Page 10 of A Scandal Before Christmas
Finding an empty bench across from them, the pair sat down, Theodore’s long legs stretching almost obscenely in Lauren’s direction. She nearly winced as Melanie snuggled closer as if warming herself simply by hugging his arm.
“It’s dreadfully cold once you stop moving, isn’t it?” Melanie exclaimed, her teeth biting her bottom lip in a pretty gesture as she gazed up at Theodore.
“I was explaining to Lady Lauren, if she only took a turn, she would warm up nicely,” Sanderson offered. “I’m afraid she doesn’t believe me, however. Perhaps you can convince her, Lady Melanie. After all, you appear quite flushed.”
Melanie’s eyelashes fluttered as she acknowledged Lord Sanderson, and Lauren experienced the overwhelming urge to rip the feathery things out by their roots.
“Ice-skating may not be completely at fault,” she simpered, giving Theodore another besotted look before gracefully removing the skates from her dainty feet. “Lord Hawthorne believes I’m in danger of twisting an ankle, so we agreed I should rest for a moment.” By her tone, she had every expectation Theodore would rest along with her.
“This is a perfect opportunity!” Sanderson crowed, retrieving Melanie’s skates before Lauren could form a protest. Kneeling in front of her with the things in hand, he reached beneath her skirts.
With a low growl, Theodore rose to his feet. In two steps, he was towering over the other man.
“What the devil do you think you are doing, Sanderson? Get your blasted hands off of her.”
With a ruthless shove, Theodore knocked Sanderson away from Lauren and just as quickly took his place, unmindful of the damage the snow might do to his trousers. “If anyone will be touching these lovely ankles, it shall be myself alone,” he muttered beneath his breath.
“I say, Hawthorne, I am perfectly capable of helping Lady Lauren,” Sanderson stuttered in outraged surprise.
Theodore shot him a savage glare. “No.”
Just a single word. That was all. Nothing more, but it was enough for Sanderson to shrink back as though punched. Scrambling up, he took a seat beside Melanie, who looked infuriated to see her skates being placed on Lauren’s feet.
Lauren’s pulse raced as Theodore’s fingers trailed over the fine bones of her ankles while the straps of the skates were tightened. She was too stunned to voice an objection as he took her mug of cider, placed it aside, and pulled her upright.
When she wobbled like a newborn foal on spindly legs, his arm snaked around her waist as she’d seen him do with Melanie.
“It is a short distance to the pond, Lauren,” Theodore said in a low voice, and while she’d been shivering just moments before, she was definitely warm now with the heat of his body pressed against hers. “Lean against my shoulder if you need to.”
He was daring her to defy him, although, in her current mood, she wasn’t sure she could manage it. With a stubborn tilt of her chin, she braved a few tentative steps, his muscled arms acting as a brace. A quick glance at Melanie revealed the lady watching them with narrowed eyes, a glint of jealousy evident in their depths.
In a matter of seconds, Theodore had pulled her onto the pond, and Lauren experienced a stab of fear when her feet quickly slid independently of her wishes. She clutched at him.
“Theodore!” Her terrified squeak drew a reassuring grin from him. Other skaters wisely gave them a wide berth, and Theodore kept along the edges of the pond.
“Hold on to me, sweetheart.” He steadied her once more, his body something akin to a sturdy oak. “Now, the most important rule of ice skating is you must never look at your feet.”
“What?” Lauren frowned. “That is the silliest thing I’ve ever heard.” Immediately, she glanced down and suffered a quick wobble that made Theodore tighten his hold even more.
Placing a forefinger beneath her chin, he lifted it until their gazes locked. “See? Eyes up. In fact, keep them on me, Lauren.”
“I don’t want to fall,” she whispered, staring at him while fighting the urge to look at their feet. Were they actually moving, and were they still discussing ice skating? “It will hurt, and I’m frightened.”
“I know.” Theodore was calm, maneuvering her in a way that should have been disturbing but somehow put her at ease. She relaxed the tiniest bit against his side as he murmured, “But if you fall, I fall as well. All right?”
Lauren slowly nodded, keeping her eyes on him.
“Now, do you trust me?” he asked, and when she hesitated, he gave her that smile that never failed to make her head fuzzy. The one that made his sky-blue eyes sparkle like diamonds and was both wicked and mischievous. When he smiled at her like that, she thought she might agree with just about anything he asked of her. “Do you trust me, Lauren?” he prodded.
“Yes.”
There was no time to overthink her surrender. Withdrawing his arm from her waist, he rotated so they faced one another and took both her hands within his own gloved ones. Using strong pushes of his thighs, Theodore moved backward in a move oddly similar to dancing.
“Eyes on me. Hold on to my hands. I’ll pull you… Now, move your feet a little, side to side. Tiny, alternating movements. There. Just like that, sweetheart. You are doing amazing. You’re nearly skating by yourself.”
Concentrating on Theodore’s features made it easy to forget her fear of falling. Basking in the warmth of his smile made her wish he would always look at her like this. The cold air stung her cheeks, and Lauren wondered if, without the skates, perhaps he might have pulled her closer to his body, held her so she could feel his breath on her neck. Maybe even brush his lips against her ear. Or press his mouth upon hers.
I want him to kiss me.But unless he carried that blasted mistletoe in his pocket, there was no good reason he would.
