Page 52 of Pining for Lord Lockhart
His hand brushed hers and with her gloves off, and his close proximity, she couldn’t help but wish he would do it again. She sighed. “Lord Lockhart, what are you doing?”
“I’m…I’m hoping there is still a chance for us.”
Her mouth dropped. “How could there be? You would give up your duty? Leave her to fend for herself?”With your child?Sitting here, staring him in the face, she still could not fathom how he would have done such a thing. And how she could have been so misguided as to his character. And yet love him all at the same time.
Lord Wessex returned. “She is with her mother, and they are both requesting your carriage.”
Lord Lockhart stood. “I forgot for a moment that we came in my carriage.” He bowed to them and then made his way out.
Lord Wessex sat again, across from Charity. “What an interesting couple.”
“I find I cannot quite make them out.”
“Can’t you?”
She shook her head.
The music started, a waltz. And he held out his hand. “And here is my dance.”
With some admitted relief from the confusion that was tying her stomach in knots, she placed a hand in his, circled the table and joined him at his side.
They made a good match. If you could judge things like that based on how a couple danced the waltz. They moved in unity. He was exceptional. And she felt as though she were floating. But that was the thing with Lord Wessex. Every moment they spent together she asked herself, is this how every girl feels? Does he use these same methods to win every woman he spends time with?
She suspected that he did.
Halfway through the dance, Lord Wessex whispered in her ear. “I could use some air. Would you mind if we took this set outside on the verandah?”
A bit of reckless daring filled her, ample warnings following soon after. But she nodded. “I’d like that.”
He led her out the doors, and she tried to ignore a few knowing stares that followed after them.
She went immediately to the stone railing and leaned over it with her forearms. The cool night air sent waves of refreshing sensations over her skin. For a moment, she said nothing.
Lord Wessex stood beside her. His eyes were on her.
And after a moment, she turned to face him.
“So much is going on in your head all the time. What do you think when you look at me?” He leaned with one hip up against the stone.
She laughed. “What kind of a question is that?”
“The kind that begs an answer.”
“Very well. I’m just not certain what to think about you. I see a man who will always be a mystery.”
“And do you like mysteries?” His eyes were dark, unreadable.
“I love a good mystery in a book.” She shifted. “But in a person, I’m not sure how I feel about not ever knowing…”
“Knowing?” He waited, watching her with his unreadable face, standing close, closer all the time.
“Knowing if I’m your first choice.”
He nodded. And then he lifted his hand up to tuck a hair behind her ear. “You have the most fascinating hair.”
She crossed her arms.
“But you’d like to know if you’re my first choice?”
