She walked away from him until she stepped on the small green that backed the property. “That has nothing to do with forgetting the steps. Which I do all the time.”
This was a woman who could recite the tiniest details about African mammals and then switch seamlessly to obscure historical facts. Memorizing the steps of a dance would be child’s play for her. “You don’t forget the steps. You get bored with the steps and think of something else. And when your partner is boring as well—”
“I wander off,” she said dully.
“What?”
She turned back to him. “I have done it, my lord. I have thought of something else interesting in the middle of a dance and—”
“Wandered off?”
Her cheeks turned crimson. “My attention is caught by a myriad of things. All the time. It is not unusual for me to stop everything in the pursuit of a random fancy.” Her gaze turned upward to the three-quarter moon. “I would not insult you like that. Since I cannot promise to remain attentive, I merely remove myself from the dance all together.”
He nodded. “Prudent.”
She blew out a breath, her shoulders sinking to their natural place as she visibly relaxed. “Thank you for understanding.”
“But that wouldn’t happen with me. You should definitely dance with me.”
Her lips quirked. “I ask you again, are all Scotsmen so arrogant?”
“Possibly.” He grabbed her hand and drew her back. “First of all, I am taller than you, so no need to stoop.”
“But the dances require me to change partners—”
“Not the waltz.”
She pressed her lips together. The waltz was considered scandalous by many because it was so very intimate when compared to the other dances. And with him, it would be very intimate indeed for he would draw her close enough to feel the heat of his body on hers, the movement of his hips, and the press of his hands. It was not lovemaking, but he knew how to make an innocent girl blush fiery red from the dance done with him.
He did not yet know how innocent Lady Clara was. And that was why he wanted so badly to draw her into his arms. That was she was brilliant was obvious. But would they dance well in bed? He could not have that conversation, so he would dance the waltz with her instead.
Or maybe he would not, because she was shaking her head.
“I do not dance, my lord.”
“Do you kiss?”
She jolted. “What?”
As if God himself had ordained the timing, the first strains of a waltz began in the ballroom behind them. While she was still gaping at him, he gathered her into his arms as if they were to dance. Her arms were stiff, her face pulled back, but he didn’t force her to move. Indeed, he did nothing more than step close and set one hand on her waist while the other intertwined their fingers.
She could step back from him, but she didn’t. Neither did she melt into his arms. And when he began to sway with the music, she resisted as if she were made of a thick mud. She moved, but only from his effort. And so he stopped pressing her in favor of standing nose to nose.
“Tell me you have thought of it,” he said. “For I have dreamed of kissing you from the first moment we met.”
Her lashes fluttered and she looked away. “Such a thing would be improper.”
“And when did you become proper, Lady Clara? You don’t even use a maid when you go about London. I wager you have discussed the mating habits of several animals as well as the anatomy involved.” He leaned forward. “Did you think of my anatomy? I have thought of yours.”
Her gaze shot back to his. And to his delight, she wet her lips.
“If I kiss you now, lass,” he said, the burr of his accent slipping into his words. “It will be a declaration to everyone here. We will wed then or you lose your reputation.”
“I don’t have a reputation to lose.”
“Yes,” he said, as he lowered his mouth to hers. “You do.” She was known as a bluestocking, which was a great deal more elevated than a courtesan. One public kiss would not make her into a demi-rep, but it would begin her fall.
So he held back. He let their lips touch, but only by the barest degree. He felt their breath mingle and knew that her pulse was beating fast. It had to be, because his was thundering in his ears. It would be so easy to finish the kiss. So wonderful to thrust himself inside her and plunder as he willed. His hand that should be on her waist was creeping upwards. So easy to curl slightly around to cup her sweet breast.
