Page 63 of Song of the Caged Duchess

His heart soared. He felt as if wind was blowing around him, as if he was hearing music play. His heart drummed happily.

The kiss seemed to go on forever—and then, all too soon, it was over. He had pulled away from her and was looking down into her eyes, searching for some sign of what she might be thinking.

“That was lovely,” she breathed.

“I would do it again, given my way,” he told her. “I would kiss you all night and never let you go.”

A smile broke across her lips. “I think the rest of the ball would notice our absence. We wouldn’t want to be searched for and caught doing something so scandalous.”

“You’re right, of course,” Hugh said. “But would the risk be too great if I were to steal one more kiss?”

“I think that’s a risk I can accept,” Esther said.

This time it was she who stood on her toes, bringing her lips to his. It was bold and daring, and Hugh was utterly charmed by her, just as he had been from the moment they had met.

I never thought I would be thankful for the shallow proclivities of the rest of the noble class, and yet I am. If I’d ever found a lady before who didn’t strike me as an opportunistic social climber, I might have courted her. I might have married years ago. And if that had happened, I would never have met Esther.

“We ought to get back inside,” Esther said. “My mother will want to hear that we danced at least once. If I can’t report to her that I danced with the Duke, she’ll believe I have lost your interest.”

“It wouldn’t be true,” Hugh said. “There’s nothing you could do to lose my interest, Esther.

“Do you truly mean it?” she asked, looking up at him.

“Nothing I can imagine,” Hugh said. “I’ve never felt this way before.”

“Neither have I,” Esther said. Hugh thought he heard her voice tremble slightly.

“Still, I must confess, I would adore a dance with you,” Hugh said, smiling. “Almost nothing would please me more.”

“Almost nothing?”

“That’s right,” he said, thinking again of that kiss.

Another time. Another time, there will be more.

They made their way back into the ballroom, arm in arm, and Hugh relished the fact that he would be able to spend the rest of the evening with his arms around her.

Chapter 24

“Oh, Amelia, what am I doing?”

“You’re turning so that I can unlace your gown,” Amelia said, her voice level and steady as it always was. “And please keep your arms out to the sides, My Lady. I can’t help you undress when you’re waving them about like that.”

“I’m sorry.” Esther did her best to hold still, but it was difficult when she felt so distraught as she did tonight. “The ball was absolutelydreadful.”

“Was it really?”

“No. It was wonderful.” Esther buried her head in her hands. “He kissed me, Amelia. Hugh kissed me.”

“So now it isHugh, is it? You and the Duke must be getting along very well indeed, My Lady.”

“We are,” Esther said. “And that’s what’s so horrible.”

“But why?” Amelia asked. “This was what you wanted. You wanted to make him fall in love with you. Didn’t you?”

“I don’t know,” Esther moaned. “I wanted him to court me. I wanted him to want to marry me. I wasn’t thinking aboutlove.”

“I told you that you ought to,” Amelia reminded her. “I did warn you.”