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Emma glanced up at Lord William, who seemed lost as he stood in front of her. Lost in thought perhaps, or simply lost altogether.
Frankly, it would not surprise her if William had been frequenting the refreshment table, despite being certain he had not. At least not that she had seen so far tonight.
She had unintentionally gazed at him frequently through the duration of the evening, although she had tried not to. She felt foolish in longing for a man who would never truly be hers as William had made it abundantly clear that he wished nothing to do with her in any real, respectable sense.
However, those previous statements about her personality now puzzled her, since he was the one who approached her.
“My lord,” Emma greeted him politely, attempting to keep up appearances, since she had promised Kitty that she and Lord William were now on polite terms.
“My lady. Please do pardon my sudden appearance,” Lord William said, “but there is something I wish to inquire upon.”
Emma narrowed her eyes, studying his face. “Have you been drinking this evening, my lord?”
William burst into amused laughter and shook his head. “No, not at all.”
“That is certainly good to hear, but perhaps you should imbibe at least one. You seem rather nervous, my lord.”
“Perhaps, but I do not think it is a well thought out plan, my lady,” William said, and held out his hand towards Emma. “I simply wished to ask you for a dance.”
“A dance?” she repeated like a simpleton, too shocked to think of a better reply.
“Is that too much to ask?” William queried.
Emma’s stomach tightened and she struggled to contain the grin that lifted her lips.
She glanced briefly around her, then turned to Lord William. “Certainly not. We would not wish for people to think we are not being civil to one another.”
“Of course. We would not wish that,” William grinned.
Emma placed her hand on William’s without a moment’s hesitation and allowed him to lead her to the center of the ballroom, where a few guests elegantly glided across the floor. The small orchestra was strategically placed in the far corner, ensuring the entire space was filled with sweet and melodious sounds.
Emma was not in the least bit surprised how graceful William was on his feet, and he skillfully led her across the ballroom in a delightful dance, which left Emma breathless in more ways than one.
His hand pressed against her back, causing her to shiver with delight, her body responding to his touch in the most intense manner possible. All her attempts to prevent herself from feeling anything for William had officially dissolved into smoke.
Emma glanced up at him and smiled. “My lord, you are quite light on your feet.”
“Thank you. It was one of the social graces my mother deemed important for a man to perform. She taught me everything I know today,” William answered gallantly.
“Does that include your warped opinion of marriage and women, my lord?” Emma retorted, but instantly regretted her words. She cringed and shook her head. “I do apologize, my lord. I did not mean to offend or upset, or in fact, belittle you this evening.”
“It is quite all right, my lady,” William answered, and his words surprised Emma. “It was my father who instilled those opinions in me. He wished me to choose a wife carefully, one who would ensure that I would be treated with respect and importance.”
Emma narrowed her gaze at the gentleman before her. “You can still find a wife such as that, my lord, but there is no need to treat her differently than how you wish to be treated. Women deserve respect and wish to feel important to the man whom we love. We are human beings with feelings and emotions as well.”
“Indeed,” William answered simply, but still gazed at Emma intently.
It was obvious William wished to speak, but he was reluctant to do so.
“My lord?” Emma said, expecting to lead him into saying what he wished to.
“Yes, my lady?” William whispered.
“Is there something that you wish to speak about?”
“Why would you ask me such a thing?” William scoffed.
Emma stopped for a moment. So, he didn’t wish to share?
Interesting. Since when had he held back with her?
“As I can clearly see there is something on your mind. Something is weighing heavily on you. I can see it in your eyes. Is something amiss?” Emma inquired.
“There are several things, but this is neither the time nor the place to discuss those matters. I also would not wish to spoil your evening by doing so, my lady,” William answered, ever the polite gentleman once again.
Emma cocked her head then noticed the music had changed. The melody turned into a waltz—a rather scandalous dance—and Emma glanced up at William, wondering if he wished to continue.
It was a rather intimate dance, performed mostly by lovers and brave-hearted souls who cared not if they were gossiped about. Clearly, it was requested by the Duchess of Waltham herself, as the duke and duchess quickly paired up beside William and Emma, swaying in perfect synchronicity to the melody.
“Would you care for another dance, my lady??” William asked gallantly.
“That would be lovely,” Emma said with a smile. “Although I feel we may be stared at by most of the guests.”
“My lady,” William said and spun Emma around gracefully and quite skillfully, “let them stare as much as they wish.”
Excitement bubbled up inside her as their bodies swayed to the music, their steps in perfect alignment with one another. Emma’s feet felt like they danced on the clouds, the strong arms of William holding her tightly, yet with such lightness at the same time.
Emma wondered what had suddenly befallen William to change his attitude towards her so drastically, but at this moment, she did not care. She was having a delightful time with him and nothing else mattered.
His blue gaze remained fixed on hers, and the intensity caused her stomach to contract, lighting a fire inside her she had vowed to keep under control.
Emma’s thoughts kept returning to Woodlock Manor’s study, and her cheeks heated as the vivid memories flashed before her eyes. Her body quivered as William’s breath gently caressed her cheek.
Emma was twirled around once more by her dance partner, and as he pulled her close again, Emma’s heart pounded in her chest. “My lord, may I ask you a question?”
“I believe you did so already.” Lord William winked.
Emma giggled and shook her head. “You are very different now than the man I have come to know. Why is that?”
“Perhaps I merely decided that it was not worth attempting to change your perception of the world, my lady. You are entitled to your opinion, and it would be utterly ungentlemanly of me to not respect that.”
Emma narrowed her eyes. “Pardon me for being frank, but you did not seem too happy to see me as I descended the stairwell at Woodlock Manor.”
“I was simply taken by surprise. I was not informed that you would be joining us, which was a rather foolish thing of me to assume, as you are a guest of the duchess,” William admitted with a cringe.
“Is that a regular occurrence, my lord,” Emma grinned. “Not to think?”
William chuckled in amusement and nodded. “Perhaps it is simply men’s brains that are inferior to women’s in this particular situation.”
“How gallant of you to admit this so openly,” Emma chuckled, and a laugh escaped her throat. She had not imagined she would ever laugh in such a manner at something William said to her.
Ever since their first meeting, William had not seemed the kind of man who Emma wished to spend her time with, but this evening he had shown a different side of himself.
He was charming, considerate, and caused Emma’s heart to pound in her chest, setting ablaze the fire in her loins he’d ignited in the study, and every moment after, in fact.
William’s gaze rested on hers and her lips parted unintentionally.
“My lady,” William said quietly and cocked his head at her.
“My lord,” she uttered in return.
“I believe staring is considered rude,” he continued.
“I was under the impression staring was not frowned upon this evening,” Emma pointed out.
“I was referring to the guests staring at us, and not you staring at me,” William said with a grin.
Emma shrugged her shoulders and grinned as well. “I will not apologize for something that I am not sorry for.”
“Is that so?” He smirked.
“Indeed.” Emma chuckled.
“Admittedly, I should say the same, as I could not tear my gaze away from you during your descent of the staircase at Woodlock Manor. I had not seen a more beautiful woman in my entire life,” her dance partner admitted suddenly.
A blush swept up Emma’s face, causing her to lower her gaze. “Your words flatter me, my lord.”
William reached for her face and tilted her chin upwards, their faces very close to one another, but neither seemed to mind.
“I only speak the truth, my lady,” he whispered. “And I would never speak any untruths towards you. Ever.”
Emma’s heart fluttered as William’s touch against her skin caused fire to explode inside her.
“Where was this charming man when we first met, my lord?” Emma inquired, her eyes sparkling.
“Perhaps he was a fool who did not realize what a wonderful and delightful woman you are, my lady,” William answered. “You deserve to be treated with the utmost respect, and not the manner in which I have done.”
“I appreciate you saying this,” Emma said and glanced around subtly.
She wished to continue this intimate and sensual play of words, and as the music came to an end, Emma stepped away from William but continued to hold onto his hand.
“Perhaps you can find a secluded place for us to continue our conversation, my lord,” Emma said slowly, with all the sensuality she was feeling.
For a brief moment, Emma’s message was obviously lost on William, but he soon realized the meaning of her words and nodded.
Emma loosened her grasp on his hand and curtseyed, thanking him for the dance. “I shall meet you in the hallway?”
“Indeed, my lady,” William smiled politely and left her side.
Emma waited for a few moments before she made her way to the entrance of the ballroom, which led to the long hallway of Retford Manor. She looked around so as to make sure that no one noticed her slip out into the dark hallway.
Then she made her way to where William was standing, half hidden in the shadows.
The moonlight that shone through the large window behind him bathed him in a silver glow that accentuated his features and took Emma’s breath away.
He reached out his hand to her, a charming smile forming on his lips. Emma approached without a moment’s hesitation.
Their fingers intertwined and he whisked her away, down the moonlit hallway to a secluded room at the end of passageway.
Her heart pounded in her chest as William placed his hands on her, her senses heightened by the absence of light.
With only the moon to guide them, and the soft melodic sounds of the orchestra playing in the ballroom, they began to undress one another.