Page 191 of Snowbound Surrender

The young woman stared, evidently outraged. She was forced to step back and allow the other dancers – those who still had partners – to continue on.

A flash of pleasure roared into Anne’s heart but she pushed it away just as sternly. It was wrong to find pleasure in another person’s disappointment, surely?

Maxim had reached her, clicking his heels and kissing her hand, which made Anne smile.

“My lady,” he said in his deep, calming voice. “I thought I would never gain the pleasure of looking at you today, and so you have given me the greatest gift possible. Here is a small attempt to make amends.”

In her hand he placed a small box, wrapped in brown paper and with a silver ribbon.

Anne could not help but laugh at his sparkling eyes and way with words. “Another gift? What is it?”

Maxim’s smile matched hers. “You will have to open it to see.”

It took only a minute to pull the ribbon and wrappings away, and Anne gasped as two large diamond earrings appeared inside the box.

Her eyes grew. “I-I cannot accept these.”

“Of course you can.”

Anne looked up. Maxim’s face was diffused with pleasure, but as she looked down at the earrings, a sense of just what a dangerous dance they were weaving came over her.

“Maxim,” she managed to say, “these must be worth – ”

“You are my future bride,” he said magnanimously. “You must have diamonds!”

Pulling them out of the box, Maxim leaned forward to place them in her ears. “Besides,” he whispered, his breath caressing her neck, “it is expected.”

Anne turned her head slightly as he placed the first earbob in her ear, and saw Prinny watching them, muttering to one of his companions. As she turned her head in the other direction, her father came into view. He was nodding approvingly.

Anne worked hard not to roll her eyes. Always watched, always putting on a performance. Did Maxim never grow tired of it?

“And now, I would like to dance with you,” Maxim said impressively. “Come, I think they are making up a new set.”

Anne glanced over to the dancers. “I…I have not danced in public for a while. You will have to forgive any mistakes.”

Maxim took her by the hand, which he squeezed as they walk over. “Why not?”

Thankfully, it was possible for Anne to ignore this question, as by the time they had reached the set, the dance was about to begin.

Maxim held out his hand. “My lady.”

A shiver of anticipation flowed through Anne’s entire body, and as their hands touched, heat seared along her fingers. Therewas something about Maxim; something she could not explain, but her body seemed to know.

Weaving in and out of the other dancers, Anne did not take her eyes from him, and his gaze never left her. It was as though they were the only ones in the room, the only people in the world. Anne felt her breath catch in her chest every time they came close together, and the temptation to lean in and steal a kiss, even before all the court…

“I want to kiss you,” murmured Maxim as they came together, their hands interlinked. “And I know you want it.”

Desire thrilled through her as she stared into his dark eyes, a smile dancing on her lips. “How could you possibly know that?”

Maxim smiled. “I know.”

It was fortunate for Anne that the dance ended at that moment, and gentle applause rang out around them, as it drowned out the half-formed thought that escaped her lips.

“I think I am falling – ”

“I shall get you a drink, my lady,” Maxim said with a grin. “‘Tis warm in here, it is not?”

And with that, he was gone.