After assuring herself her brother was in bed and snoring, she threw her leg over the windowsill and made her escape.
A few feet from the ground, she was grabbed from behind and a warm, bare hand clamped over her mouth.
“Don’t scream,” Valentine whispered into her ear. “It’s me.”
She relaxed instantly and was helped down to the ground, although she didn’t need the aid. She couldn’t see her neighbor clearly with the moon now behind a cloud. When he grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the cover of a tree, she didn’t resist. However, he led her to the rear gate and gestured her out. “Ready to run?”
His whispered words sent a thrill through her, even more so when he took a stance that suggested he would race her too.
She nodded and caught the sides of her gown. “Go.”
She took off, not in the direction of the lane but toward the ocean, and a safe path to travel far on foot. The ground flew beneath her, accompanied by the pounding of Valentine’s feet at her back. She grinned. This was far better than dancing. Intensely exhilarating. Liberating in a way she’d never experienced before.
When she judged she had run far enough, she slowed to a stop and caught her breath.
Valentine caught her arm and swung her about in a circle. In the moonlight, he was grinning. “I thought you’d never stop.”
She glanced back toward home, a faint spec in the distance, and grinned too. “I didn’t realize we’d gone so far.”
Valentine pressed his free hand to his chest, gasping still. “You put most fellows to shame. Myself included.”
She grinned. “You kept up well enough.”
“I had the incentive of chasing you.” He tugged her toward him. “Try not to hurt me this time.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to kiss you.” He dipped his head and his lips brushed hers softly. “I’d follow you anywhere you wanted to go, too.” His arms closed around her body as he deepened the kiss.
She couldn’t move for the shock of Valentine wanting to kiss her again. Hadn’t she proved just how much of a hoyden she was?
And yet, he was still kissing her. Making little noises and tugging her near. She resisted and he groaned. Another thrill. Unexpected longing filled her and to her surprise, she discovered kissing him was too good to halt.
Julia clung to his arms. The novelty of their race, the thrill of the chase, had excited her and after a moment of indecision, she wound her arms around his neck and returned his feverish kisses. Her feet left the ground and he moved them from the path, into a spot protected from the ocean breeze, where he held her close against him.
He drew back. “Gods, you are exciting, minx.”
He wasn’t so bad either. The way he slowly nibbled at her neck sent gooseflesh all over her skin. “How did you know I wanted to run?”
He cupped her face, his thumbs brushing over her hot cheeks. “You didn’t dance more than twice tonight. You seemed uncomfortable and I just knew you’d find a way to exert yourself. I didn’t want you in danger.”
He slipped his hands low around her hips and drew back. “You’re wearing breeches?”
Julia nodded, waiting for criticism.
Instead of suggesting she should not, or that she was foolish, Valentine stroked down her legs and back up to her waist. He groaned. “That I will have to see for myself one day.”
Julia pushed against his chest, and glanced toward their homes anxiously. She wouldn’t show Valentine anything she didn’t want to. She wasn’t that sort of woman. She wore breeches to preserve her modesty and because they were an incredibly practical garment. She had no wish to be ruined just because she dared to dress differently to other women. “Walk or run?”
“Walk.” He caught her hand with a smile, once more a friend and not a seducer. “That will give us a chance to talk.”
“What is there to talk about?”
“Marriage.”
Julia wrenched her hand free and stumbled forward a few steps before finding her voice. “Why would you want to marry me?”
“Because of tonight, and this afternoon at the Watsons, and our race.”