Page 35 of Saving a Scoundrel
She grabbed hold of Lucius’s forearm. “Let’s dance. There’s dancing, yes?”
Lucius nodded. “Yes, over by the orchestra.” He rose and held out his hand.
“Dancing is on my list. Number seven—dance with a handsome stranger.” She stood and patted him on the chest. “Well, you’ll have to do.”
Across the table, Hartwick chuckled. Ellie turned and grinned at him. “You must dance with her.” She pointed to Miss Middleton. “Come on, Let’s go!”
They strolled back to the light-filled courtyard where the orchestra performed. A lively reel played, and Lucius pulled her into the line. They whirled down the middle, and he dropped her into place at the end of the row of ladies. She loved to dance. The music took her to that bright, happy place in her childhood when she would twirl and twirl in the grass as her mother sang a tune in her lovely contralto.
Because this was not a ballroom, and there were no matrons of the ton watching and judging, they danced and danced—three or four songs passed by in a blur of violin and pipe and horn music. As a song ended, Lucius grabbed her hand and pulled her to the side where couples stood and clapped enthusiastically.
He leaned back against the trunk of a tall oak, his chest rose and fell with labored breath. “Ellie, you have worn me out. Let’s take a breather, shall we?”
She couldn’t help but laugh at his expression. “I may have worn myself out as well.”
Lucius reached out and pushed a sweaty curl from her brow. “You are glowing. You should dance more often.”
Ellie leaned closer, pulled in by the deep green of his eyes, but she lost her balance and caught herself with one hand on his chest. She giggled. “I guess all the wine and dancing has gone to my head.”
His hands gripped her around the waist. “All right then?”
“Yes, I think so.” She didn’t want him to let her go. She wanted for him to pull her toward him like he had done in the graveyard last winter. She wanted to press herself against the hard planes of his chest and have his arm band around her. She stared at her hand where it rested against his waistcoat but couldn’t bring herself to remove it and step back. Instead, Ellie raised her gaze to look up at his face. His expression was tight, but his eyes were soft and filled with an emotion she couldn’t name but made her breath catch. She bit down on her lower lip.
A loud bell rang out.
“That’s the signal that the fireworks will start soon.” Lucius picked up her hand from his chest and turning, he tucked it into the crook of his arm. “Here, this way. You won’t want to miss this.”
They walked along the long straight pathway of the Grand Walk. The lanterns swung merrily in the breeze and led the way to the east side of the park. The crowd grew as they strolled along. But Lucius expertly snaked them through the throng of people and found them a spot near the front of the viewing area. “Have you ever seen a fireworks show?”
Ellie shook her head. The first loud burst of light and color exploded above them. She tipped her head back as starbursts and slithering serpents erupted across the night sky one after another. Then, two great wooden wheels began spinning in front of them, the firecrackers attached whirling them in a blur of blue and red sparks. Ellie gripped Lucius’s arm with both hands. This was by far the most spectacular thing she had ever experienced.
She glanced over at him and found Lucius staring not at the fireworks display but at her. Grinning, she shouted over the detonating fireworks. “This is amazing!”
Lucius bent and captured her mouth with his lips. Her eyes fluttered closed as she accepted the press of his warm lips against hers. This kiss held none of the hesitancy of their last kiss. Lucius’s lips slid against hers with urgency, his hand wrapped around the back of her neck to pull her closer. Ellie’s head spun, and she reached forward to grip the lapels of his jacket for balance. This is what she had craved since last winter, this passionate onslaught of desire that he sent flowing through her veins.
Lucius pulled back, his mouth going to her ear to be heard over the din. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist. Thank you for sharing your awe and excitement with this jaded scoundrel.”
They stared up at the fireworks show, watching the colors and lights burst across the sky. Ellie had never felt happier. Her lips still tingled from Lucius’s kiss. She knew no matter what the sensible part of her brain told her about moving on, she would never be able to settle for anyone else. She leaned her head against his shoulder. Lucius Grisham was her destiny, and she was done waiting for him to figure it out.
Chapter Eighteen
Later that night,Lucius strolled into the Termage, his thoughts consumed by Eleanor Spencer. Her sweet lips that had tasted like wine, her cheeks flushed from dancing, and her wide eyes glowing with excitement as she watched the fireworks all created a strange ache in his chest. One he feared could only be eased by the woman herself. His lips twitched as he thought about how sleepy she had been on the carriage ride home, all the wine finally catching up to her.
“Grisham,” Mercer’s deep voice called out.
Lucius snapped to attention. Mercer stood ten feet away, leaning against the wall near the bar. He smoked a cigar, the smoke circling his head. Lucius changed directions and walked over to him.
“Mercer,” he replied.
“You look like you’ve been hit in the head with a shovel. Where have you been all night?”
“Vauxhall. What’s it to you?” Lucius frowned. He worked days for Castell. Why would it matter where he spent his evenings?
“You have a guest. Your hellcat was quite upset you weren’t here when she arrived. I caught her spewing her anger out on poor Davis at the side door. I offered her a drink and escorted her to your room.”
Lucius ran a hand through his hair. His good humor from his night out disappeared like champagne bubbles bursting…pop, pop, pop. “Shit, I’m sorry. I was not expecting her tonight.”
Mercer shook his head. “Also, this came for you around eight this evening.” He passed him a sealed note.
