Her eyes twinkled with a wicked gleam.
“’Til your brother so rudely interrupted us.”
She laughed. The sound melodic to his ears. Everyone on the dance floor. Everyone in the room. All melded into the walls as if they weren’t there sharing the space with them. Only he and Clarissa existed in this space.
“Aye, his timing was impeccable this afternoon wasna it?”
She ducked under his arm and spun, tapping her toe on the floor twice and then they joined hands again, and he led her around the floor.
“If I didna ken any better, I would think he was trying to interrupt our kiss.”
Her eyes rounded in surprise at his forward statement. She looked around at the crowd around them to see if anyone had heard his words.
“Ye must no’ say such things,” she whispered. “Especially where people can hear ye.”
“Ye wanted it too, did ye no’?”
“We shouldna have—”
“Shouldna have what? We did naught wrong. Naught happened. But no’ because I didna want it to.” He let his words hang in the air. For their meaning to sink into Clarissa’s thoughts. He didn’t want to leave any doubt about his feelings for her.
“Alexander,” she breathed. The music stopped and they broke apart, bowing and curtsying as proper.
Viscount Heathton cleared his throat behind Alexander and broke into their unfinished conversation.
“Your Grace. Miss Gordon has promised me the next dance,” he said meekly.
Alexander had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. This sod had to be delusional if he thought he had any chance at Clarissa’s hand.
Clarissa lifted her chin defiantly. “Aye, I did.” She dipped down to Heathton and looked back at Alexander longingly as the viscount led her off to dance.
His hands balled into fists at his side. He was certain the scowl on his face showed the man how unhappy he was about the intrusion. But he wouldn’t compromise Clarissa in any way. If she’d promised the dance to Heathton, then he’d make sure she kept that promise.
But he didn’t have to like it.
And he didn’t.
Not one bit.
A hand clapped him on the shoulder, startling him. “Who’s got ye all riled up, brother? Ye look ready to tear someone’s head off.” Nicholas asked from beside him.
Alexander tried to relax. To brush off the possessive thoughts running through his mind.
Nicholas’s eyes followed Alexander’s gaze and then snapped back to his. “Did ye meet Heathton? He’s shown an interest in Clarissa. He will probably call on her in the coming days.”
“Och, hell no, he willna.” The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.
Nicholas narrowed his eyes and then his brows raised in question. “What am I witnessing? Why do ye care who Clarissa—” his words tapered off as dawning washed over him. “Ye and Clarissa?” He asked.
Alexander remained silent.
“Are ye and my sister…”
He didn’t finish the question, but he didn’t have to. “Of course no’.” Alexander spat.
“I ken that look. Ye want to. Ye want Clarissa.”
Alexander found Clarissa on the dance floor. Heathton was talking, and she was feigning interest in the conversation. He could tell she wasn’t interested because every time they twirled, her and Alexander’s eyes clashed, and her look was scorching. But when her gaze returned to Heathton, they dulled.
