AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But not as dashing as the apparition who appeared in front of her. ‘My lady, I am sent to protect you.’
Oh, yes. It was Gray, his hair allowed to go its own way, only restrained by a narrow leather band around his brow. He had apparently not shaved the day before and dark stubble shadowed his cheeks and chin. A leather jerkin with short sleeves covered his torso and upper arms—more or less—and he wore leather breeches with high boots. There was a curved sword in his belt and a predatory smile that turned her knees to jelly.
Who is going to protect me from you? she wondered, ignoring Aunt Henrietta’s gasp of outrage.
‘Thank you, Sir Knight.’ She left, her hand on his arm, without a glance behind. This was an evening for magic, an evening of fantasy that would have to stand for all the reality she could not have and could only dream of when duty and responsibility and the satisfaction of creating liquid enchantment from grapes failed to keep the regrets at bay.
They missed the first dance by walking around admiring some costumes, laughing discreetly at others—the number of fat pashas was incredible, only matched by the number of ladies who should never have attempted filmy silk veiling.
‘It was no exaggeration to say that Lady Terrington creates a fairyland,’ Gaby said. Her half veil might be a total failure at concealing her identity, but it gave
her the courage to ignore the curious and speculative looks they were attracting. Exquisite shades of pierced metal covered the lights throwing patterns of stars and crescents across the walls and ceiling. The colours were rich and strong, the draperies concealing and revealing alcoves and little set pieces of a fountain, or a statue half-covered in green climbers, a couch with bowls of fruit set around it, a pool with golden fish flickering in the limpid depths.
‘The first set is over, the next is waltzes,’ Gray said. ‘Mine, I believe.’
‘As you are frightening away any man who approaches me to ask for a dance, I have no choice,’ Gaby said, mock severely.
Gray frowned at her, an impressive sight with his dark shadow of beard and his primitive clothing. ‘No, you have no choice.’ His voice was a growl and she surrendered easily as he led her out on to the floor.
They had never danced together before and beginning with a waltz was disturbingly like being in Gray’s arms and making love. There was only flimsy silk between her and the bare skin of his forearms and nothing between her lips and the notch at the base of his throat, exposed by the slashed neckline of his leather shirt. If she leaned forward just a little, she could kiss him there. He smelled of male, her male. Mine.
Nor were the rhythms of the dance any help in maintaining her composure. She knew the basics and had a good musical sense, so she could manage the steps even though the waltz was not much danced in the company she kept in Portugal. But Gray was obviously an experienced dancer and her head whirled as he spun her round, the rise and swooping fall of the dance creating a dizzying sensuality that swept through her until it was all she could do to stop herself moving closer, pressing her lips to that tempting area of skin.
Chapter Twenty
When the music stopped and the dancers all finally swept to a halt Gaby had to hold on to Gray’s forearms to steady herself. ‘I need to sit down.’
‘Dizzy?’ Gray took her from the floor and into an alcove where they could watch the guests making ready for the next dance in the set.
‘We have never danced before and it was rather overwhelming. I wanted to kiss your throat,’ she whispered. ‘That is a very provoking costume.’
‘Now you see what we men have to put up with, ladies revealing expanses of flesh we are forbidden to touch.’ Gray looked at her more closely. ‘Are you sure it is not just the dance? You seem very pale.’
‘It must be, I feel quite well.’ But she didn’t, Gaby realised. She felt a little faint and somehow...strange. ‘It must be the strain of everything, that’s all.’ He had said nothing about love. He must have realised he had been mistaken. Perhaps that burst of anger had cleared his thoughts, shown him his true emotions. She should be happy about that.
‘Would you like something to eat? The supper room is not open yet, but I can ask one of the footmen for some biscuits? Or a glass of wine?’
‘No, nothing, truly. I will sit quietly until the next dance in the set.’
‘And we will do the most sedate waltz ever seen, I promise you.’
Gaby felt better by that dance and she almost laughed out loud as her dangerous Barbarian waltzed sedately, as promised. She found an appetite for supper, but oddly her favourite lobster patties did not appeal in the slightest and instead she wanted to try all the sweets, much to Gray’s amusement.
‘I think sugar is good for me,’ she confided as they swept into the next set of waltzes. ‘I feel so much better.’ And I still want to kiss you. All of you...
Her gaze met her aunt’s as she circled in the arms of a grey-haired gentleman of military bearing. Aunt Henrietta’s raised eyebrows signalled more than a question. ‘We are scandalising Aunt.’
‘Excellent, it will do her no end of good. Where is she? Oh, yes, I see. Is she disguised as a sofa, by any chance?’
‘Er...no. I think she just kept draping herself in the hope of looking both exotic and entirely decent.’
They retreated to their alcove while the next set of country dances formed up, but Gaby was not entirely surprised when her aunt arrived.
‘Godmama.’ Gray stood and promptly had his chair occupied. ‘Er...do make yourself comfortable. I’ll find another seat.’
By the time he returned with a spindly gilt chair, Aunt Henrietta was in full flow. ‘One waltz after another and all with Gray! Have you no discretion? There are Patronesses of Almack’s present—all of them, I believe. You will find your vouchers have been withdrawn.’
‘I have no intention of attending,’ Gaby said. ‘It really doesn’t matter. I only want to dance with Gray.’
