Page 50 of A Naughty Proposal for His Winter Countess
Flustered, with being in such close contact with his piercing eyes, Harriet dropped her voice and gaze, unintentionally doingpreciselyas she had practiced. “That's very forward thinking of you, My Lord. But I’m still getting to know my betrothed. Until I do, for an abundance of caution, I will defer to him first.”
“I am astounded, Miss Bradford,” Lord Dawson said. “I had taken you to bejoie de vivre.”
“There are certain points where one must cull the carefree enjoyment of life, for a stabler one,” Harriet replied.
A merry laugh left Dawson, “Where is the pleasure in that? I make it a point, Miss Bradford, to be daring in all I do. The thrill of the chase makes it all worthwhile.”
Her heart began to thrum in her ears. Was this his flirting? The situation was ripe for her to flirt back, but knowing that Daniel was with her, she couldn’t. The way Lord Dawson was looking at her, both titillated and frightened her.
To make matters worse, his hand lifted to brush her cheek, “And I cannot think of a better chase than you.”
Shivers, not from the air or the cold water, took her body. There was no question what he meant, and the offer was there, just for her to take it. Wasn’t this what she wanted? Wasn’t this the thrill she had craved? After all, this was why she had taken Daniel on his offer—to have Dawson.
Harriet gave him a shy smile, “I am not a fair game, nor am I up for the taking, My Lord.”
“We’ll see about that,” Lord Dawson’s smile was that of a hungry wolf on the hunt. He leaned in and whispered. “I know you’re a hoyden, Miss Bradford, if Barkley cannot satisfy you, I will—”
* * *
Harriet had barely stepped off the wherry when Daniel came to claim her. She could feel Dawson’s eyes on the back of her neck, but didn’t react to it. Having never been to the Gardens before, Harriet’s head snapped back and forth as they took the Grand Walk, brilliantly illuminated with multicolored colored lamps.
Daniel led her to a rotunda, an edifice of white-painted wood, with beautiful ornaments and of a magnificent size. On a semi-circular platform, musicians played a merry tune.
“Oh my,” she said, “this is magnificent.”
Daniel nodded. “It is,” then turned her into his arms, “dance with me?”
“That is what we came here for, wasn’t it?” Harriet laughed and curtsied.
Bowing, Daniel took her hands and pulled her closer…closer than the dance warranted. Harriet found herself flush against his chest with a soft exclamation, just before the musicians played a spirited waltz.
It felt scandalous being pressed so tightly to him, but Harriet soon found that she didn’t care. This close, her vision was enveloped by his eyes, and her lungs filled with the subtle scent of his cologne. As they danced, the tight press of his lips loosened, and the crinkles of worry at the corners of his eyes smoothed away.
“Is this proper?” Harriet whispered.
“‘Tis Vauxhall, My Dear,” Daniel replied. “The rules of propriety have been temporarily suspended.”
Harriet felt herself being swung into dizzying turns, quick steps, and laughing spins. Her laughter, free and unrestrained, matched their movements. Amusement was painted across Daniel’s face as their bodies moved in perfect harmony.
His hand never left the supple curve of her spine as he spun her and her skirts fluttered across his trousers before she came back to rest on his chest. The song was slowing, but the happiness in her heart was not. Eventually, when it did end, Daniel gave her an extravagant bow, and before she could curtsy, he whisked her off from the pavilion to the walks beyond.
As with the Grand Walk, the serpentine-like corridors that led into the gardens were lit with beautifully colored lamps. The brisk air stung her warm cheeks as Daniel wrapped an arm around her middle.
“I would have come here, only for that dance,” Daniel replied. “But I am still not fully convinced that Dawson didn’t carry us here to seduce you.”
Harriet nibbled her lips, then slackened up on her brisk walk. Daniel, noticing it, turned to her. “Harriet? Is something wrong?”
She stopped in front of the Octagon temples. “No, Daniel, you were not wrong about that.”
Coming closer, Daniel cupped her face, while searching her eyes, “What?”
Swallowing over a tight throat, Harriet said, “On the boat ride over, he told me that his sights were set on me and that, if you couldn’t satisfy me, he would.”
Daniel lurched away as if her words had hit him in the face. Harriet reached for him, and saw his expression contort into a mix of fear and pain. Afraid of what he might be thinking, Harriet emphatically pressed, “I turned him down, Daniel. I turned his offerdown.”
Chapter Sixteen
Her expression was open and sincere, but while her words rang with a note of truth, Daniel found himself doubting her. Why had she declined a liaison from the man she had vowed to be with?
