“You are as fierce as a wasp, my lovely girl. I must say again that you are uniformly enchanting. I am bewitched, not merely by your many charms, but by your spirit. A man could never grow weary of life with such a woman beside him.”
Elizabeth feared that the dance might continue forever.
Something of that sentiment must have shown upon her face, for he bent his head and murmured, “You are wishing for this set to end so that you may finally be rid of me. But do not fear that I shall forget you, my darling girl. Tomorrow, I shall present myself at your doorstep along with all the other men who shall soon dangle at your lovely feet.”
His eyes moved over her with admiration.
“You are a Venus, Miss Bennet. An indulgent Venus. Do you know that?”
He studied her face closely.
“I say, you truly do not know it. You are one of those rare beauties entirely unaware of her own charms. You are free of vanity and conceit.”
She attempted to free herself from his hold.
His smile only widened.
“The dance is not yet over, lovely Venus. It would hardly do for you to abandon me upon the floor. The ton would immediately begin wondering what passed between us.”
His tone remained light, though there was calculation beneath it.
“It is not my intention to marry beneath a cloud of scandal. No, ma’am. When I marry, it shall be to a lovely innocent such as yourself, and in perfect respectability. For no matter what you may one day hear of me, my wife shall be innocent, respectable…” His eyes darkened slightly. “…and very much alive with spirit, ma’am.”
Elizabeth dropped her gaze to the level of his chest and prayed the heat in her cheeks would cool.
The figures carried them apart, but when he rejoined her, he said softly, “You are wise to remain silent. It would never do for society to witness us striving openly with one another. Such battles are best reserved for private moments.”
Her hand tightened instinctively in his, as though she might again attempt escape.
He grinned, and the look he gave her was so ardent that she finally understood what was meant when a gentleman was called a rake. His eyes rested fixedly upon her lips.
“Good girl. You did not run. I have teased you enough. I shall stop now, for I find it increasingly difficult to keep myself within the bounds of propriety.” His expression was earnest. “With you, Miss Bennet, everything must proceed with the strictest propriety.”
The music finally ended, and he released her hand.
He bowed. She curtsied.
“Miss Bennet, I do not believe I have ever enjoyed a dance so thoroughly as I enjoyed this one. Thank you.”
He offered his arm, and when she hesitated, he murmured, “We are presently the object of every eye in the room. Do you truly wish to give those cats reason to gossip?”
Elizabeth lowered her eyes and placed her hand upon his arm.
“I shall call upon you tomorrow, my dear girl. I mean to become your most ardent cicisbeo.”
His smile deepened.
“Until then, I must bid you good evening. Unfortunately, I am expected elsewhere tonight, or I would beg you for another dance, but my friends are expecting to meet me at a notorious gaming hell.”
Her brow rose in unmistakable judgment.
He chuckled softly. “You disapprove. Were you mine, you might persuade me to remain quietly at home with you. But we are not married, not yet, and so I must leave you for now.”
He escorted her back to Lady Helen, bowed, and departed the ballroom.
Lady Helen smiled broadly, took Elizabeth by the arm, and drew her close.
“You must smile, Elizabeth, and appear a delighted guest, or society will conclude that the man made you an indecent proposal.”
