Page 17 of Twice Upon a Midnight

When he released her hand, she acutely felt the loss of his touch. Somehow, she prevented herself from making a desperate grab to bring his hand back into hers.

“‘Oh my love is like a red, red rose, ’” he murmured, “‘that’s newly sprung in June.’”

“‘Oh my love is like a melody, ’” she returned in a husky voice, oblivious to the puzzled stares exchanged by the group around them, “‘that’s sweetly played in tune.’”

His eyes sparkled, pleased she knew the poem. “‘So fair art thou, my bonny lass…’”

She held her breath and waited for him to recite the next line…So deep in love am I. She wanted to hear him admit he loved her, even if only with a line of poetry from Robert Burns.

Instead, he held out his hand. “May I have this dance, my lady?”

Disappointment pierced her. How much of a cake she was! To think he would admit to loving her after only one short meeting in the garden and would say so in front of strangers was just plain foolish. Yet the thrill of having him with her again soothed away her distress. It was enough that he was here, once again making her head spin.

“Yes,” she whispered and slipped her hand into his. “You may.”

As he led her away, she handed her unwanted champagne flute to Baron Saxon, who stared after them, utterly bewildered at what had just transpired.

Yet Ella didn’t care what Saxon thought. Her masked man had returned for her, and that was all that mattered. She would grant him every dance for the rest of the evening if he asked, including the one she’d promised to Saxon.

He led her onto the dance floor, and they again bowed and curtsied as the musicians launched into a waltz. Then he took her into his arms and swept her into the dance.

For a moment, she did nothing but stare into his eyes as he led her through the steps and try to calm her racing heart. As if he knew the confused thoughts swirling through her mind, he gave her fingers a reassuring squeeze.

“You came,” she said quietly, making certain she wasn’t overhead by any of the couples dancing near them.

“Are you happy about that?”

“Very much.”Oh, simply ecstatic!

His smile blossomed into a wide grin, and he spun her through a series of rapids turns across the dance floor, the outcome of which was to hold her closer than before. He dared to lower his mouth to her ear and murmur, “So am I.”

He shifted back into proper position, once more putting an appropriate distance between them, which allowed Ella to sweep a glance over him, taking in his clothes. They were the same ones he’d worn to her parents’ party.

“This is a fancy dress ball,” she reminded him.

“Really? I never would have noticed.” He nodded toward her gown. “I think you’ve lost your sheep, Bo-Peep.”

“I left them with the butler,” she answered with a bit of sass that drew a smile from him. “You’re not in costume.”

“But I am.”

“Oh? Who are you pretending to be?”

“A peer.”

Ella blinked.What an odd answer. Before she could question that, he spun her through whirling turns that left her breathless and made her forget whatever it was she was about to say.

When she was able to speak again, she confessed, “You were wonderful to have sent me that book.”

“You were wonderful to have danced with me.” He squeezed her fingers as they rested in his. “I guess this waltz means I’ll have to send you another book of poetry. Or a collection of plays.” He smiled devilishly. “Or one of those romances that are all the rage right now among the ladies, about virtuous women and the wicked men who want to ruin them. Monks, highwaymen—”

She crooked a brow. “Masked men in gardens?”

His deep laugh warmed her from within. God help her, she wanted nothing more at that moment than to make him laugh again.

“Is that what you would do if we were alone in the darkness?” she pressed. “No more reciting poetry but reading wanton scenes from popular novels?”

“I wouldn’t have to read any scenes.” He looked away as the tempo increased. “I would simply confess all the ways I’d enjoy bringing you pleasure. I wouldn’t have to make up anything.”