Page 33 of A Countess Never Tells

“Then we are of the same mind.” She squeezed his hand as they passed by one another, making him bite back a groan.

“Kitty, you will kill me with wanting you,” he whispered as they passed again.

“I would not be the death of you, my dear.” She licked her luscious red lips, and Ash’s cock surged against his breeches.

“I’m not so certain of that.” He gazed straight into her eyes. “Do you have an answer for me, then?”

“Perhaps.”

“Ah, you mean to torment me anew with your ‘perhaps.’”

“You are a good one to talk of torment, my lord.” They were back to circling one another where talking was easier.

“What do you mean?”

“I have heard nothing from you for a week, Ash. Cooped up in the house waiting out Baltimore’s wretched wager. Then, when I am finally free again, you avoid me all evening, when I had expected to dance with you at least twice, only to discover you had been in hiding in the library playing cards with Maria Fitzhugh. That is torment indeed.”

Kitty glared at him, secretly thrilling him. Did he detect more than a note of jealousy in her tone?

“I could scarcely send you a letter, could I?”

“You could have sent flowers and a note.” They made graceful circles, smiles plastered on their faces. “You have done so before.”

“I was trying to abide by your brother’s decree, remember. I could’ve stayed away completely tonight, but I hoped for a glimpse of you at least. So I remained in the library, trying to lose as many hands as possible to keep my partners engaged with me. It wasn’t until I was certain you would be on the dance floor that I ventured out.” He glared back at her, scowling at her until she burst out laughing. “Only to find you not dancing but instead demanding I pay attention to you in a most public way. You were magnificent, my dear.”

They took hands again, and he squeezed hers this time. No reason he couldn’t begin some torment of his own. “The fictitious note was a brilliant touch, I must admit. I was damned if I did, and damned if I didn’t.”

“I’m so very glad you did, Ash.” The throaty whisper in his ear as they passed by one another made him long for his bed—with Kitty beside him. Or better yet, beneath him.

“So what am I to do? You have not yet given me your answer.” If he could just know that much, if Kitty were on his side, perhaps together they could persuade her brother.

They formed the circle again, and Ash began to wonder just how much longer this allemande was going to last.

“After the dance,” she whispered in his ear as they passed.

Thank God.

They turned once more, her perfect bow of a mouth, pinker than the inside of an ocean shell, pursed as if in an invitation to a kiss.

This was beyond torture.

Ash took a deep breath as they bowed for the last time in the dance. As he straightened his gaze met hers, the deep blue eyes a man could so easily lose himself in. So very easily. What the hell was he going to do if she refused him?

Chapter 15

Excitement rippled through Kitty, almost making her stumble as Ash led her from the dance floor. At last, she was going to be able to talk with him, ask him to explain himself as he would’ve done on that carriage ride over a week ago, and if he managed to allay her fears, she’d give him the answer he wanted to hear. The noise of the huge crowd in the glittering ballroom faded away until all she could hear was Ash’s soft breath next to her and the tumultuous beating of her heart.

Of all the gentlemen she’d met this Season, Ash was truly the only one with whom she’d ever wanted to be more than just acquaintances. Wanted to spend more time with. Gazing into his eyes now…oh, yes, she wanted to kiss him very badly.

“Will you walk me back to Judith and John, now?” Her mind was racing, trying to figure out how to get the time alone they so needed.

“Of course, my dear.” He started them around the dance floor, toward her brother and sister-in-law, who were standing, talking quietly to some friends, although John kept glancing in their direction.

“But can you take me the long way around?”

Ash frowned. “What is the ‘long way around’?”

“By way of the balcony.” They needed to talk, not only to settle things between themselves, but also to decide on a strategy to persuade John to allow Ash’s suit.