The musicians drew the dance to an end. He wrapped his fingers around her wrists. “As was I.”
She took a quick breath, at once unwilling to part with him. Was she succumbing to his charms? “The dance is done.”
“But our time is not.” He led her off the floor to a corner where no one else stood. She went for the sake of the looks of it. But he inched delectably near her. “I wish to kiss you again.”
His fingers lifted one hand of hers and brought it to his lips. His blessing was hot.
She groaned and yanked her hand away. “We will not.”
“You wanted my kiss the other night and pulled me close.”
“That was anexperiment.”
His beautiful eyes widened in mirth. “Do you experiment with other men?”
“No. Never.”Not with kisses.
“I am pleased at your answer…and hope you will experiment with me again.”
“Oh, no.”
“But why not? You loved it.”
She gave a silent laugh. To deny it would be futile. “I did.”
“Have there been many kisses you enjoyed?” He seemed to breathe the words over her skin.
“No,” she admitted, and wished she hadn’t given him more truth.
“Well, then, we must share more.” He looked around the room. “I cannot leave.”
“And I must.”
He caught her to him before she completed a step away. “Tomorrow. I will send a note where to meet me. It will appear to be an accident, just like our meeting in the shop in Piccadilly.”
“I will do no such thing.”
“Not for an ice at Gunter’s?”
She laughed. “Isn’t it rather cold for an ice?”
“A pastry, then. And afterward, an afternoon of searching for items for your new home?”
“No, I will not. My reputation is as important to me as yours is to you,Monsieur le Comte.”
“My name is Evan and I wish you to use it. We are friends and will become more.”
“You should not want that.” Was her honesty getting the better of her?
“Do you?”
“Oh, sir.” She felt her chest tearing with misery. He was too kind, too appealing, and she had never had a man who called her from her loneliness with such persistence. “Evan, I should not, but I do.”
He seemed to absorb her words as if they were rays of the sun. “I will see you tomorrow at Gunter’s at two. Monday, I shall bring my mother and sisters, Fee and Jessica, to Lady Ashley’s at-home. Then, in the days after that, you and I will ride and visit friends and anything else I can think of.”
His words were a smoldering fire setting flame to her good intentions.
“Say, mon chérie, you will go with us.”
