Page 25 of The Lyon’s Paw

“You’re welcome, my…” Diana made the mistake of glancing up at him.

His gaze was leveled directly at her, his eyes smoldering. “Do you think, my dear, that now you might agree to call me Geoffrey?”

Diana gulped. Was she prepared to proceed to that level of intimacy with him? They were married, of course, but still seemed to be mostly strangers to her. Did she wish that to change? And then of course there was Joanna’s outrageous statement. Did this request affirm her assertion?

He was still patiently awaiting an answer.

Diana cut her gaze over to her aunt, who was nodding enthusiastically. Of course, she would be. She must expect their situation to resolve itself like a fairy tale.

But did Diana? She’d never know if she didn’t take that next leap of faith. Another look at his eager face and she found herself nodding. “Yes, I think we can agree to that, my lord.” She shook her head. “Geoffrey.”

He looked at her expectantly.

“And you must call me Diana.”

“I am more than honored to do so, Diana.” He spoke as though her name were a caress.

Not knowing where to look, but definitely not wishing to look at him at this moment, Diana turned to her aunt for a life raft in a suddenly turbulent sea. “Would you like more tea, Aunt Frances?”

“No, thank you, my dear. I’m fine.” Her aunt sipped and closed her eyes. “That is such lovely music, don’t you think?”

“I do.” The piano’s music was incredibly soothing. “Your sister is most talented, my…” Diana stopped at the droll look her husband gave her.

He raised a finger and wagged it at her. “Ah, ah.”

Diana burst out laughing. “Geoffrey. I am sorry, but it will take me some time to get used to using your Christian name.”

“Then you must practice using it often.”

As he spoke, the music changed from a classical piece to one of the popular dance tunes Diana had come to recognize last summer, Lord Castlereagh’s Waltz. Geoffrey rose immediately, set his saucer down, grabbed Diana’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “We must dance this one, my dear.”

Before she quite knew what was happening, they had assumed the position for the waltz and they were twirling around as though they’d been doing so every day since the summer. The tune Joanna played was spritely, their hands were twined together over their heads, their bodies closer now than they had been for months. A sudden warmth cascaded through Diana, emanating from every point where she and Geoffrey touched.

Face to face at last, she couldn’t look away from the handsome visage that had plagued her dreams of late. The thick brows that gave him a noble mien, sapphire blue eyes so deep tonight they could be black, high cheekbones and a narrow nose that made him look arrogant and charming by turns. Had they finally managed to put the past in the past? Was there the hope of truce between them? The contented look her husband now wore persuaded her perhaps there was.

The whirling dance ended with her still in Geoffrey’s arms. They stood for more than a moment, the warmth from his hands seeping into her waist as he gazed down at her, a look of …happiness, was it, on his face? Diana couldn’t look away as Joanna’s words rang once more in her mind.

Applause from her aunt and Joanna finally broke the spell and they parted, although at the last moment he did grab her hand. “You look fatigued, my dear. Not unexpected, after such a full day. And tomorrow will begin another such. Shall I escort you to your chamber to retire?”

That suddenly, as though his reminder signaled to all her limbs that she was exhausted, Diana’s strength drained away. She grasped his arm and nodded “I believe you are right, Geoffrey. I am truly fatigued.”

“Then we will wish you ladies good evening.” He nodded to her aunt and Joanna, tucked her arm into his elbow and, without any other ado, led her from the room.

In hindsight, Geoffrey regretted waltzing with his wife. Not that he hadn’t enjoyed it, he had. Diana was an excellent dancer who followed his lead effortlessly. The problem with the waltz had been the close proximity they’d been in for much too long. His body had been deprived of female companionship for longer than usual, so the luscious feel of his wife’s body against his had caused…consequences. Ones he truly hoped Diana had not been aware of.

Even now, as they made their way sedately along the corridor toward their respective chambers, his member was making its demands known. It didn’t help that his wife’s fatigue was making her lean against him, her warmth causing havoc in his breeches. Torture perhaps, but of a sort he could bear without complaint. “You and Joanna are planning another shopping excursion tomorrow?”

“We are.” Diana sounded tired, but happy as well. “I never realized there were so many accessories that are necessary. I am extremely grateful to your sister for her assistance.”

“I am glad she could be of help to you.” God knew he wouldn’t have been. “So our journey to London has been satisfactory so far?”

“More than satisfactory, my lord.” She jerked her gaze up at him, looking so guilty he had to laugh. “I mean Geoffrey.”

He patted her arm, the softness of her gown another pleasant sensation. “This gown quite becomes you, my dear.” How had he forgotten how attractive Diana was? Her beauty had been the first thing to draw him to her. “You wear it well.”

“Thank you.” The words were spoken low, but they acted as potently as any aphrodisiac.

For a moment he allowed himself to imagine what it would be like to follow his wife into her chamber, strip off the beautiful gown, and bury himself inside her willing body. The moment cost him some pain, but he believed it was worth it.