Page 17 of Tempting Her Viscount

Her bliss was disrupted a little while later when he kissed her awake.

“I’m afraid our night is at an end. The party is breaking up. You’ll most likely want to return home before anyone notices you’re away.” His voice held a question and she nodded in answer.

He rose and went to the washstand to get them something with which to clean up. He helped her into her dress and they exchanged warm smiles as they put themselves back to rights.

She felt she should say something, but the silence was comfortable and their glances were enough for the moment.

“I don’t want to leave you without some expectation to see each other again. Perhaps we can remove the masks now that freedom is no longer required?” he suggested.

She shook her head. “Non. I don’t think that is a good idea. I think it better for us to remember this night as strangers. With no expectations to weigh it down.”

If things were different, she might have wished for the same thing, but as it was, she couldn’t risk it. This man knew she’d come to this room a virgin. Gentlemen knew one another. Whether it be the loose ties of acquaintance, or the stronger bonds of friendship, it was likely her Lord Desire knew Edward or her brother.

She shook her head and placed her hands over his as he lifted them to his own mask.

She wanted the opposite of him. It seemed to be the first time that night they were not aligned. But this was her night. She had orchestrated this meeting and she would not allow him to push her into changing what she wanted from it.

“I know you’re not familiar with how things are, but know I enjoyed our time together immensely. What happened here was a deeper connection than just sex. I would like to see you again.”

She might have wanted that as well, but she couldn’t. She needed him to go.

“I cannot. But I will never forget this night.”

She could give him that small truth at least. The smiles they’d shared. The freedom she’d felt was more than could be attributed to the wearing of a mask.

“Neither of us would need to worry about forgetting anything if we could be ourselves.”

He wanted to prolong their arrangement.

She was tempted, but it couldn’t work. Even now she was having difficulty keeping up her ruse as Selene. She wanted to come clean and tell him who she really was. But this night was all she could have.

She couldn’t dare risk it. Not even for a chance at a future with this lovely man.

“As much as the idea intrigues me, I must pass on your offer. You see, this is but the first step for me into a new life. I must continue to take each step forward, even if it ends in disaster. Because not moving forward is a disaster of its own. Life doesn’t wait for one to be ready.”

And one couldn’t go back and mend a moment once shattered by truth. Which meant she needed to move on.

“Perhaps fate will intercede and we shall meet at a ball in the future. Maybe we might even manage another of your steps together.”

“Perhaps we shall.” She stroked a finger lightly across his chin. “Thank you for making this step so wonderful. I’ll never forget it as long as I live.”

“Nor will I.” He laughed. “I won’t pretend it’s the first step for me. But I tell you honestly it was the most wonderful. Thank you again for the great honor.” He kissed her lips and then her fingers. “Until we meet again.”

“Au revoir, Lord Desire.”

He paused for a moment at the door and she thought he might say something, but he simply turned and left. The room felt cold for his absence and she shivered.

Perhaps she should have asked his name. Or given him hers. Maybe he would have agreed to be her first lover and they could have continued what they had started here.

She shook the idea away. Not only was it too late—as he was gone—but she could not. She cursed Edward silently for stealing this opportunity from her and tainting it with his crude threats.

She let out a breath. Even if she weren’t faced with the risk of Edward finding out, this ending was for the best. It was better to hold this memory apart from anything else. Protecting it so it could never be ruined. She would treasure it as one would cherish a precious artifact or a priceless heirloom. Locked away from any threat of damage.

The soft knock at the door made her heart race. Had he returned?

“Did you need my services, my lady?” the maid asked through the door.

Celia cleared the disappointment from her throat and forced a smile. “Oui, please come in.”

The woman helped with her hair and Celia refrained from begging the poor girl to help her find the man who’d just left. Where had he gone? Who was he?

No. That wasn’t what she truly needed to know. The most important thing was, would she ever see him again?

As she left Lady Harrington’s house out the back and returned home, Celia could only hope Fate had heard his earlier challenge and would bring them together again.