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“They won’t.” He winked. “One glass of punch and then one dance. After that, we’ll go wherever the wind takes us, but I can give you a taste of mingling with theton. Or at least the local gentry. If my family wasn’t abiding by the mourning customs, you could have attended our annual Christmas ball.”
“How did you know that was something I’ve dreamed of?” That invisible thread of a connection between them tightened.
“It was the way your face looked when you spoke of London as if it were the most marvelous place in the world.”
“I think it might be, but I’d like the chance to decide that for myself someday.”
“Soon, perhaps.” The fondness in his hazel eyes brought a laugh bubbling from her throat. “This is the best I can do right now.”
That only added to the mystery he presented. “Where is that punch, Captain Marsden? I’m suddenly parched.”
“Whatever my Christmas angel demands.”
Pleasure buzzed at the base of her spine from his endearment. She followed him and took the opportunity to admire his backside. Oh, imagining what he’d look likesansclothing was enough to send another round of heat into her cheeks. So lost in naughty woolgathering was she that Noelle crashed into him at the refreshment table. “Pardon me.”
A trace of pink liquid sloshed over the rim of a cut crystal glass Trey held out to her. “It’s no bother. After all, it’s quite a festive evening.”
“Agreed.” She took the glass with a shaking hand. While she sipped, Noelle watched him. Never once did he give away that he was uncomfortable or out of place. Once he drained his glass and laid it on the table, he gently tugged hers from her gloved fingers. “The next dance is about to start. Let’s hope it’s a waltz.” He rested her glass next to his and then took her hand. “Ready?”
“I’m not certain.” These last few days had been so different from her usual life she was still struggling to make sense of them. When they entered the crowded ballroom and everyone filling the floor wore holiday finery, she gasped. “What a beautiful sight.”
“On that I agree.” But he wasn’t staring at the couples assembling for the waltz; his gaze was firmly planted on her. While her cheeks heated, he asked, “Do you know how to dance?”
“Of course. Mama made certain of it, but I haven’t had the opportunity to do so in public much.” She fit her hand to his and laid her other palm on his shoulder. The absence of his arm around her waist didn’t bother her. Standing up with him for a waltz was already more than she could have hoped for.
His eyes were more green than brown in the candlelight. “Keep your focus on me then. I won’t let you fall.”
As the string quartet began the first notes and Trey guided her into the steps, awareness of him enveloped her. “Perhaps you’re too late,” Noelle said in a barely audible whisper, “for if I’m honest with you and myself, the fall has already begun.”
Oh, why did I admit that?
One corner of his mouth twitched upward in a grin. An answering wicked gleam appeared in his eyes. “Now thatisinteresting indeed.” But he said nothing else as they took a full turn about the ballroom amidst laughing, talking couples.
After a few stumbling steps, she became more confident. She moved with Trey as if they’d been dancing together for years. With each turn, her spirit soared. The light in his eyes set fire to her inhibitions, and then they were the only two people who existed in that ballroom. The captain danced with a skill that spoke to histonroots. He didn’t let his missing arm deter his charm, and since he couldn’t do it, Noelle dared to pulled him closer to her body during one of the steps when they came back together.
Her skirts swirled about their legs, and the longer they traversed the ballroom, the more her breasts brushed against the hard wall of his chest. Noelle hadn’t been lying when she’d let slip that she’d already begun the fall for him, for one glance into his face reflected the need and raw longing firing through her body.
Then she surrendered to the moment and let the remainder of the dance carry her away. Something about this man who’d lingered on the periphery of her life for far too many years had completely upended her world. It had given her back the hope of her dreams. Perhaps that made her a ninny, but she didn’t care. The connection between them couldn’t be denied, not that she would. Each time she was in his company, she flew a little higher toward the heavens.
Would he come with her?
All too soon, the waltz ended, and he escorted her to the sidelines. Cold disappointment slid through her belly, for the loss of his warmth and the close press of his body to hers during some of the dance steps was acute. “I suppose you’ll wish to dance with other ladies present tonight?”
Trey glanced down at her. Surprise lined his angular face. “The only woman I care about partnering is you, but for the moment I think you need some champagne.” Once he offered her his crooked arm and she laid her fingers on his sleeve, he led her from the room and to another refreshment table in a different corridor.
“Thank you.” Her fingers brushed his when he handed her a crystal flute of the sparkling wine. “This is certainly a luxury.” As she sipped, the bubbles tickled her nose. It was much like she felt while in his presence.
“It’s one of my favorite things in life.” Then he put his lips to the shell of her ear and whispered, “As you are rapidly becoming.”
Butterfly wings tickled her belly. She took a rather large gulp of champagne. A hiccup escaped and heat jumped into her cheeks. “Goodness. Pardon me.”
“You’re adorable.” Quickly, he drained his flute and then set both his and her glass onto the table. “I want to kiss you, Miss Gedney.”
She giggled. “There’s nothing stopping you, Captain Marsden.” Oh, it was quite daring talking like this while other couples mingled nearby.
“Naught but the location.” He grasped her hand. “Shall we find a more suitable place?”
“That might be best.” Excitement tripped down her spine as he pulled her along the corridors and toward the entry hall. She wanted this man in every way a woman could, and it was exactly what she’d felt before she’d become engaged to Henry.
