Her palm was on the lace skirt covering Philippa’s hip. Those ample curves were soft and inviting beneath Tommy’s fingertips. She longed to explore the rest of her body.
Tommy pulled her into the waltz, keeping time with the music. They moved together effortlessly. Tommy was tempted to pull her even closer until their bosoms were near enough to touch.Improper, she scolded herself. But improper was exactly what she wanted to be.
“I saw you cut quite a swath amongst the ladies,” Philippa said presently.
“Were you watching me?” Tommy arched her eyebrow. “Whatever must Lord Charsdale think of your inattention?”
“What must all of the gentlemen think?” Philippa countered. “You winked at as many married ladies as unmarried ones.”
“I winked at no one,” Tommy protested. “I simply gave them anI-would-wink-at-you-if-we’d-been-properly-introducedsmile with my eyes.”
Philippa narrowed hers. “What does a smile like that look like?”
Tommy kept her lips relaxed and made her eyes heavy-lidded, allowing the corners to crinkle meaningfully as she gave an ever-so-slight upward flash to her eyebrows.
Philippa’s lips parted.
Tommy’s grin widened.
“That’s definitely a wink,” Philippa said. “It’s an eyebrow wink, which I hadn’t known could be even more flirtatious than an eyelidwink until I saw you do it just now. Is that how you caused so many faint hearts to swoon in your wake?”
“Did they swoon?” Tommy asked innocently. “My attention wasn’t onthem.”
“You littered the ballroom with debutantes, spinsters, andwives—and you know it,” Philippa said. “I think you did it on purpose, just to show me you could.”
“Almost right,” said Tommy. “It wasn’t for your benefit, but for the haughty prigs in the men’s card room who believe Baron Vanderbean to be no romantical threat.”
“Well. Your seductive prowess offers a marked benefit to me.” Philippa darted a glance over each of Tommy’s shoulders. “All the young ladies who were fanning their fichus earlier are staring daggers at me now. As soon as our dance is finished, you will be inundated with admirers, butIwill be the woman you chose first.”
“As soon as oursetis finished,” Tommy corrected. “I won’t return you to your mother until the last possible second this time.”
Philippa’s voice softened. “Good.”
Tommy tried to remind herself that this wasn’t courting. There would be no kisses. It was just a dance or two, as Philippa had granted countless other men. It was innocent. Mostly.
And because Tommy could not act on her feelings, Philippa need not know that Tommy possessed any.
Such as: Tommy wanted to explore every curve of Philippa’s body with her mouth and her hands to see if she felt and tasted as delicious as she looked. Or: The ease with which they danced together was the tiniest of hints at how well their naked flesh might fit together, too.
A lesser rake might lose his step in the waltz. But Tommy was a competent, confident baron, and her rhythm with Philippa never faltered…as long as she reminded herself that it was just a temporary role like any other.
“You know,” said Philippa, “tomorrow morning, your poor butler will have to add a second salver on the mantel to collect all the cards and invitations. We’ve raised each other’s currency in tandem.”
Unfortunately, no currency in the world could purchase what Tommy wanted most.
She tightened her hold on Philippa’s hand. Tommy wanted Philippa to know the fake flirtation was real. She wanted Philippa towanta true courtship. She wanted to pull Philippa close, to taste her lips, her tongue, her flesh…She wanted everything she could never have.
But she would have to be content with playing a role. Like the theater, this opera would soon end. The only time they would ever have was now.
Tommy waggled her brows. “You’re saying Baron Vanderbeancouldattract a highborn bride?”
“I am watching mothers formulate plans as we speak.”
“Then I suppose I shall have to dance with all their daughters, so as not to play favorites,” Tommy said airily.
Philippa narrowed her eyes again. “You’remypretend suitor.”
“And we’ll have used up our two sets before the end of the hour,” Tommy reminded her. “I cannot imagine your mother wishing to return home until the orchestra plays the last note. As a paragon of chivalry, Baron Vanderbean must do his civic duty and—”
