While he danced, he watched his friend twirl, gallop, and waltz Violet around the room.
Nearing the end of the set, Violet blushed. What could his friend have said to cause that response? As soon as the music faded, Sebastian returned the deb to her family.
At last, it was his turn to dance with Violet and he hastened to claim her. His heart rapped against his ribs as though he had fought a bout with Gentleman Jackson. She looked ravishing in an evening gown that emphasized her every curve despite its classical lines. He bowed over Violet’s hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. Before the end of their dance, he must confess the identity of her secret admirer.
He hoped she didn’t murder him on the spot.
He took her in his arms, her slim waist soft and warm under his hand. The music flowed over him and they stepped forward to commence the dance. Violet’s mouth curved into a smile and her blue eyes took on a dreamy look as she gazed at him.
For many minutes he whirled her around the perimeter of the ballroom, heart full just to have her in his arms at last. She smiled up at him and their gazes met. He opened his mouth to start the difficult confession he had to make. Nothing came out.
Violet’s next words filled the silence. “Are you a lover of poetry, Sebastian? I must confess, I had never thought it of you, but lately I have been wondering.” A tiny crease worried her brow although she still smiled up at him.
He gave a bark of surprised laughter. Was he a lover of poetry? “Not really, Violet. I can honestly say that I have not an ounce of poetry in me, as such.”
Her smile subsided and the crease on her brow deepened.
“Did I say the wrong thing?”
Violet shook her head, but her look of disappointment didn’t disappear.
“Don’t misunderstand me. I love to hear good poetry, but I have no capacity to write it.” Goodness knows, the doggerel he wrote could never be regarded as poetry.
Her mouth turned down. “Ah.”
They danced on and Violet began questioning him on his travels and they fell into relaxed conversation.
The allotted time for the waltz neared its end and still he hadn’t confessed. The pace of the music increased as the musicians raced towards the break in their evening repertoire. The candelabras above him blurred into streaks of light. The gowns of their fellow dancers formed a multi-colored backdrop beyond their bubble of exclusivity. There was no opportunity to talk further. It took all Sebastian’s concentration to avoid a collision on the crowded floor.
The music ended with a flourish. Breathless, Sebastian gazed at Violet’s smiling face. He must reveal his secret to her soon. “Violet, I have something I must tell you.”
Her gaze met his and that little crease above her nose returned. “Of course.”
***
Violet scanned the crowd of people moving towards the supper room. “Shall we join the others and find a table?”
Sebastian led her towards the adjacent room, which had been set up for that purpose. The crowd before them clogged its wide doorway. Violet soon realized the reason. Someone had hung a large kissing bough in the entry.
Hurray...No! Her neck prickled with heat. How embarrassing if Sebastian felt obliged to kiss her. She glanced sideways at him to judge his reaction. He appeared calmer about the prospect of kissing under the mistletoe than she felt. The same smile that had occupied his face throughout their dance remained.
They had almost reached the doorway. Now that most of the crowd had filtered into the supper room, Violet could see that folding doors had been opened to create a wide opening. There was room to avoid walking under the kissing bough and some guests were taking that option.
The remainder stopped, and with much laughter, participated in the old tradition. They shared a chaste kiss on the cheek or on the lips. Violet tried to calm her pounding heart. Surely Sebastian would steer her past and avoid the obligatory kiss?
He made no effort to do so and suddenly he was tugging her under the mistletoe. She presented her cheek for his kiss...but it never came. This embarrassing moment should be over by now. They should have moved into the supper room by now.
Confused, Violet turned her face to see what had happened.
Sebastian brushed his warm lips against her mouth. Her heart fluttered toward her throat. Closing her eyes her mind swirled. Her lips lingered against his mouth for a fraction of a second, savoring the tingles that cascaded over her body, heated her blood and sent her heart rate skyrocketing. She expected him to step away and lead her into the supper room.
Instead, he moved closer, held her chin between his thumb and forefinger, and stroked his lips across hers, once, twice, three times before settling them firmly there. She leaned into his embrace. The fresh scent of his cologne overwhelmed her senses. The heat enveloping their bodies had her yearning to draw him closer, to deepen the kiss.
“Ahem. Steady on.” A familiar voice broke into Violet’s consciousness. Lord Dunridge.
Sebastian broke their kiss. Far too soon.
A grin stretched across his face as he looked down at her. His eyes were dark unfathomable pools. Slowly and deliberately, he reached up and plucked a mistletoe berry from the decoration.
