She didn’t confirm again, she just continued to dance with him, her hand in his and staring at the waistcoat on his chest. It was dark blue tonight, and exquisitely embroidered with silver leaves. The blue reminded her of his eyes, and the temptation to look up into them again.
“Will you be sad when we have to part ways?” Edward asked. When Julia didn’t answer, his hand tightened on her waist. It was an exciting touch, one with passion in it, hidden thanks to the number of other couples that were on the dancefloor. “Julia?” he pressed her for an answer.
“I cannot answer that, can I?” she said eventually, lifting her eyes to his.
He slowed their dance a little as he looked at her. Now, they were merely moving side to side, dancing very close, neither one of them blinking.
“You can always tell me the truth,” he insisted, his voice a little firmer.
“Not when I fear the answer does not want to be heard.” She was fearful how much she was giving away now, but what choice did she have? Her heart seemed to have control of her lips when her head had relinquished control.
I blame the champagne!
The music came to its closing notes. As others around them bowed and curtsied, Edward didn’t let her go just yet. He held onto her for a beat longer, his gaze lingering, before he at last released her.
The touch of their hands weas the last thing to part. Julia could have sworn a tingling sensation passed between their fingers and up her arm. She had to retract her hand quickly as she curtsied to him, fearful that he would sense the power he had over her.
As other dancers began to leave the floor, he moved toward her again, offering his arm. She took it, though she avoided his gaze, worried that her blush gave away all of her thoughts.
“There is more we must say to one another,” Edward said quietly in her ear as he led her away from the floor. His lips were so near that her eyes nearly fluttered closed, indulging in the nearness of him.
“Must we?” She didn’t want to hear any more. Her heart had already been foolish enough to care for him, ridiculously so. Could her heart stand hearing his rejection? Could she bear the reminder that he could never love another after the love he’d had before?
“Now. We must talk now.” Edward spoke with a kind of insistence, one that was anxious. “But not here, not with so many people around. We need to find a place we can be alone.”
Julia felt a tremble pass through her body. The last time they had been alone together, wondrous things had happened. The mere thought of how he had pleasured her on that desk had her gripping to his arm, wondering if he could show her more of that excitement.
“Do not hold onto me like that, Julia, or we will not spend our time talking, but doing other things.” His words whispered in her ear made a coil of pleasure spiral in her stomach, before shooting somewhere much lower.
Edward looked back and forth before leading them forward, about to make an escape from the ballroom when someone passed in front of them, blocking off their path.
All the excitement Julia had felt faded as her gaze met the incomer’s.
“Lord Gillet,” Edward said coldly with a small nod.