They got through the dance with minimal mistakes, though James was sweating beneath his heavy eveningwear by the time they resumed their position in the line. He remained stoic until the last couple danced and the music finally stopped. As the guests applauded, he bowed in Lady Diana’s direction and asked, ‘Another?’
Her grey eyes danced with humour, though he had not been in jest. ‘I wouldn’t put you through another dance, my lord. Besides, what would people think of us dancing two dances in a row?’
‘Most likely they would think that I was the luckiest man in the world—and you the unluckiest woman.’
She shook her head in mock reproach.
Out of the corner of his eye, James saw Lord Crouse approaching, the man’s beady eyes narrowing on his fiancée, and undoubtedly intent on her next dance. Knowing that he had only a few seconds of privacy, he demanded, ‘Meet me.’ In his desperation, his tone came out rough. He shifted so that he was as close to her as he would dare, and in a quieter, softer voice, said, ‘Meet me in the rose garden after your next dance.’
She took a full step back, as if she had not expected such a bold invitation despite her comment about the kiss. ‘If anyone were to see…’
Her obvious fear humbled him. For the first time, James understood just how truly sheltered his fiancée was. She had never snuck into a dark corner with a suitor or been kissed, even chastely. God, she must have been terrified of marriage and all those unknowns, all that fear compounded by the fact that she did not know the man who would be the first to do all those secret things with her. Did not know him. And he was sorry that he had approached her father first, irrespective of how traditional his intentions were. He was ashamed that, in his need for a wife, he had not hesitated to think that the woman in question—Diana—might have thoughts and feelings, fears, of her own.
‘I will make you a promise,’ he said, in lieu of all those things he should have done.
She waited in silence, her eyes focused on his face.
‘Shall you choose to meet me, I will not do anything ungentlemanly—unless you specifically ask me to. And I swear that I shall not jeopardize your reputation, and certainly not your engagement.’
‘And if I only want to talk?’ she whispered.
‘Then I will only listen.’
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