Page 92 of Rakes & Reticules
He took her hand. “I wish you wouldn’t.”
“Not pack? Well, I won’t be attending to it yet.”
“I’m talking about your staying on longer. I suppose this is as good a time as any for me to ask you not to leave with the others. Would you consider it, Amelia? It is important to me. I would like time to enjoy your company without irritating interruptions.”
“So would I. Gladly, if Aunt Rosie agrees to it.” She tried not to make too much of his invitation. But even she, dense as she often was, understood the significance.
Callum, this divine duke, sincerely liked her. She had never considered he might be her ‘someone’. Until this moment, she was not certain she would ever find a ‘someone’ for herself, certainly never a duke who was handsome, clever, and kind.
He was a vision out of a young woman’s dreams.
“I will ask Rosie after breakfast,” he said, now taking her in his arms. “We will also deal with that love note later. First, we dance. I want you to open the party with me tonight, Amelia. I’ll have the orchestra start with a waltz since that is probably the easiest for you to master in the short time we have.”
She sighed. “Do not be disappointed if we fail. I assure you, I am quite hopeless.”
“Let’s give it a try.”
“Without music?”
“I’ll hum a tune. But it is more about you learning to relax and follow my lead.” He took her hand in his and placed his arm around her waist. “Amelia, I can already feel the tension vibrating up your spine. Just close your eyes and take a deep breath.”
“Easy for you to say. You waltz divinely.”
“And so shall you. Place your hand on my shoulder, and keep your eyes closed.”
“But I won’t be able to see the steps.”
“You don’t need to. What you must do is feel my movements and flow with them.”
She wanted to laugh, for all she could feel at the moment was his solidly muscled form standing in front of her like a big block of magnificently sculpted stone.
Well, it was a good thing he was built sturdy, for she was likely to smack into him more often than she would glide like a swan along with him.
It did not help that she was already reeling from the excitement of being in his arms.
It was quite a heady thing to handle this early in the morning.
“You look lovely, by the way,” he said in a husky murmur that had her reeling again.
“You needn’t flatter me. In truth, it just flusters me more.” However, she was pleased by the comment because she had gone out of her way to look her best. Not overly done up, but appropriately casual. Her maid had helped her select this gown of ecru linen with a gossamer overlayer of forest green that somehow brought out the reddish highlights of her brown hair and the gray of her eyes.
It was one of her favorite gowns and she was glad he had noticed it.
Her maid had braided her hair and then done it up in a fashionably soft twist which he also seemed to admire.
“You had better get used to my compliments, Amelia. I do not intend this one to be my last. And do not open that pretty mouth of yours to protest or I shall kiss you each time you do.”
“Is that supposed to deter me?”
He laughed. “It was all I could think of on the spur of the moment. Plus, I would get pleasure out of it, too. Are you ready? Time for us to begin this tutorial. Close your eyes.”
“And what about yours?” she muttered.
He chuckled. “Mine stay open. I need to see where I am twirling you. Wouldn’t want us slamming into the piano. Dancing is about awareness of your partner.”
“Oh, I am quite aware of you.”
“Good. I dare not tell you just how aware I am of you.” He cleared his throat. “Let’s press on before I forget about dancing and simply spend the hour kissing you. Now, dancing is about picking up cues. Notice the subtle pressure of my hand to the small of your back. It is about understanding my touch. Are you ready to give it a try?”
