He made a gruff sound and drew her closer. His hold on her tightened as he swept her past the orchestra with the skill of a man who’d clearly danced before. How positively curious.
“You know the only lady I care for is you,” he murmured. “But Henry caught me off guard. I could hardly claim to be vexed on account of his sister.”
“I suppose not,” she said, unable to keep from smiling broadly. His stern expression had the most potent effect upon her. On one hand it made her giddy with knowing he didn’t want other men anywhere near her while on the other it weakened her knees and filled her veins with liquid heat. “Thank you for coming, by the way. I feared you might decide not to.”
“That would have been the prudent choice, but there’s something about you that tempts me to be reckless.” When she laughed, his frown deepened. “That’s not a good thing, Lilli. It’s the sort of thing that will lead to disaster.”
“Or perfect bliss.” When he said nothing, she pressed. “I mean to speak with Papa tomorrow.”
“You’re out of your mind.”
Ignoring him she said, “He appreciates knowing that big decisions are well thought through, so I’ve made a presentation for him.”
Tristan choked. “Seriously?”
“It offered the perfect distraction this week when I was unable to catch you alone. Which did make me wonder, by the way, if you were deliberately avoiding me once again.”
He pressed his lips together and glanced away while steering her between two other couples. At the edge of the dance floor she spied her brother, who stood with his feet wide apart and arms crossed. His gaze followed her like a hawk. Oh dear. Apparently Henry disapproved of her dancing with a man who supposedly dallied with married women. And who could blame him?
“I’ve been kept busy with the matter I mentioned last we met and with trying to find fault with Mr. Ershwin and Mr. Newhurst.”
“And did you succeed?”
“No. Both men would make excellent matches for you from all points of view. I’m sorry.”
Lilli’s spirits dimmed somewhat though she was immensely grateful to him for trying to help her instead of Papa and Henry. “It’s all right. As I mentioned, I’ve created a presentation just as I would have done if I wanted to open a charity or invest my savings in some venture.”
“I fear you could easily prove a charity more lucrative than a future with me,” Tristan grumbled. “No matter which way you turn it, I am a dismal option. You won’t be able to tell Stratham otherwise.”
“Let me try. Papa has always cared for his children’s happiness, so I believe winning him over will be easier than you think.” All she had to do was prove to him she wouldn’t suffer in Tristan’s care and that marrying him would not have a negative impact upon her family. As long as she caught Papa at the right moment, she was certain he’d listen. Or at least she hoped he would.
“What if this plan of yours blows up in your face? I’ll be sacked without reference.”
“Grandmama has already agreed to back me up. If I ask her to, I’m sure she’ll give you another position.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m simply aiming for the most agreeable outcome first, the one in which my family offers support and permits us to use my dowry to set up a home for ourselves.”
He winced. “I’m not comfortable being dependent upon you.”
“It would be no more than a practical start,” she assured him. “If you wish to find other work so you can provide for us, I have no issue with that.”
Shifting slightly as they slowed their pace in time with the fading music, he stared at her in amazement. “Truly?”
“You are a working man, Tristan. That’s who I fell in love with. I’ve no intention of changing that.”
He swallowed hard, as if it required great effort to rein in his emotions. His lips parted, but rather than speak he suddenly grabbed her upper arm and walked her briskly toward the edge of the dance floor.
“We need to talk. There’s something about me you ought to know,” he said, leading her out of the ballroom. “But your brother was approaching and he did not look the least bit pleased.”
“I don’t suppose he would after what you told him,” Lilli said. She half walked, half ran in order to keep up with Tristan’s much longer strides.
Without further comment he marched her toward the door leading into the music room and hauled her inside.
The door closed but Tristan remained on edge. He needed to be alone with Lilli so he could speak with her uninterrupted, but judging from Henry’s clipped stride, rigid posture, and angry gaze, he feared his friend would burst in on them at any second. Taking Lilli’s hand, he pulled her toward the glass door leading out to the garden. His heart beat rapidly, both with anxiety and with elation.
She’d told him she loved him, which had not only been unexpected but also incredibly welcome. It made the idea of fighting for a shared future with her less terrifying. Because it suddenly felt as though any other outcome would cause an imbalance in the cosmos. And who would want that?
They stepped outside, closed the door behind them, and descended the steps. From their right came the sound of laughter and chatter as guests enjoyed a reprieve on the terrace. Still holding Lilli’s hand, Tristan drew her away from the house and deeper into the moonlit garden. He did not slow his pace until they’d returned to the spot where they’d shared their first kiss. Finally he halted, whisked off his mask, and pulled her into his arms.
Her own mask clattered to the ground as his mouth met hers with a hunger that rivaled their previous kisses. Because she loved him and he loved her, and he told her as much with every caress, with each fervent touch and the sighs of pleasure she wrought from his lips.
