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‘The trouble with truly loving someone is that even when your head tells you to stop, your heart keeps right on loving.’ Hattie gave a smile and knew the time was right. She no longer had to hide her feelings or wish them away. The time had come to say them out loud. ‘Yes, I love you, Kit, and suspect I always will.’
His smile could have lit a thousand lanterns.
‘You won my heart a long time ago,’ Hattie continued. ‘I think it began when you fished my gloves out of the reticule, but I didn’t really know how much I cared for you until that day when Strawberry and I jumped the stone wall. You taught me to face my fears. But there was one big hurdle I couldn’t face—declaring my love. You were right when you said that I had to face my fear.’
‘You were tardy in your love, but I shan’t hold that against you. You truly won my heart when you insisted on giving me that blasted jumping-jack at the fair. You knew what I wanted—no, what I needed. You made me into a better man, even if I kicked and screamed a bit, determined to prove you wrong.’
‘You were always that man, Kit,’ Hattie said gently. ‘You had to believe in yourself.’
‘A lesson you taught me. You showed me what loving and forgiveness was truly about.’ He put his arms about her and rested his forehead against hers. ‘You are willing to share the rest of your life with me, then?’
She threw her arms about his neck. ‘Yes, oh, yes. I will marry you.’
Kit whispered after they had soundly kissed, ‘Shall we tempt fate, Mrs Wilkinson, and return to the dance floor? I’ve no wish to cause a scandal.’
Hattie laughed up at him. ‘I will gladly dance with you.’
When they arrived back at the ballroom, the dance had finished. Hattie noticed that Kit gave a distinct nod to the master of ceremonies. As he led her out onto the floor, the man announced the next dance—a German waltz.
Her eyes flew to his. ‘You are incredibly lucky.’
‘I took precautions, yes.’ Kit rested his hand against her waist. ‘I wanted to hold you in my arms. I had anticipated moving straight on to the second dance after the quadrille, but I prefer how things worked out.’
‘You bribed the orchestra?’
‘It will be worth every penny if you stay with me. Will you dance?’
She gave a decisive nod of her head. ‘Yes, I’m feeling brave. I can risk being in your arms.’
The music swelled up around them and he began to move. Absolutely correctly and with great precision. Not even a Lady Patroness from Almack’s or the most severe duenna could fault him. They slowly circled the room.
‘As you can see, I am being utterly trustworthy,’ he remarked.
‘It makes a change.’
‘Hopefully a welcome one.’
She moved closer. ‘I am not sure what to make of it.’
‘You don’t have to make anything of it. Just dance. Let yourself be in the moment.’
‘Are you attempting to teach me something?’
‘I finished with lessons a long time ago.’ Kit concentrated on moving his feet. With each passing step, the urge to crush her to him grew. ‘I simply wanted to hold you in my arms.’
She started to pull away, but he tightened his grip, making their bodies collide.
With a whoosh, she fell against him. His body reacted instantly. He checked his movement and allowed her to find her feet.
‘I had no plans to go.’ Her voice was breathless.
‘It is good to know. Shall we continue?’ He started to move again. This time he held her closer, enjoying the way her skirts brushed against his legs as they moved around the ballroom. Looking down at her, he tried to make a memory. This was how, when they were old, he wanted to remember her—cheeks flushed, lips full and eyes sparkling, the most beautiful woman in his world.
‘Kit,’ she breathed, her lips parted slightly.
Giving in to impulse, he raised their hands to his mouth and touched her palm with his lips. A soft sigh emerged from her throat. She lifted her mouth and he bent his head. The briefest of touches.
The shocked exclamation poured ice water over Hattie, bringing her back from the enchanted bubble she had somehow existed in. The reality of where she was and what she had just done closed in around her, locking her in a prison.
‘Everyone is looking at us,’ Kit said in a low undertone.
‘What are we going to do?’
Hattie froze. She had done the unthinkable. She had shown Kit affection in public, not just affection, but a full-blown meeting of the lips!
