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“You didn’t enjoy it, then?” he challenged.
The tops of her ears turned deep red, their color visible even in the moonlight. “Well, I—I’ve no means of comparison, of course, but it was certainly not—I mean it wasn’t—it was…”
Julius smiled. Unlike every other woman he’d met since Martha, this one hadn’t denied her desire. He liked her all the more for her unwitting honesty.
Upon seeing his grin, however, the lady stamped her foot, infuriated. “Oh, blast it all! This is not how it was supposed to happen!”
“And exactly how was ‘it’ supposed to have happened?” he asked, pinning her with a stern gaze.
Her chin rose defiantly. “How dare you accuse me of enjoying an illicit embrace?”
He laughed at her defensive maneuver. “I’m not accusing you of anything. I’m merely stating a fact. You enjoyed it as much as I. And don’t try to change the subject.”
“Even if I admit that I did enjoy it, it’s not proper for you to say so!”
“Ah, so it’s my acknowledging the fact that bothers you,” he countered. “Well, that’s good to know. Very well, I promise never to address the matter openly again.” He could almost see the scathing retort forming on the tip of her tongue. Before she could fling it at him and depart in a spectacular huff, however, he called a truce. “Please, I have no wish to anger you, Lady Victoria. Truly. I ask you to overlook my indelicacy and tolerate my bluntness a moment more.”
After a long moment’s deliberation, she finally nodded.
He folded his hands behind his back, as much to keep them from fidgeting as to keep them off her person. “Though we have only just met, I find I have a taste for your company—and your kisses,” he added, flashing her a quick grin. Her lips thinned, and he felt that perhaps it might be best to continue quickly. “Thus, I propose to ask your thoughts on the matter of courtship.”
A frantic look crept into her eyes. “Courtship? Wha—no! Papa would never agree to it!”
He frowned. Her reaction was completely bewildering. “Is it not his wish to see you marry well? Why else would you be here tonight, if not to find a husband?”
“I am only here tonight because Papa finally grew weary of my complaining about being left behind!” She turned and buried her face in her hands. “He would kill me if he knew where I was right now. This is an unmitigated disaster.”
A disaster? He’d anticipated a rather more flattering response. “Why should he have any objection to my suit? Our ranks are comparable, our families on friendly terms. Neither side can possibly object.”
“Oh, yes, they can!” she shot back. “This is my first unchaperoned ball. If you propose courtship this soon, he’ll assume I’ve behaved improperly to elicit such attention—which, incidentally, I have.”
He couldn’t help but laugh. “Will you relax? I’m suggesting courtship, for heaven’s sake, not a midnight run to Scotland. People do this all the time. I’ll speak with my father and then he can speak with yours. Everything will be done properly. He will be delighted at the prospect, I’m sure.”
She took a step back, edging toward the door. “You’re wrong. I know my father. Please, I beg you to say nothing!”
In that moment, he realized her fear was genuine. Strange, Richmond hadn’t struck him as the sort. “You truly fear reprisal?”
“I fear that I shall never again be permitted to see the light of day, should he hear of this!”
“Are you already promised to another?” He was determined to get to the bottom of the matter.
“No.”
“Is it because I am a second son?”
“Good Lord, no!”
“Then tell me, what is there to prevent us from making a fine match?”
“Everything. I should never have come here with you,” she said, staring at him with something that looked very much like sadness. “It was a terrible mistake.”
Julius watched as she turned tail and ran, disappearing through the door in a blink. He could have stopped her, but that would likely only make matters worse. Better to let her calm down first. Her rapid footsteps echoed back down the hall, never slowing, never stopping, until at last he heard the far-off report of a slamming door.
The faint noise seemed to wrench at something in his gut. This wasn’t over. What they’d shared was extremely uncommon, and he wasn’t about to give it up so easily. But first, he needed to find out what was really going on.
He went to the gallery and looked down at the crowd. There she was, heading for Withington and her sister. He caught up with her just as she approached them. “Withy, darling!” trilled Victoria, unaware that he was right behind her. “You disappeared and left me all alone.”
“I thought you were with Lord Cavendish,” snapped her sister. Her mouth formed an O of surprise as she spied him.
