Page 27 of When He Was Wicked
She sobered and stared at him, desperately wishing for his kiss. “We are good friends aren’t we, James?”Do not be a silly goose and ruin it, she reminded herself fiercely. Friends did not go around kissing each other.
He looked at her in surprise, and then, after a moment, smiled. “As unlikely as it seems, Verity, we are.”
He unexpectedly curved his arm around her shoulders and dragged her against the solid wall of his chest…into a hug. Verity waited for him to lift her chin and place his lips to hers. Instead of the kiss she had anticipated, his fingers lightly traced her cheek. Her pulse pounded, and she felt confused by the breathless sensations tumbling through her heart. She pressed her face even more against his chest, wishing she could stay there forever. The thought so startled her she pulled away, putting a respectable distance between them.
He rubbed the back of his neck, a too heavy sigh slipping from him. “I am weary.”
She paused at the admission. “I shall take my leave. Perhaps we may have our lesson tomorrow then.” And she wondered then for how long they would prolong this charade.
As if he had peeked into her mind he said, “It is time we pick a date to end our lessons, Verity. We have been taking an enormous gamble with your reputation for over a month, and I would be a reprobate to keep us on this path.”
“Am I getting to be a good fighter then?” she demanded archly.
“You are incredible.”
And that left her speechless for his tone echoed with such genuine admiration. All the possible replies running through her mind felt useless, so she made no reply. Verity collected her reticule and hat with veil.
“Stay.”
“Only for a few minutes.”
And she stayed for an hour, curled into the softness of the sofa, while the earl sat in the high-backed chair before the fire, his legs sprawled in front of him, gazing into the flames. During which time Verity had her book open, reading into the stillness of the night, ignoring the lump forming in her throat and the unusual ache stirring in her soul for James.
Lady William’sball was a crushing success. Laughter and facile conversation floated on the air, and the vividly colored ball gowns, dancing slippers, diamonds, pearls, and rubies shone iridescently under the candlelight of the crystal chandeliers in the glittering ballroom. Verity had been at the ball for more than two hours, and the heat of the packed ballroom was stifling. James was in attendance, but they had carefully maintained adistance. She had not been introduced to him, and he had not sought it.
James mingled with the crowd, and from the many smiles and approving nods, Verity suspected he charmed them. The dowager duchess of Middleton introduced him to her daughter, whom if Verity recalled correctly, was nineteen, and an heiress. Soon James was leading the Lady Anna to the dance floor, his poise one of supreme confidence. He was beautiful, in a way that was uniquely male, and she was not the only lady noticing. Many not on the dance floor discreetly watched the earl and Lady Anna as they twirled to the sensually freeing waltz. For such a large man he appeared light and graceful on his feet, and Lady Anna’s face glowed as she peered up at him. Many in society noted it was the earl’s very first dance, the whispers buzzed and speculation grew.
“It’s his first dance of the season!”
“They do look splendid together.”
"The rumor says he is looking to settle down."
"Perhaps there is some sort of tendre, and they've been very circumspect about it!”
Many fans were opened, and the whispers abounded. The speculation would also spill onto the scandal sheets and newspapers. Verity knew what they all wondered. Why was Lord Maschelly paying attention to Lady Anna Covington? Did they sense a match in the air?
"There is a rumor he offered for the silly girl, and she refused him? An earl believed to have an income of fifty thousand a year, and one so very large and handsome."
This was murmured with an undertone of envy and frustration.
Verity glanced at Lady Susanna, to whom that particular piece of fluff referred. Susanna stared at James and Lady Anna with an expression akin to envy. And Verity felt a pang of regretfor her. The more she watched James dance, a hollow sensation burrowed its way into her heart, and she admitted she wished with every fiber of her being he was dancing with her… soaring across the expanse of the dance floor.
“Your earl is quite dashing and very different tonight,” Caroline said, coming to stand beside her and looping their hands together. “He is normally often brusque to the point of incivility at these events! But now he is positively charming everyone! Even the Grande Dame has smiled at him. Can you imagine that querulous biddy smiling?”
Verity laughed at Caroline’s silliness.
“You are being excessively impertinent, Caroline,” Verity warned.
“They would not suit,” her friend whispered.
Verity glanced around. “Who?”
Caroline’s eyes lit with mischief and a good deal of speculation. “Lord Maschelly and Lady Anna. I am sure there isn’t anyone more amiable and obliging than Lady Anna. That man…is a lion. And he will need a fiery and feisty lady to walk by his side. Say, like one who has been spending an inordinate amount of time with him, and who is not afraid to learn to fight.”
Verity flushed and ignored that pointed bid for more information. Feeling in need of a breath of fresh air, she promised Caro to see her before leaving. Verity then discreetly left the public rooms and made her way to the smaller drawing room which had not been opened specifically to the guests. She went over opening the tall French doors that led outside and toward the gardens at the back of the townhouse. The paths were well lit with lanterns, but empty of guests. There was a small alcove at the end, with a fountain, and a bench. Once there, she breathed a soft sigh of relief to be away from the stifling heat, and the surprising pain of seeing James touching, and smilingdown at another lady. In the privacy of the alcove, it was hard to stop the lone tear which slid down her cheek.
“Verity.”
