Page 10 of Rakes & Reticules
Perhaps he was saying all the wrong things. He shouldn’t rush forward as if she was already his, even though in his mind she had always belonged to him. She had a choice, and he had to respect it.
“I missed you too,” she said. “I’m glad you’re here.”
She was perfect, and to him, she always would be. His future lied with her. He twirled her around the floor, and as the strands of the waltz floated over them, everyone else disappeared. For those moments, it seemed as if the world disappeared and left them alone, with nothing standing in their way. “Can I call on you?”
“Always,” she answered immediately. “You should meet my sisters.”
He wanted to. Roman wanted to know everything about her. “I’m sure they’re as lovely as you are.”
Athena grinned, and that dimple in her left cheek drew his eyes. He wanted to kiss her there, and then give all of his attention to her lips. Later, once she agreed to be his wife, he’d kiss far more than that. Roman wanted to taste every inch of her and love her completely. He could wait, but he hoped he wouldn’t have to keep his desires restrained for too long.
“Well,” she began. “My twin does mostly looks like me. I would understand if you think she’s as beautiful as I am.”
He frowned. “How can your twin not look completely like you?” Roman would know Athena anywhere. He hadn’t even noticed another woman that might resemble her and could not imagine two of her.
“Our dimples are the only difference,” she admitted. “If you’re ever uncertain, our smiles will tell the truth every time.”
“Your dimple.” He glanced at her left cheek. “Is adorable. How is hers not like yours?”
“It’s on her right cheek,” Athena explained, then shrugged one shoulder as he led her around the floor. He didn’t know how she had managed that. “It’s like looking into my own reflection. A quirk of nature, I suppose.”
He nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.” Roman wanted to be alone with her. Even if it is only for a few moments. “Can we leave the ballroom?” Roman didn’t know where to take her, as he wasn’t familiar with the townhouse. He’d never been to the Earl of Harwood’s residence. He’d been at war, and then convalescing for over a year. Roman hadn’t had time to socialize.
“I would love that,” Athena said, then glanced around the room. “Lead me over to the other side of the room. As the music ends, we can sneak out by the balcony doors. The garden has a maze in it. I’d love to show you.”
Roman did as she suggested and then not long after that, they were outside on the balcony. There were several guests outside enjoying the cooler air the night sky offered. It had been quite hot inside the ballroom. She led him to a nearby stairway, and they headed down.
“How far is this maze?” he asked.
“Not much farther,” she told him.
They were passing by a rosebush with buds just starting to form. He wished they had already been in bloom. Roman had the urge to pluck one and present it to her. He would give her dozens of roses later. They reached the edge of the maze. “It’s not elaborate,” she explained. “But it is tricky if you’re not familiar with it.”
“Lead the way,” he told her. “They were completely alone now, and they didn’t need to enter the maze, but he wanted to ensure they wouldn’t be interrupted.”
He walked with her through the pathways until they reached the center. There was a fountain in the center. A simple one that trickled water from its spout surrounded by vines and flowers. “My mother had this made.” She glanced at him. “My father said it was her wishing fountain. That if one hoped to hold on to love, they could throw something inside that has meaning to them and their wish would be granted.” She turned toward the fountain. “It’s silly and a lot of the ton would think it is witchcraft if it did work. Then we would truly be shunned.”
Roman lifted his hand and placed his fingers on her chin, then lifted it so she would meet his gaze. “I don’t need to make a wish for love,” he told her. “And if anyone believes ill of you, then I’ll ensure they never make you feel less than the wonderful woman you are.”
“You’re sweet,” she said, and stepped out of his reach. “But you cannot control the ton. They’ll never truly accept us.”
“Does this have to do with your mother?” Thornridge had mentioned something earlier and he had to know the truth. He couldn’t fight a battle without all the information. “Tell me about her.”
Athena sighed. “I never knew her. She died when I was born.” Athena turned away from him. “The rumors are that she was a witch. One of her ancestors had been accused of it in Salem, Massachusetts in the seventeenth century,” she began. “He was acquitted, but the stigma stayed. It followed her from America back to England when she married my father.”
He nodded. “And no one wants that to follow into their families. Then why is everyone here for your debut? What do they expect will happen?”
“They expect we’ll fail,” she said. “And they want to witness every agonizing moment of it. Isla fell in love during her first season, and he ended up spurning her. I don’t know if I would survive a broken heart.”
“That will not happen.” Thornridge had made a mistake. He knew with certainty then that the duke had been the one to destroy the woman he loved. Why had he done it? That didn’t matter in the end, though. Roman would not follow that same path. “You’re my everything. Surely you understand that. I could no more stay away from you than I could quit breathing. You’re my sunshine and without you, the world is a dark place. I need your warmth.”
She inhaled sharply. “Don’t disappoint me. Words can be easily spoken, but in the end they don’t always equate to actions.”
“You’ll see,” he promised. “I didn’t survive a war only to lose in the end.” Roman took a step toward her. She turned toward him and with one more step, she was in his arms, then his lips were on hers. The kiss was more than a promise, it was a declaration. He would marry her. Even if he had to kidnap her and ride as fast as possible to Scotland to prove it to her. They belonged together.
CHAPTERSIX
Sunlight bathed over Athena as she strolled with her sisters in Hyde Park. They had decided to partake in the afternoon promenade with the rest of the ton. Not that Isla had been enthusiastic about their decision to take a walk in the park. Isla wanted nothing more than to hide in their townhouse or, better yet, return to their father’s country house. Athena couldn’t really blame her older sister for her desire to remain outside of society. None of them had been welcoming. They were invited to social events, but they were not truly welcome there. The matrons of society had no real reason to exclude them. They were all waiting for that reason to be forthcoming and make the Thompson girls pariahs.
