“It’s nice in this corner though.” She looked around where they were standing.
“Is it the fine candelabra, the proximity to the champagne, or me that you like so much about this corner?” he said, inching closer toward her with a mischievous smile on his lips.
“The champagne.” Her defiance made him laugh warmly.
“Then I best seek to change your mind.” He offered her his hand. She didn’t hesitate to place her hand in his as he returned his own glass to the table beside them. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“To show you that I can make you smile anywhere that we stand in this ballroom.”
She didn’t doubt he was capable of it. They passed through the middle of the room and headed straight for the dancers. As they went, Julia caught sight of Lord Gillet. He was talking rather animatedly to her father in another corner of the room. Her father merely shook his head repeatedly. It seemed he was not in a hurry to break off his daughter’s betrothal to a duke for the sake of a viscount, despite how eagerly Lord Gillet pleaded with him.
“Do not look at him. Think of something else tonight.” Edward’s words were closer than Julia had expected, practically whispering in her ear. A tremble passed through her spine at that proximity, making her gloved hand curl through his fingers.
As one piece of music ended, some dancers left the floor, creating space. Edward led Julia forward so that they took a place in the middle of the floor. When the musicians struck up once more, Julia felt that tremor begin again.
It is a waltz!
They bowed and curtsied to one another, not once breaking their gaze before Edward offered his hand and drew Julia into his arms. It didn’t seem to matter to her that they had danced this way before. For some reason, each touch he offered tonight practically burned her.
Yet, oh, it is such a pleasant burn.
His hand in hers made her fingers shake, and his other hand on her waist had her leaning toward him.
“Judging from the smile on your face, I have accomplished my task,” Edward said softly, drawing her closer to him and reminding her of their last conversation. “Yet I long to know, what is it you are thinking of that has made you smile at this moment?”
“I should probably not speak of it in public,” she whispered, for his ears only to hear. His brows quirked high, clearly amused by the idea.
“Pray, give me a hint,” he whispered, his voice deep as he spun her round the floor. To avoid colliding with another couple, he brought her closer to him, and her breath hitched.
“What I’m thinking of passed between us over a desk.”
“Ha! Would it be the conversation? Or what happened afterward?” His mischief made her fingers curl even more through his.
“Do I need to answer that?”
“No. I cannot stop thinking of it myself.” He chuckled, his voice deep as they passed through other couples.
For a minute, nothing was said between them. They danced, never once looking away from each other. Each change in the way they touched may have been small, but it took on a whole other magnitude to Julia. In particular, she thought of the way he held her waist. His fingers were gentle, soft, though occasionally they would be bold and slip further across her back, before returning to the curve of her waist.
“Can I confess something to you?” Edward whispered, turning them round once again.
“Of course.”
“I cannot remember enjoying these events so much.” His words were quiet, so much so that she had to lean toward him, the better to hear him.
“Truly?”
“Truly.” He nodded with the word. “Have you ever thought what it will be like once we end our ruse?”
His words reminded her of the inevitable. She tried to swallow around the sudden dryness in her mouth, but it was loud to her own ears, and she feared it would be audible to him too.
Our ruse. It must end sometime.
“I avoid thinking of it as much as possible.” She confessed the truth and lowered her eyes to his chest, suddenly finding it impossible to look him in the eye at all.
“You do?”