She pulled back,his arm dropping to loosely hold her waist. Her gaze searched himand he sat still beneath it, knowing he could only do so because itwas her. “It can wait, though?”
Of course. Ofcourse it could. Hauling her back into his arms, he rested his chinon her head as her hands burrowed between his jacket andwaistcoat.
It couldwait.
Chapter Fifteen
HEAT HUNG HEAVY OVER THE ballroom, the air humid andpregnant with the promise of a summer storm. Servants wieldinglarge palm-shaped fans made of wicker and ostrich feathers didtheir best to move the still air through the ballroom and usher inthe hint of coolness from the wide-flung balcony doors, but theirefforts amounted to little.
Fanning herself,Sera looked out over the ballroom. The press of bodies made theheat even more oppressive, and guests were beginning to succumb. Alady swooned, while the gentleman she intended to catch her barelydid so in time, his expression dazed. Chatter was listless, andthose dancing lacked enthusiasm.
She had no carefor others, though. Not when, from across the ballroom, Stephenwatched her.
Leaning againstthe ballroom’s wall, he crossed his arms over his chest, his focuswholly upon her. He didn’t pretend disinterest or tease, didn’tlook at another woman in an attempt to make her jealous. No,Stephen levelled his gaze upon her and let her know she held all ofhis attention.
A bead ofperspiration slid between her breasts. He held her attention, too.So easily. Sweat sheened his cheekbones, causing skin tanned fromcountless hours playing football to glow golden. An image of himflashed across her, of him in shirtsleeves that clung to his leanlymuscled frame, his cuffs pushed back to reveal strong forearms, andthe graceful prowl of his body as he came to her. Another imagereplaced the first, this time his jacket and shirt disordered byher hands, his throat arched and his body bowed as he yielded tothe pleasure she gave him.
Mouth abruptlydry, she parted her lips as pressure pushed low in her abdomen,heavy and empty. How did he do this to her from across a ballroom?Pushing off the wall, he started towards her. Her breath caught,her heart a mad thump in her chest.
Reaching her, hetook her hand, bending low. “Lady Seraphina,” he murmured, his lipsbrushing her fingers.
His touch burnedas if gloves didn’t separate her skin from his. “Lord Stephen,” shemanaged.
He rose, hisdark eyes smouldering. “I find I require refreshment.”
Her brain feltthick. “You do?”
He nodded, histongue slicking the flesh of his plush bottom lip. She almostmoaned.
“Ishall no doubt pass by the orangery, in my search forrefreshment.”
Belatedly, sherealised what he was about. Excitement began a mad thrum. “Indeed.I find I require a bit of fresh air. The heat.” She wavedgenerally.
“Yes. I hope we both achieve our desire.”
Oh, wicked man.Wicked, wicked man.
He bowed. “LadySeraphina.”
“Mylord,” she murmured. He bowed again and, with that slight, slysmile she loved, he disappeared into the crowd.
She waited amoment, then another, and then she followed.
The sounds ofthe ball faded as she made her way down the hallway. A gaggle ofladies passed her, their excited voices fading as they disappearedin the opposite direction. Shadows deepened, pale moonlightoffering weak illumination as it spilled from the open corridordoors.
Sera stopped.She was certain she should have reached the orangery by now.Perhaps she had made a wrong turn. Starting back the way she came,she opened a door that had to be the orangery.
The air held adifferent humidity here, one of trees and shrubs rather than toomany bodies, and the faint moonlight painted the orangery tovarious shades of grey. Outside, lightning crashed. Thunderfollowed slowly, the storm still some distance from reaching them.Rain had yet to fall, and the air grew thicker.
Another flash oflightning. The orangery lit up, exotic palms throwing strangepatterns on the wall. And there, in the middle of the greenery,stood Lydia Torrence and the Earl of Roxwaithe in torridembrace.
Sera immediatelydropped to a crouch, concealing herself behind a potted shrub. Theyhadn’t noticed her, though, wholly immersed in each other, butthen, the earl gently pushed Lydia from him. They whispered to eachother, and then the earl glanced her way.
Sera’s heartstopped.
Lydia saidsomething, and the earl’s attention returned to her. Quietly as shecould, Sera retreated to the entrance. The door handle turnedsilently in her hand, and she slipped out.
In the hallway,she placed a hand over her frantic heart. Now that she was in nodanger of being seen, she started to think. She had caught Lydiaand the earl. If it was made known, there would be scandal. Theywere not affianced. They weren’t even courting. Though everyoneknew of Lydia’s passion, few knew the earl returned it. He insistedshe was too young, and tongues would wag about that veryinsistence. The damage done to both could be irreparable until theyfinally succumbed to the inevitable and wed. It was what Lydiawanted, and the earl would have come around to it eventually.Finally, she could ruin Lydia, but...did she want to?
