He put his hand to his chest. “They are pleased Gus has asked them.”
“Thank you for today.”
“As I thank you for the pleasure of your company. We see each other tomorrow, and the next night, we go to the theater.”
She was too much taken with him. “Oh, is that wise?”
“No. It is necessary.”
“But rumors—”
“Abound. We can never control them, my darling.”
Hisdarling?Oh, she longed to be. She stood too close to him, inhaling his cologne and his gentle endearments. She had trouble controlling her tears, her needs and her desire for him. She had never been infatuated with a man, and now, her body tingled with hopes of ecstasies she did not know.
He smiled, benevolently. “You cry tears of happiness, I hope?”
She dashed one away.
He thumbed away the other.
She had to maintain some formality between them. “You are too perceptive.”
“Thank heavens for that. I want to perceive every little thing about you, mon chérie.”
She squeezed shut her eyes. “A rogue. Too tempting, you are.”
He grinned, his dimples showing. “How useful. I get better.”
She laughed and considered the sky. “What play do we see?”
“Macbeth.”
She wrinkled her nose. “A tale of tragedy.”
“We will leave early.”
Her heart swelled in expectation.
“I will kiss you in my carriage.”
She chuckled. “Fee will be surprised.”
“Fee will suffer a sudden attack of sneezes that night and become unable to attend.”
Excitement trilled through her veins like a siren’s song. “We go alone?”
“Will you still come?”
“Oui. I should not. Thetonwill talk.”
“Let them.”
“They will gossip about your intentions…and my reputation.”
“I have plans for both.”
Whatever that meant, she could not allow him to ruin himself over her. “Please don’t be rash. Do bring Fee.”
