He looked duly chastised. “Does it? I am sorry, my darling. I did not mean to confuse you. I meant…yes, I meant to tempt you to see if you cared for me enough to allow me…”
“Allow you what?” she dared him with fury. “The ultimate?”
“No.”
“What, then?”
“I would not take from you anything you do not freely wish to give. And I would not ask you merely for an hour or a night.”
“No, I would not agree.” She would not ever give herself away for a temporary prize. Besides, she was still angry, frustrated like a young girl, deprived of his sweetness.
“Good. I would have you for more than that.”
What was he saying?
“I like all of you,” he declared. “I approve of all I see.”
She tore her gaze from his look of raw desire. She wished he never delved deeper. He must not see the whole of her. Yet he would. One day when she could do nothing but change it.
For the remainder of the play, he did not touch her. And in his carriage, he did not sit beside her, but opposite.
At her door, he did act the gentleman and properly kissed her hand. But he gave noadieuor word of seeing her tomorrow or the next day.
She raced up the stairs to her rooms, aching to have him for all the rapturous tomorrows she would never claim with him.
#
Two days later, his mother held an afternoon reception, and the party of ten adjourned to the back parlor to play cards. Halsey sat down with two others and Inès. Less than an hour later, the two guests begged off. His mother followed.
Halsey sat grinning at the lady he adored. “I’m awfully glad I wagered no money on that game.”
“I am delighted you heeded my warning.”
“How did you win so quickly?”
She waved a hand. “I count cards.”
“You have a mind for complexities.”
She tipped her head back and forth. “For impossibilities.”
His expression died. “What is impossible for you?”
To love you. To love you well and respectfully.“I hope for happiness. I try to work toward it.”
“Might another help you discover that?”
“My mother told me no. A person must make their own.”
He pinned her with a hard gaze. “Mine told me having a partner you respect helps.”
She tipped her head in thought and smiled. “Perhaps that is so. I do not know.”
“You have never been tempted to love?”
Not until now.“No.”
“Allow me to explore that with you.”
