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Ever since she spied him in his formal attire, she wanted nothing else but to strip each article of clothing off him one piece at a time. She closed her eyes and tried to remove the images of him standing naked in front of her.
“Elizabeth, are you all right?”
Please don’t let that be Will, she pleaded to herself. Without opening her eyes, she knew it was him. Please don’t let him be naked!
She slowly opened her eyes to find Will staring at her with his head cocked slightly.
“Elizabeth?”
“I am well, Will. Just a little tired.” And suddenly, she wasn’t tired any longer. His presence seemed to invigorate her.
“Shall we dance, or are you too weary?”
“I am not too tired for a dance.” With you, she added silently.
She took his arm and tried to ignore the shock of desire that raced up her limb. This yearning was so wrong. She had tempted fate when she made love with him the first time. It was pure luck she was not with child. A second time would be asking for tro
uble.
As the waltz started, she told herself to pay attention to the music, not the man next to her. While she tried, her attempt failed miserably. She couldn’t help but notice the aroma of his soap that had a hint of vanilla and cloves. His gloved hand burned through her own glove.
“You are very quiet tonight,” Will said softly. “Is something on your mind?”
She couldn’t tell him. “No, I am hoping everyone is having an enjoyable night.”
“I’m quiet certain they are.” Will stared down at her with a small smile. “Though I am slightly concerned about Ellie.”
“Why?”
“I cannot discuss it here. Meet me in the study after the dance. We can talk in private there.”
A private conversation with him. In his study. Alone. This was such a bad idea. “Very well,” she answered.
For the rest of the dance, she tried to think about the music and not the fact that they were going to be alone in the study where she could kiss him, caress him, strip him of his clothes. When the waltz ended, she looked up at him and said, “We cannot go to the study together.”
“Why ever not?”
“People will talk.”
Will sighed. “Very well, you go ahead. I shall meet you there in a few minutes.”
Elizabeth nodded and as she walked away, she made her excuses to her friends, telling them she was going to the ladies’ retiring room. Once she reached the study, she poured herself a glass of sherry to calm her frayed nerves. As she drank it down, she realized what a mistake that was, since she’d eaten very little this evening. But as she finished her first glass, she poured another. A little dizziness couldn’t be a bad thing.
After ten minutes, Will finally entered the room.
“Lock the door,” Elizabeth said.
He raised one eyebrow at her and then did as she requested. “Exactly why am I locking the door, Elizabeth?”
“Not for what you think.” Or I want. “Sometimes during parties, people will search out a place to be alone with another person. If anyone were to come upon us alone in the study, they might think the worst.”
“And the worst would be…?”
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him. “I think you know exactly what I am speaking of.”
His smile turned positively lecherous. “I believe I do.”
“Tell me why you are concerned about Ellie,” she said to get them off the subject that had been on her mind all evening.
