A Pretend Match for the Viscount by Laura Martin

Author:Laura Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-06-07T12:02:12+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Eliza was still breathless as she stopped a few paces in front of Sam, regarding his pained expression and wondering if it really was that terrible to kiss her. Once she had been whisked away by Jane and Lucy she had been barely able to think, let alone speak. Thankfully her friends were more concerned no one else saw anything was amiss than pressing her for details. It had taken a few minutes to tidy her appearance and then she had returned to the ballroom, ready for her dance with Sam.

It had hurt more than it should when he had abandoned her.

‘You weren’t there,’ Eliza said quietly.

‘I’m sorry. I went to get a drink and I was cornered by my mother.’ Eliza started to interrupt him, but Sam quickly pushed on. ‘She had been drinking far too much for far too long—I had to arrange for her to get home in a carriage.’

Eliza felt some of the anger fizzle and then burn out, knowing Sam wouldn’t have chosen to spend time with his mother under any circumstance.

‘I’m sorry I missed our dance.’

‘Mr Hautby was happy to step in.’

‘I could see. Will you dance the fourth with me?’

She knew it would be petty to say no and, more than anything, she wanted to feel Sam’s hands on her again, even if it was in the chaste context of a dance.

‘Yes, of course.’

‘And then perhaps we can find somewhere a little quieter to talk.’

‘Quieter, but not secluded. It was only because of Lucy and Jane we weren’t caught.’

‘I must thank your friends,’ Sam murmured.

Eliza looked up at him, trying to read his expression. It was no time at all ago that he had been apologising for kissing her when they were sat at the piano and now they had done it again. She wondered what he wanted to say to her and realised part of her didn’t want to know. She didn’t want him to tell her they needed to spend time apart, to overcome this desire that surged between them. Equally, she didn’t want him to think he had to propose for real because they had almost got caught kissing for a second time.

‘What do you want?’ she murmured under her breath. The question was directed at herself, but Sam gave her an appraising look as if he were thinking the same thing.

There was only time to find a quick glass of lemonade before the music signalling the next dance started, and Eliza took her place on the dance floor. Of course it had to be a waltz, the first of the evening. All the other dances had been livelier with less contact and less time being held close, able to do nothing but stare into your partner’s eyes.

Sam held out his hand and Eliza placed her fingers in his palm. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she looked up.

As the music swelled they began, stepping and twirling with the other couples, but for Eliza it was as if they all faded into the background.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.