Page 4 of The Grand Mistletoe Assembly
Turning to her brother, she placed her fingers on his arm to gain his attention. “Lord—Richard—I must visit the necessary. I shall return shortly.”
“Would you like Sophia to accompany you?”
Isabelle shook her head. “Let her rest.”
Lord Saunton smiled warmly, his brilliant green eyes reflecting the affection Isabelle was yet to grow accustomed to receiving from her sibling, before returning his attention to his wife, who was informing him what was in the program she held in her hand.
The countess was luminous with her rounded belly, and her excitement over the evening’s entertainment provided the perfect opportunity for Isabelle to speak with Cameron alone. Isabelle sprang to her feet and headed to the hall closest to the refreshment table.
* * *
Cameron watchedIsabelle approach the hall to his right. She was breathtaking in her ivory dress trimmed with green ribbons that picked out the unusual color of her eyes. Silky locks framed her face, while the ivory gown offset her golden skin tone in a manner that made his mouth water at the prospect of tasting her smooth skin.
She made a point of not gazing in his direction as she entered the hall, but sensing her objective, he moved to lean against the archway. Swiveling his head as if to admire the room, he could see from the corner of his eye that she had flattened herself against the corridor wall—out of sight of the room but mere inches away from him.
“I have been thinking of you.” Her satiny whisper sent a shiver of pleasure cascading down his spine to settle as a banked warmth in his loins.
“I have not stopped thinking of you for even a moment, Isabelle. You have haunted my dreams since we met.” He heard a happy sigh emerging from the dimmed corridor. It was an agonizing delight to be so close yet so far. Slowly, he lowered his hand to rest against the wall and inched his fingers to the edge of the arch. If he could just touch her…
With startled exhilaration, he felt her fingertips brush his.
“Did you find your friend? The one with the well-connected sister?”
Cameron drew a heavy sigh. “No, I suspect he is staying with a lady friend. I tried his home and his clubs, but he is nowhere to be found these past three days.”
Silence ensued for several moments.
“I cannot stay long, but I wanted to inform you of a possible solution.”
“Oh?” His response was inadequate to express his profound relief. Without Ridley, he had yet to think of anything.
“I have been researching the rules of introduction, and I confirmed a way to do it.” She paused, evidently shy. “You may already be aware, but I had to verify that it held true in London, as it does in Saunton.”
“What is it?”
“The final ball of the Season is on Saturday, a public assembly to benefit charity being held at Pearler House on St. James’s Place. Do you know of it?”
“The Grand Mistletoe Assembly?”
“Yes, that is the one. Lord and Lady Saunton have informed me that we will be attending in order to make a sizable donation before we leave for the country on Sunday. I recalled that at a public assembly of this nature …”
Cameron waited, but she did not elaborate. “What is it?”
“A gentleman could prevail on the Master of Ceremonies to make an introduction. If the Master believes them to share social parity, he may grant the request. You are the brother of a baron, and I am the”—she cleared her throat uncomfortably—“distant relation of an earl, so I believe an argument for parity could be made.”
Cameron drew a sharp breath, exulted to finally be in possession of a plan, even if a ticket would cost an enormous price. “You are brilliant! That is how Catherine Morland and Henry Tilney met inNorthanger Abbey! Why did I not think of that?”
“Shh … someone will notice our conversation.” He could hear the pleasure in her voice, despite the censure of her words. Gently, he squeezed her fingers to express his affinity.
“I will purchase a ticket and find you there, I swear it.”
“I have thought of dancing with you … I would very much like to do so.”
Zooks, she was sweet. He thought of taking her in his arms, of one day pressing his lips to her soft pink mouth. Frustration at their restrictions coursed through his body like steam through one of those newfangled engines. “I can think of no greater pleasure.” And it could not possibly happen a moment too soon.
“It …” She hesitated. “It will be our last opportunity to meet before I leave for the country the next morning.”
“Rest assured, I will be there.” He felt her gently squeeze his fingers in acknowledgment.
