Page 48 of Foolish Bride
“Please get up, Mr. Wheel,” she whispered.
He complied but did not move away. “The last piece was your own composition?”
“I only finished it last week. It really was not ready to be played, but I didn’t think it would make a difference tonight.” She stood and smoothed her skirts.
“You are too hard on yourself. It was beautiful and touching. Half the crowd was in tears when you finished.” He offered his arm, and they walked toward the ballroom together.
She smiled. “Thank you.”
“Thank you, Lady Dorothea. I feel I have been given a gift this evening.”
“You have made this evening tolerable, Mr. Wheel. I hate performing in public.”
He inclined his head, and they left.
Elinor remained in her hiding place long after they’d gone but eventually had to rejoin the party.
* * * *
Feet aching, Elinor was sick of dancing with men Mother threw at her. She stepped off the veranda and walked into the garden. Eventually, she found a quiet, secluded area near the orangery.
Having been friends with Dory since they were children, she knew her way around the gardens quite well. No one ever came to the large glass building where the Earl of Castlereagh had decided to keep orange and lemon trees as if his home were Versailles. She stepped into the warm humid air. It reminded her of when she and Dorothea played in the greenhouse. If the season was right, they would eat oranges and get sticky with the juices. Sometimes they would dare each other to eat a lemon and laugh at the faces the sour taste produced.
“I cannot tell if you are happy or sad.” Michael stood a few feet away, watching her.
Heart in her throat, she opened her eyes. “You scared me.”
He closed the gap between them. “I am sorry. I saw you come in here, and I followed.”
“I didn’t even know you had arrived yet.”
That guilty smile charmed her as it always did. “I admit I have been keeping out of sight, hoping to catch you alone. I really do not wish to be the focus of gossip.”
“If people know you followed me into the orangery, then we shall both be the center of attention, and not at all good.”
“It is worth the risk to see you.”
“Was there something you wanted to say, Michael?” More curious than afraid, she stood her ground, even though he was close enough that the warm scent of him weakened her knees. It was like being a lamb stalked by a wolf.
“There are many things that I should tell you, my Elinor. But for now, I would just like to look at you. I cannot describe how beautiful you are to me.” His tone was humble. “The way your lips curve and how you lick them when you’re nervous.”
Elinor jerked her tongue back into her mouth.
“I love your hands. They are strong, yet delicate. I always thought so. It is strange that I only noticed the rest of your strength after I’d lost you.”
She folded her hands in front of her. Then, not knowing what to do with them, she pulled them behind her back and clasped them there. This motion thrust her chest forward.
Michael’s eyes traveled from her arms to her breasts. “I long to touch you, to feel your perfect breasts in my hands and caress you until you cry out for more.” Tears glistened in his eyes.
“Michael.” She rushed into his arms.
“Oh, Elinor.” He crushed her to him. “I miss you so. You should have been my wife by now. Every day I should be touching you, and every day I regret everything I have done in the past few months.”
She knew she should run from him before she made another mistake that would ruin her life. Desire too great to ignore kept her in his arms. “Just hold me and be quiet.”
Laughter sounded from outside.
The greenhouse butted up against the stone wall around the Castlereagh property. Potting tables and some stools had been stored in the corner. Lemon trees hid the storage. Once Michael and Elinor were behind them, they were secluded in the obscured garden light.
