Page 27 of Romancing the Rifleman
As they came together again, Harrington made a quick decision.He took Diana’s hand, but instead of dancing the expected turn, he tugged her toward the balcony doors.
She went with him without hesitation.As they ran out into the night together, the beautiful sound of her laughter washed over his ears.
Nowthiswas more like it.
Diana had never been whisked out onto a balcony by a handsome man before.Gracious, up until recently, she had never even encountered a man whom she would want to do the whisking!
Yet, here she was, dashing out the French doors, hand-in-hand with Harrington under a sky littered with… clouds.It was probably too much to hope for a blanket of stars.This was England, after all.
Still, it feltmagical.And, on the bright side, the light drizzle was keeping everyone else inside.
He drew her into a little nook in the corner, positioning her closest to the wall.Diana knew he had done it so she would be out of the weather, but she could not help but note that it had the additional advantage of being out of view of the French doors.He did not release her hand, and she found she did not want him to.
She was prickly by nature, freezing most of her suitors with a glare before they could get close enough to touch her.But holding hands with Harrington Astley felt natural.It felt…right.
She squeezed his fingers.“Tell me.”
The words tumbled from his lips.About how he had charmed Colin Rhys-Jones during a game of billiards and Charles Sutton over a hand of cards.About how he was now chums with Stephen Chicester and Julian Deverill and a dozen other men.
Finally, he patted his pocket.“I doubt Newcombe will have sobered up sufficiently to show up for the vote tomorrow.But he agreed to let me vote as his surrogate.I got it in writing and everything.So, that’s twenty men who have promised to support the Pensions to Soldiers Act!”
She beamed up at him.“That’sbrilliant, Harrington.I knew you could do it!”
He looked so happy, and she was so delighted thatshewas the one he had wanted to share this moment with, she didn’t even think.
She threw her arms around his neck.
Before she had time to worry that he might not welcome the gesture, his hands came around her waist.He lifted her off her feet and spun in a circle, twirling her around and around.Their laughter mingled together, bouncing off the balcony’s flagstones, causing her heart to swell to the point of bursting.
After a perfect eternity that was probably only a few seconds, he set her down.His smile was fond as his hand came up to frame her face.“Diana,” he whispered.
Her breath hitched.His fingers curled behind her ear, sending a shiver down her neck.Slowly, ever so slowly, he tilted his lips toward hers.
Her eyes fluttered shut as she slid her arms down across the planes of his chest.
That was when a dark voice came from the French doors.“What thehellare you doing to my sister?”
Chapter13
Diana muttered a curse.
It was abadone, and she knew Harrington heard it, because he grinned.
But as Marcus stormed across the balcony and yanked her out of his arms, his face turned solemn again.
Marcus’s eyes were icy with fury.“How dare you lay your filthy hands on her!”
She shook herself.“Marcus!Stop.He didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Didn’t do anything—” Her brother rounded on her, incredulous.“Isawhim, Diana!Saw the way he wasforcinghimself on?—”
“He wasn’t forcing himself on me!”she snapped.“Iwas the one who huggedhim!”
Marcus’s nostrils flared.“Have you forgotten who he is?This is the man who once put snakes in my boots.Who started so many vile rumors about me, I cannot count them on both hands.Whostolethe only miniature I have of Mother and didn’t give it back forsix weeks!I thought it wasgone!I thought?—”
“I’m especially sorry about that one,” Harrington said, stepping forward with his palms held out.“I’m sorry for all of them, if you want to know the truth.But thinking about that one, knowing what happened to your mother…” He swallowed, and his expression was stricken.“I feel deeply ashamed, and I’d like to express my?—”
“Silence!”Marcus shouted, casting Harrington the sort of glare that could turn a man to stone.“You expect me to believe that you’re sorry?At the very moment you come dangling after my sister?”His laugh was vindictive.“How very convenient.”
