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“How dull,” Elvira added. “But I’ve just seen your uncle heading this way, and he doesn’t look pleased. I suppose I’ll have to askhimto dance now. You can thank me later with punch.”
She disappeared in a wisp of tulle and lace, heading off my uncle’s determined stride.
Whit ducked his head to look into my face. “Would you like to dance, Olivera?”
He held out his hand and I took it. In no world would I be able to refuse dancing with Whit. He pulled me close, and for the first time, I noticed that his eyes were ringed in a deep blue. His sun-drenched skin glowed golden in the candlelight. The music swelled, and Whit slid his hand down to the small of my back. I lifted my chin to look up into his face, and his warm breath danced across my cheeks.
“So, you’re a lord.”
Whit visibly weighed his response before coming to a decision. “My father is a marquess.”
I frowned as he turned us round and round across the ballroom, nimbly guiding us through the other dancing couples. I didn’t care that he had a title or that he came from money. I cared because it was another part of him he didn’t want to share. He had so many secrets, and it pained me to know that I’d never uncover all of them. “Why have you never told me? I thought I would haveearnedthat much.”
“What would it have mattered?”
“I’ve made my life a mess,” I said. “I’ve been vulnerable, and embarrassed and ashamed. My mother is a criminal, my father is probably dead. You’ve seen me at my worst. And I still don’t know your name.”
His arms tightened around me. “Yes, you do.”
I shook my head. “Not the one that comes with your title.”
“It’s Somerset,” he said softly, his breath brushing against my cheek. “But I never want you to call me that.”
I forced myself not to loosen, not to melt into his hold. I didn’t want to soften. I didn’t want to break any more than I had already. I’d given him so much, and there were still parts of him that he held out of reach.
“Inez,” he said. “I was trying to stay away from you, and I didn’t want you to know me, or I you.”
I narrowed my gaze to hide my disappointment. “So what’s changed?”
He placed my hand on his heart. I felt its steady force under my fingers and I shivered. “Because I want one memory with you dancing. One thing that’s mine before we part ways…”
Tension seeped out of my shoulders. His blues eyes were locked on mine, and I felt myself give a little. He stared at me with infinite tenderness, and it nearly broke me to know that he’d never have the chance to look at me that way again.
“One thing I can carry with me back home,” he continued in a hush.
I swallowed hard, my resistance disappearing, and I drew closer.
His lips brushed against my temple. “I know it’s selfish, and I hope you can forgive me for it.”
This was one memory I wanted, too.
“Forgiven,” I breathed.
Whit twirled me around the dance floor, holding me close, his minty and clean scent making my head spin. Couples swirled around us, whispering and gossiping, and counting down the minutes until the New Year. He released the tight hold around my waist, and backed a step away from me. “Thank you for the dance.”
A familiar face came into my line of sight. The blood drained from my face. It’d been a month since I’d seen him, but I’d know him anywhere.
“Olivera? Inez, what’s the matter?”
Whit’s face swam in my vision, but I couldn’t tear my attention away from the man coldly staring at my uncle dancing with Elvira. He clutched a flute of champagne, and Cleopatra’s golden ring glinted from his littlest finger.
“It’s Mr. Sterling,” I whispered. “He’s here and staring at my uncle. He looks furious.”
Whit half turned his head, a casual gesture that didn’t hide the sudden tension locking his jaw.
“Do you think he’s part of The Company? The one that deals at Tradesman’s Gate?”
“We suspect that he is,” he whispered against my ear. “We’ve beentrying to figure out a plan to track down your mother, but your uncle also wants me to steal the ring back.”
