“He dances as if he were on skates.”
“A handy skill if the world ices over.”
“Rose!”
“Cecily! You know what I’m asking about. Get to the heart of it!”
Cecily’s posture dropped and a bit of the dreaminess returned to her face. “Tristan listens to me when I talk, and he asks me what I think about things. He makes me feel like I’m the only one in the room.”
Two of the most potent weapons in any scoundrel’s arsenal.Rose’s lips pursed as she heard the warnings in her head, but she felt reluctant to condemn the man on those bristlings alone.
“Nowyou’repouting. Don’t tell me you know something awful about him.”
Rose licked her lips, pushing away the pout. “I do not. It sounds as if he’s making an effort to draw you in, but anyone seriously interested in you will do the same. I’m not going to suggest there is anything untoward. But be cautious. Do not be alone with him, and for God’s sake, stop using his Christian name. Not to me, not to Mother, and especially not to him.”
Cecily’s eyebrows met, her eyes narrowed in confusion. “Why not?”
“Because it indicates a familiarity that you are not yet in a position to claim.”
“What if he’s asked me to use it?”
Rose stiffened, half rising from her chair, a spear of protective ire almost forcing her to stand. “Has he? Cecily, has he asked you this?”
Cecily drew back in surprise. “Uh... no. He has not!” When Rose continued to rise, Cecily did the same. “Rose, I promise you. He did not! I just could not help myself!”
A flush of relief eased Rose’s irritation, and she sat slowly. “Cecily, do not even joke about such a thing. For a gentleman to request such a thing when he has not even yet claimed his suit would indicate that he is, in fact, no gentleman.”
Cecily dropped back onto the chair, her face drawn and sullen.
Rose hesitated. She dearly wanted to go to her sister, hug her, and tell her it would all be fine. But Cecily needed to understand how precarious her position could become—and quickly. “Sister, please listen to me.”
Cecily looked at Rose, her eyes wary.
“I do not want to frighten or discourage you. There are good men out there, and Lord Philby may be one of them.”
“Maybe?”
“Please listen. Yes, he may be. But he maynotbe. You do not know him yet, and you cannot make assumptions about anyone you have not known your entire life. You are not in the schoolroom anymore. All those lessons our governess drilled into you about etiquette and propriety and the behavior of a young woman in Society now need to be put into play. There are things you and I have joked about in the past that we cannot do so now. You are out. Your life has changed forever, and it’s about to change even more if you meet the right gentleman. And it is easy to be led astray by fine words and loving expressions. It’s a heady thing. You’ll feel lightheaded and dizzy in his presence—”
Cecily’s expression sharpened.
“—And men can have a scent that is deliciously alluring. You want to lean into their strength and feel their closeness.” Rose let her voice grow softer, gentler.
Cecily’s cheeks pinked again.
“The longer you are with one who creates this euphoric feeling, the more you want to be with him. To extend that feeling. To prolong that sense of emotion and wonder.”
Cecily’s eyes began to glisten—her gaze distant—and her mouth opened slightly.
Rose’s words were a whisper. “And it’s at that moment, that sweet blissful moment of longing—”
The first tear rolled down Cecily’s cheek.
“—That he can do whatever he wants with you.”
Cecily jerked. “What?”
The whisper continued. “A kiss. His lips tugging on yours. His fingers slipping beneath your bodice—”
