Page 12 of The Lady’s Reckless Abandon (Safely in Scotland #1)
T hough Finn was certain Lily had been disinterested in the young Mr. Fletcher, he saw none of that disinterest in her gaze now as she looked at him.
She might have wished to avoid dancing with him, but now that they were on the floor, touching, he saw only attraction in her gray eyes. Perhaps it was his own attraction reflecting back at him, but he didn’t believe this was one-sided.
How arrogant he’d been to think he could handle being this close to her. He’d been able to avoid her at home over the last week, but now he realized how vulnerable he truly was.
Had he thought he was in control of his feelings? He was not. And now he would be at the mercy of the tiny, elderly woman sitting in the corner to stop him from doing something unforgiveable.
A woman who was watching them with bland enthusiasm. No, she was not watching. Dear God, she was asleep. Again. Had he really thought to entrust Lily’s safety to this woman, who was prone to falling asleep in nearly any situation?
Fortunately, he was saved from any further misstep by the other dancers as they were pushed and pulled in different directions to complete the country dance.
Had they been in a London ballroom during the close confines of a waltz, he wasn’t sure what might have happened.
He stayed where he was, watching as she danced with the other gentleman in the set. All were old enough to be her father and were married to other ladies in attendance, so there was no reason for his jealousy to flare as it had with Mr. Fletcher.
Not that he had reason then either. The lad had barely shed his spots and gangly awkwardness of youth, which made him an unlikely adversary. But Finn had felt the chill of irritation creep up his spine as the man had touched Lily.
Finn was nothing more than a temporary host. He had no say at all over who Lily chose to spend her time with. But jealousy was not a reasonable emotion. As proven by the way Beatrice flounced around the room with a cheery smile on her lips except when others weren’t looking and she sent a scathing look Lily’s way. He knew some men enjoyed the drama of women fighting over them like cats, but Finn was not one of them.
Although, it had warmed his soul to hear Lily threaten the woman and vow to protect him. Mayhap there was more to it than he’d originally thought.
Still, he knew it was best to stay on Beatrice’s good side rather than have to look over one’s shoulders at every turn.
When the dance concluded, the vicar announced it was time for the meal to be served. As the highest-ranking person in attendance, Finn was not surprised to find himself placed at the head of the table. Fortunately, Lily was seated next to him.
Finn managed to raise his glass in a toast to their hosts. Lily offered a nod and he smiled foolishly at her approval. Lord and Lady Doddle were seated across from Lily with Lady Doddle next to Finn.
He thought the woman had lost control of her feet until he felt the intentional climb of her toes up his leg.
Clearing his throat, he shifted his legs away from her attack and began conversing with the lady’s husband. He hoped this would discourage her, but only a few more failed attempts to gain his attention finally stopped her pursuit.
Lily joined in the conversation, easily charming the man with her wit and humor. He wondered why she’d been left to the mercy of the arse who’d abandoned her. Why hadn’t she been claimed by a reputable gentleman before the age of two and twenty?
She’d told him this was her come out. He guessed this delay served as proof to the ton she was somehow undesirable, when quite the opposite was true.
She was entirely too desirable.
He needed to get her another chaperone. Mayhap a whole battalion of them to keep him from doing something unfortunate.
When the meal ended, Lily stood with his assistance and he noticed the rosy glow to her cheeks. She’d been drinking wine with dinner but had only seen a footman refill her glass once.
“Don’t worry, Your Grace. I’m not in my cups,” she whispered, her warm breath touching his ear and neck.
Good God, he feared he would grab her up and kiss her right there in the middle of the dining room.
“Very good,” he said with a smile. “Then I won’t have need to carry you to the coach.”
She laughed and took his arm to be escorted outside. A footman had awakened Mrs. Prichard and she followed behind them.
In the carriage, the woman fell back into a doze and he and Lily shared a grin.
“I’m not certain Your Grace is getting his money’s worth in this arrangement.”
“I am skeptical myself.”
“It is an apt example of the ridiculousness of propriety, is it not? Having this woman here protects me from ruin, when the only thing I’m in danger from is getting her drool on my gown.”
He laughed even though he knew that wasn’t true.
The woman’s presence, however unresponsive as it was, kept him from acting on his desire to pull Lily to his lap and kiss her.
Back at the castle, Finn helped Lily down and instructed the footman to help Mrs. Prichard to her quarters.
Lily stumbled on the stairs and he righted her, holding her tighter than was needed, but not willing to let her go.
“I assure you, Your Grace, I am perfectly able to get to my room on my own tonight. I am even able to remove my own slippers.” She was teasing him, but he nearly growled for wanting the opportunity to take off her slippers again.
But he stopped at the head of the corridor near his rooms.
“Then I shall leave you to it and bid you a good night.”
“And I hope you have a good night as well, Your Grace. Thank you for accompanying me to the dinner. You were a most gracious partner.”
Partner. He thought of the long-forgotten words of his father, instructing him to choose a wife who would also be a partner to him in all the things life would bring.
Unable to speak, Finn nodded and waited for Lily to take her leave. But she didn’t step away from him right away. That pause brought back all the lust he’d pushed down throughout the evening.
He wondered if his efforts to avoid her, avoid them, were futile. It seemed neither of them were strong enough to stop the inevitable. Did that mean they should simply surrender?
Why should they keep fighting something they both wanted so badly? He was hanging tightly onto the edge of sanity.
When she bit her bottom lip, he saw the flesh trapped by her white teeth because he had already been focused on her mouth. He leaned closer, captivated by her mouth and how lush her lips were. How soft her kiss would be.
She gasped and stepped back, breaking the connection.
Startled, he gave an abrupt bow and all but ran for the safety of his chamber. When he looked back, Lily had made it nearly to her room.
She looked over her shoulder to find him watching her. With a little wave, she slipped inside her room.
Without her scent clouding his judgment and her body so close to his he could feel the heat of her skin, he was able to think more clearly. Lily had trusted him enough to stay at his home.
To kiss her would only have led to more, and that could not happen. Even if they both wanted to explore what that could be. She had wandered down that path already and he would not be another regret for Lady Lily.
She had been strong enough to spare them for another night.
He worried how much longer that would be the case.