‘Me too, sweetheart. You deserve to dance all night.’
He swung her in a dizzying circle, her body, as pliant as a willow, moved in perfect harmony. She felt right in his arms, as if they’d been made for one another. Why had it taken so long to find her? And why now, when he could do nothing about it? After tonight she would be the toast of London. The ton despised anything different, except the truly unique. Those they embraced with fervour. For a while. Look at Byron and Brummell. His little wood nymph might well be next.
He caught sight of John watching her with a smile of admiration. His gut clenched. Before long some smooth-talking dissipated rogue would sweep her away with soft words and flattery.
He had no way to prevent it. He could not ask her to give up her life of privilege.
She sighed sweetly. ‘I’m so glad you came here tonight.’
He inhaled her scent. ‘I couldn’t stay away.’ He would have been worried knowing how nervous she was.
She glanced up at him and he saw shadows in her gaze. His gut clenched. Something was wrong.
‘Meet me in my room, when this dance is over,’ she whispered.
He stared at her, startled. ‘Are you mad?’
‘I owe you the rest of that kiss, remember?’
Arousal gripped him fast and hard. ‘It’s too dangerous.’
‘Please.’
Her husky voice sounded so full of longing, he wanted to kiss those lips right at that moment, lose himself in her magic. He fought the urge to crush her close and smiled down at her instead. ‘For a few moments with you, I’d dare anything.’
‘My room is on the second floor.’
‘I know. I helped with the move this afternoon.’
Her cheeks turned a delicate rose. ‘I will make some excuse. Say I need to pin my gown. But R-Robert. Please. Be very careful.’
‘Always.’
For the last few moments of the dance, he lost himself in the depths of her sea-witch gaze and allowed himself to dream it would never end. The music came to a close all too soon.
His arms ached when she stepped out of their embrace. His heart felt empty. Yet he must let her go. He led her back to her uncle.
‘Where did you learn to waltz?’ the old man asked, his chins wobbling and his face a furious red. ‘Disgraceful dance. I am shocked.’
‘Oh, my dear,’ Lady Radthorn said. ‘You looked lovely. Quite lovely.’
Other men approached. Robert could smell their interest. Soon she would be surrounded. Flattered. He wanted to draw his ancient pistol and hold them at bay. Instead, he bowed to no one in particular and withdrew.
On his way across the room, he sidestepped the shepherdess. Fortunately, since Lullington had Maggie’s full attention on the dance floor, he strolled out of the ballroom unnoticed by anyone but Frederica.
The promised kiss had him hot with lust. Careless of who saw him, he ran up the stairs and slipped into her chamber.
Would she dance a set with another of her admirers before she joined him, or would she come right away? He paced around the bed and back to the fire. Five minutes passed. Then another. Damn it. It was all a tease.
The door opened. He dove for the shadows at the head of the bed.
‘R-Robert?’
Joy flooded his veins. He stepped forwards and held out his arms.
She rushed into them and put her mouth up for his kiss. And kiss her he did. Long and sweet, full of his heart and his soul. It wasn’t enough. ‘Oh, sweetling,’ he murmured against her mouth, ‘I have wanted to do that all night. You ran a terrible danger meeting me here.’
‘It is all right. No one thought anything of it.’
He led her to the chair by the window and sat with her on his lap. He kissed her again, sincerely, tenderly, fiercely.
‘R-Robert,’ she gasped, when he at last permitted her to take a breath. ‘What is the matter?’
He forced himself to speak. ‘I just had to tell you how beautiful you look tonight.’
She wound her arms around his neck. ‘Thank you. And thank you for being the first to waltz with me. I wasn’t nervous at all.’
He smiled down at her. ‘I had to see my pupil’s début.’
‘Thank you.’ She kissed his cheek.
He stroked the silky tresses floating down her back. ‘I’d risk anything for a moment alone with you. I felt so bad sending you away, but if your uncle ever found out about us, I fear what he might do to you. I can’t bear the thought of bringing you harm.’
‘I know.’ There was sadness in her voice. ‘And if my uncle finds out you’ve been meeting me, you will lose your position.’
He felt like he’d destroyed something precious, but he had no choice. ‘I don’t care about that, but our worlds are too far apart. I can’t offer you the life you deserve. We have to end this here.’
She rested her head on his chest, her sigh a balm to his heart. ‘Run away with me.’
Shock ripped through him. And longing. He almost said yes, then he imagined the kind of life he could provide, dragging her from one estate to another, never sure of a roof over their heads. ‘You’d lose everything—position, your family. I have no means to support you.’
‘I don’t care. I hate them.’
God, why was refusing her so hard? He’d never before felt as if he was cutting off his right arm when he gave a woman her congé? What was it about this one that had buried itself so deeply under his skin? ‘I care.’
‘Why don’t you just admit that you are tired of me?’ Her voice was husky with emotion, but when she gazed into his face her eyes were hard and bright. ‘If I hadn’t come to ask you teach me to dance, you would not have sought me out, would you?’
He squeezed his eyes shut for a second. He considered asking her to wait until he was well established and become his wife.
A wife? Had he lost his reason? He never stayed with a woman for more than a month or two. It wasn’t in his nature. No. He had to be cruel to do the right thing. ‘No. I never would have sought you out.’
She pushed away from him.
He let his arms fall away. Felt the chill as she slipped off his lap to stand before him.
‘Fine,’ she said. ‘If that is what you want, then there is nothing more I can say. I wish you well, R-Robert Deveril.’ She headed for the door.
For a single mad moment, he considered telling her his story. Of unburdening himself. Oh, hell. What kind of man placed his problems on a woman’s slight shoulders? A weakling. ‘You’ll thank me one day,’ he said.
She paused with her hand on the doorknob, not looking back. ‘Will I?’
He cracked a hard laugh. ‘Probably not. Go ahead. I will follow in a moment or two.’
She turned then, her eyes drinking him in as if for the last time. ‘Take care, R-Robert.’
He grinned. ‘Don’t worry about me. Enjoy the rest of your ball.’
‘It won’t be the same.’ On that wrenching admission, she slipped out into the hall and closed the door.
His heart felt as if someone had torn it in two and stamped on the pieces.