her lips, which made her look adorably cheeky. “A shy gentleman might suddenly feel emboldened, allowing him the courage he needs to ask a lady to dance.”
“I hope you are not suggesting that I might be shy, for I can assure you that I am anything but.” Not entirely true, though he preferred apprehensive.
“And yet I have no clue about your identity. In truth, you could be anyone, perhaps even a groomsman who happened to chance upon some quality clothing.”
“I see your point. But if I were a groomsman, would I be as well-read as you know me to be?” Emboldened by their light repartee, the magical touch that the evening provided, and the reminder that nobody knew who he was, Richard moved his hands to her waist and lifted her right off the ground. He heard her suck in her breath while several onlookers gasped in confounded shock. Heedless of it all, he proceeded to swing Lady Eleanor around while spinning in a wide circle.
“That was far too daring,” she chastised as soon as he set her back on her feet and resumed their previous pace.
“Tell me you did not enjoy every second of it.”
Setting her mouth in a firm line, she looked away from him. “Everyone is watching,” she eventually said, not answering his question. “My aunt does not look the least bit pleased.”
“Then it is fortunate that I care more aboutyouropinion than I do about your aunt’s.”
The corner of her mouth twitched. “You are intolerable. What if you had dropped me?”
“A gentleman never drops a lady.” Twirling her around, he led her between two other couples.
“Perhaps not, but then again, we have not yet established that you are in fact a gentleman. For all I know, you could be a scoundrel.”
