He’d never felt such a thing, and he was at a loss as to what to do.
Easily, he took them around the floor, avoiding the other couples.
And soon it felt as if it was only the two of them moving through the warm, late-spring air. There was the sound of the rich, lilting music. Their bodies swayed as one as they arced and traced the intricate steps.
His hand felt as if his glove and her gown disappeared and there was naught between them. For a blissful moment, he imagined them, skin to skin, glance to glance, and breath to breath, unburdened by the past or the demands of the future.
There was only now.
She tilted her head, her eyes shining in the glow of the soft light. “How do you do that?” she asked.
“Do what?”
She nibbled that lush lower lip of hers before marveling, “You make me feel as if I am the only woman in the world in this moment. You make people feel so special,” she said softly.
He blinked, stunned by her words, and there was only one thing to say in response. The truth. “You are special, Jack.”
“Do not patronize me.” She tsked, her chin jerking back, and the open look vanishing from her sharp eyes. “That is not at all what I mean. You makeeveryonefeel special, Stone.”
“Do I?” he queried, shocked.
He did not think that he did. He certainly didn’t try to. Not really. He simply listened to people when they spoke. He looked at them when they looked at him.
Was that it? Simple acts made people feel as if he cared? How bloody sad that others could not do it, too.
He had learned long ago that the best way to avoid confrontation was to listen, to be careful, to pay great attention, and if one did that, one could avoid screaming, conflict, and anger. Yes, the consequences of pain and misunderstanding could be avoided.
If one was but careful enough, and listened hard enough and tried to understand what the other person wanted with enough intensity, then all would be well. And he could soothe people, too, by understanding what it was that they wanted. He could make everyone feel at peace about him and then he, too, could be at peace.
It was a lesson he’d learned at his mother’s knee, watching her pacify his father as he grew increasingly volatile. And then he had learned to soothe her, too, as she cracked under the weight of his father’s descent.
“Jack,” he insisted, trying again with the truth. “You are special. Every single person is special, and I like to make them feel at ease in my presence.” He hesitated, turning her, then paused, catching her in a hold as he gazed down into her eyes. “But you are different, you know?”
“Oh drat,” she drawled. “You’re not about to tell me that I’m different from other young ladies, because that is not a compliment.”
He couldn’t prevent the soft laugh that rumbled out of him. “I was not about to tell you that you were different from other young ladies. To some degree you are already aware of the fact. Being different doesn’t make you better. You’re you. And lady or gentleman, dear Jack, it is the way you see people that makes you different. I saw the way you noticed Olivia looking at your brother. You knew then, did you not? That they are a match?”
She groaned, acknowledging the truth of it. “Oh dear. I am turning into you.”
“The world has enough of someone like me. Be you.”
Her eyes widened.“You’ll teach me, then,tonight. When we are alone. How to be free to be truly myself in company?”
Alone. With her. It was a dangerous thing. But he had agreed to it. And there was no point in delay now.
She studied him, her brows rising.“You look perplexed. Do you regret your offer?”
“Not at all,” he said, knowing he could control his growing attraction to her. It was merely a fancy, after all. That was all it could be.“I am enjoying this. Aren’t you?”
She swallowed. “I am. I cannot deny it.”
“Why would that surprise you, Jack? I find your company to be marvelous.”
She scowled. “Not everyone else thinks so.”
“Most people don’t have a clue what they like or want. They’ve no clue who they are,” he explained, tracing his thumb along her shoulder blade.“But you do.”
She did not shy away from that touch, but rather leaned into him slightly, causing her hip to brush his for a moment.“They think me odd,” she whispered.