Page 21 of His Wicked Embrace
“My father used to say a good kiss could cure anything. Especially a fit of the blue devils.” He stroked a playful fingertip down her nose. His hazel eyes were merry, like firelight reflecting onhoney.
“Blue devils?” She’d never heard such a silly turn ofphrase.
“It’s when you feel a bit down. Did itwork?”
“Oh!” She giggled. “Yes, it certainly did.” All it had taken was one good kiss and she’d almost forgotten what distressedher.
“Good.” He stroked the pad of his thumb over her lips, his eyes fixed on her as though he was thinking about kissing her again. She would not have minded, except the dressmaker cleared her throat from behindLawrence.
“The gown and other clothes are all packed. I can have them delivered to your residence this afternoon if you wish.” Madame Ella lifted a hand to brush a strand of her dark silvery hair back intoplace.
“Thank you, that would be preferable,” Lawrence said without bothering to look toward the modiste. Zehra blushed as he caught her by the waist and lowered her down off the dais. He held on a moment too long, long enough to let her breathe in his scent and feel the heat of his tall, strong form so close tohers.
“On to shoes, hats, and jewelry?” he asked with an impishgrin.
“Truly, Lawrence, we mustn’t,” sheprotested.
“Nonsense, Zehra. Madame Ella is quite right. Your lovely neck requires sapphires.” She let him escort her from the dress shop, her arm tucked through his. Although she wore a lovely red-and-white-striped muslin gown, she felt strangely exposed as they stepped onto thestreet.
At home she had lived a fairly cloistered life. She’d been kept apart from most men except from her father and friends of her parents. But at the same time, she’d had the freedom to take her horse and ride off into the hills behind her father’s palace and spend hours reading in the sun or studying as she lay stretched out on ablanket.
There was no such freedom here. London was full of people, couples, servants, men riding by on horseback, and carriages rumbling past. It was busy and noisy and all a little overwhelming. By the time they had finished with the shoes, jewelry, and hats, Zehra’s head ached from all the sounds of chaos aroundher.
“Are you feeling all right?” Lawrence asked as he got back into the coach withher.
“Yes, I’m not used to such…activity.” She touched her temples with the tips of herfingers.
“Why don’t we get you home to rest? We can have a quiet dinner before I have togo.”
She sat up straight, worry filling her. “Go?” She didn’t want to cling to him, but he was the only person she knew and trusted in this overwhelming newcountry.
Lawrence’s happy countenance fell. “I fear I have to attend a ball tonight. I won’t be gone long, I hope. Perhaps twohours.”
“A ball?” She couldn’t hide the hope in her voice. Her mother used to tell the most wonderful stories about the nights she’d attended balls, the exquisite gowns she’d worn, the dances, the handsome gentlemen and themusic…
“Yes, I promised my mother I would go.” His sour tone made him sound boyish, and shelaughed.
“You do not like balls?” sheasked.
“Likeballs?” He scoffed. “What on earth is there to like aboutthem?”
Zehra flushed. “Well, I’ve been told they are both beautiful and enjoyable. The candlelight, the dancing, the music…” She trailed off when she noticed him watching her closely. Lawrence leaned forward in hisseat.
“Have you ever been toone?”
She shook her head. “I’ve heard about them and have longed to go to one since I was a child, but they aren’t a part of my country’s customs. It isn’t done, for men and women to dance and hold each other close or totouch.”
Lawrence was silent for a moment, and then he laughed softly. The rich, deep sound of it sent delicious shivers throughher.
“We aren’t supposed to be close either, except during waltzes, of course.” As he said this, he leaned closer to her, reaching across the space of the coach to grasp her hands in his. “Tomorrow, we can go to Richmond and have a proper picnic. They have some lovely hills with pleasant views. We can enjoy ourselves away from the bustle of the city. What do youthink?”
“It soundswonderful.”
“Excellent.” Lawrence grinned, but she saw his happy gaze was tempered with a hint ofmelancholy.
Seven days lay between them. It was all shehad.
I must make the most ofthem.
