Rebecca's Refusal by Amanda Grange

tried to kiss me.'
    He smiled, too. Then his eyes mellowed, and the hard line of his mouth softened. 1 hope you would not stamp on my foot if -' he began; before cutting himself off.
    There was a heart-stopping moment and everything was suddenly very still. Rebecca could hear the coals shifting in the hearth. As if some unseen force was compelling her to do so, she turned her eyes up to his. If -?' she whispered. Her voice trembled, but the rest of her was rigid. It was as though she was waiting for something. But what?
    If. . .' said Josh, his voice suddenly husky.
    He was looking incredibly desirable. Standing there before her in the candlelight, with the flames painting gold highlights into his dark blond hair and with copper sparks flashing from his eyes, he was the most devastatingly attractive man Rebecca had ever seen. But it was not just his mane of dark blond hair and his copper eyes that made him so attractive, it was the force of his character; a force which echoed her own. He crossed the space between them and took her hands between his, whilst all the time his eyes never left hers. He stroked his strong fingers over the backs of her hand then turned them over and stroked the palms.
    He dropped one of her hands, and she felt torn, both relieved that he had let it go, and yet devastated that he had done so.
    But he kept hold of her other hand. He kissed the back of it, then stripping off her long white evening glove he kissed it again, turning it over and kissing her palm before trailing kisses up her arm. She gave a long, shuddering sigh, and as if it released something inside him he abandoned convention entirely and pulled her roughly into his embrace.
    His eyes bored down into her own. It was as though he was looking through them into her very soul. His mouth came closer and her lips began to part. She could feel the heat of his breath, clean and sweet, and her eyelids, heavy, started to close. She felt his arms drawing her closer, crushing her against him in a virile embrace; she could almost taste his lips, and then -
    A loud crash from just outside the room penetrated the spellbinding aura that surrounded her. She became gradually aware that there was a world beyond the one encircled by Joshua's arms, and knew that she must rejoin it.
    He knew it, too. He was pulling away from her, dropping his arms, letting her go ... .
    She swayed for a moment, not yet able to stand without his support, then made a great effort and managed to steady herself. As she did so she began to remember where she was, and to realize what had just happened.
    Oh, no! she thought, overcome with mortification. Despite all her resolutions to the contrary she had almost succumbed to Joshua's powerful attraction.
    1 ... I must go,' she said, wondering what had come over her. How could she have become so lost to all sense that she would allow Joshua to pull her into his arms? She picked up her glove and pulled it on with shaking fingers. 'Hetty will be wondering where I am.'
    'Of course.' His voice was husky.
    To Rebecca's relief he stood aside so that she could pass.
    But you will not find Hetty in the ballroom,' he said. 'She has had to retire to the ladies withdrawing-room. Mr Korbett stood on her gown in the boulanger and ripped the hem. She asked me to explain her absence and tell you she will return to the ballroom as soon as her dress has been mended.'
    'So that is what brought you here at such an opportune moment,' said Rebecca.
    That. Or fate.' He looked down at her with an enigmatic expression on his face.
    Her eyelids drooped. The atmosphere was again becoming charged. She must leave. At once. Whilst she still could.
    With a great effort she stirred herself. She gave herself a moment to gather her wits. Then, smoothing her skirt, which had become crushed when Joshua had pulled her into his arms, she went out into the hall.
    As she did so she caught sight of a wisp of white muslin whisking round the corner. She noticed that one of