face had turned red, and his pale eyes bulged in his thin face. He whirled on Lucinda. “Madame Devering,” he implored in a voice taut with frustration, “you know we do not have much time. I am expected at the Grendales’ residence promptly at five o’clock, and I cannot return to further instruct Miss Stanton-Lynch until the day before you leave for London. We have but a half an hour left of our lesson. Will you please reason with the girl ?”
Lucinda raised cool brows at Monsieur’s irate tone, but she turned to Meg anyway. “Meg, perhaps—”
“No, Lucinda,” Meg interrupted. She turned her attention to the dance master. “ The girl is sitting right here and speaks English, Monsieur Collineau. The girl is tired and has sore feet! Thegirl cannot dance again for at least fifteen minutes!”
“ Mon Dieu! ” Monsieur cried, spinning away in dramatic horror. “Fifteen minutes! We are undone!”
Even Lucinda looked worried. “Meg, you know you need to master the waltz. And Monsieur Collineau cannot return until next week.”
“I don’t care.” Meg folded her arms, blue eyes welling with tears. “Can’t I just watch for a few minutes?”
Lucinda sighed. “Meg, the waltz takes two people.”
“Perhaps I can assist.” As all heads swung toward him, Garrett looked at the dance master. “Monsieur, I can help by demonstrating the dance with Mrs. Devering while my sister observes.”
“ Merveilleux! ” Monsieur cried. “We are saved!”
“I don’t think—” Lucinda’s words faded away as Garrett came to stand before her. “Can you even dance the waltz?” she demanded.
“I’m certain I can follow Monsieur’s instructions.” Grinning, Garrett held out his arms, hungry to touch her even in this innocent way. “Mrs. Devering, I await your pleasure.”
Chapter 4
L ucinda stared at the arrogant devil tempting her to step into his arms. His blue eyes gleamed with warm appreciation, and dimples creased his cheeks.
“Go on, Lucinda,” Meg said from behind her. “If I see how it is supposed to be done, it will help me learn.”
“Come, Mrs. Devering,” Garrett urged. “We are well chaperoned. You have nothing to fear.”
“I hardly fear you , my lord.” Chin held high, Lucinda stepped forward into his arms.
He quirked his brows at the use of his title, and sent her a private look bold enough to make her breath catch.
“Excellent form, my lord!” the dance master exclaimed, fluttering around them. “Now, your hand rests here, at her waist—very good—andyou take her other hand in yours…yes, yes, perfect!”
The casual weight of his hand settling at her waist made her flesh tingle. Good heavens, how long had it been since a man had touched her? Years, certainly; Harry had stopped sharing her bed long before he had died. As she breathed in the scents of soap and man, an unexpected thrill went through her.
She met Garrett’s eyes as Monsieur adjusted the American’s fingers where they closed over hers. Garrett’s hands were big and a little rough, yet he cradled her hand with a gentle warmth that echoed the heat of masculine interest in his eyes.
“My lord, you are familiar with the waltz, are you not?” Monsieur asked.
“I’ll muddle along,” Garrett murmured.
“Very well. Lady Agatha, if you please…”
The music began, and with a knowing smile, Garrett swept Lucinda into the dance.
The first turn left her spinning. She had expected to have to step carefully, lest she tread on his inexperienced feet, but instead she found herself in the arms of a man who could waltz with a grace that stole her breath.
His steps were sure, his arms strong, as he swept her around the room. His thighs brushed hers now and again as he whirled her aroundand around, making her flush with unexpected delight.
Her heart seemed to burst open with forgotten feelings, emotions she had carefully locked away. It felt glorious to be held again, magnificent to be able to let go of her
Lucinda raised cool brows at Monsieur’s irate tone, but she turned to Meg anyway. “Meg, perhaps—”
“No, Lucinda,” Meg interrupted. She turned her attention to the dance master. “ The girl is sitting right here and speaks English, Monsieur Collineau. The girl is tired and has sore feet! Thegirl cannot dance again for at least fifteen minutes!”
“ Mon Dieu! ” Monsieur cried, spinning away in dramatic horror. “Fifteen minutes! We are undone!”
Even Lucinda looked worried. “Meg, you know you need to master the waltz. And Monsieur Collineau cannot return until next week.”
“I don’t care.” Meg folded her arms, blue eyes welling with tears. “Can’t I just watch for a few minutes?”
Lucinda sighed. “Meg, the waltz takes two people.”
“Perhaps I can assist.” As all heads swung toward him, Garrett looked at the dance master. “Monsieur, I can help by demonstrating the dance with Mrs. Devering while my sister observes.”
“ Merveilleux! ” Monsieur cried. “We are saved!”
“I don’t think—” Lucinda’s words faded away as Garrett came to stand before her. “Can you even dance the waltz?” she demanded.
“I’m certain I can follow Monsieur’s instructions.” Grinning, Garrett held out his arms, hungry to touch her even in this innocent way. “Mrs. Devering, I await your pleasure.”
Chapter 4
L ucinda stared at the arrogant devil tempting her to step into his arms. His blue eyes gleamed with warm appreciation, and dimples creased his cheeks.
“Go on, Lucinda,” Meg said from behind her. “If I see how it is supposed to be done, it will help me learn.”
“Come, Mrs. Devering,” Garrett urged. “We are well chaperoned. You have nothing to fear.”
“I hardly fear you , my lord.” Chin held high, Lucinda stepped forward into his arms.
He quirked his brows at the use of his title, and sent her a private look bold enough to make her breath catch.
“Excellent form, my lord!” the dance master exclaimed, fluttering around them. “Now, your hand rests here, at her waist—very good—andyou take her other hand in yours…yes, yes, perfect!”
The casual weight of his hand settling at her waist made her flesh tingle. Good heavens, how long had it been since a man had touched her? Years, certainly; Harry had stopped sharing her bed long before he had died. As she breathed in the scents of soap and man, an unexpected thrill went through her.
She met Garrett’s eyes as Monsieur adjusted the American’s fingers where they closed over hers. Garrett’s hands were big and a little rough, yet he cradled her hand with a gentle warmth that echoed the heat of masculine interest in his eyes.
“My lord, you are familiar with the waltz, are you not?” Monsieur asked.
“I’ll muddle along,” Garrett murmured.
“Very well. Lady Agatha, if you please…”
The music began, and with a knowing smile, Garrett swept Lucinda into the dance.
The first turn left her spinning. She had expected to have to step carefully, lest she tread on his inexperienced feet, but instead she found herself in the arms of a man who could waltz with a grace that stole her breath.
His steps were sure, his arms strong, as he swept her around the room. His thighs brushed hers now and again as he whirled her aroundand around, making her flush with unexpected delight.
Her heart seemed to burst open with forgotten feelings, emotions she had carefully locked away. It felt glorious to be held again, magnificent to be able to let go of her
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