He held up a hand to stop her. “This is part of catching a husband, Judith, and I can show you if you’ll let me.”
The idea of being closer to Aaron was enticing but also terrifying. She looked at him, her heart pounding in her chest. Still, she found herself nodding. “I’ll try.”
“Alright, Judith,” Aaron began, his tone light but serious. “Let’s start with the basics. When you offer your hand, you need to do it gracefully and with a touch of elegance.”
Judith nodded, her fingers trembling slightly. “Alright, but I’ve never really done this before.”
Aaron smiled reassuringly. “That’s why we’re practicing. Now, extend your hand to me as if you are meeting me at a ball.”
Judith took a deep breath and slowly extended her hand, trying to appear confident. Aaron took her hand gently, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. “Relax, Judith. You’re doing fine.”
She tried to relax, but the sensation of Aaron holding her hand was both exhilarating and unnerving. She couldn’t help but notice how warm his hand felt, how secure. She was so nervous that she’d do something wrong and act like a fuzzler and he’d think she didn’t know how to hold a man’s hand. She didn’t really need this lesson, she knew how to hold a man’s hand. The reason she kept jerking away was him… But she couldn’t tell him that. This time, she forced herself to pretend he was someone else, anyone else, and held on to his hand as she would at a ball.
“Perfect. Now, let’s move on to the next part. When a gentleman takes your hand, he should lift it slightly and kiss it just above the knuckles. Like this.”
He lifted her hand, his movements slow and deliberate, giving her time to anticipate what was coming. Judith’s breath hitched as his lips brushed against her hand, and she averted her eyes, unable to look at him as she knew she should. Still, the kiss sent a surge of unfamiliar feelings through her. Naturally, she knew how a gentleman kissed a lady’s hand.
“I have had my hand kissed before,” she protested.
“I know, but you just looked away when I did it. You should look at the person doing it. I raised my eyes to yours, but you looked away.”
Of course, I looked away! I might have fainted otherwise! Why is he making me feel like this?
Judith nodded, unable to find her voice for a moment. “Yes, I did.”
Aaron smiled, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. “Let’s try again. This time, relax a little bit more. You’re holding your breath. And keep your eyes on me.”
Judith let out a nervous laugh. “I am not holding my breath!”
“You are,” Aaron teased. “Come on, Judith, breathe in and out.”
She took a deep breath, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease just a bit. “Alright, here we go.”
Judith extended her hand again, this time with more confidence. Aaron took it, and the now-familiar warmth spread through her. As he kissed her hand again, she felt a strange flurry of emotions—the awkwardness of having her hand kissed by a man she was beginning to like more than she should, the thrill of the intimacy, and an undeniable enjoyment.
“Much better,” Aaron noted, still holding her hand. “You’re a quick learner.”
Judith smiled, a blush creeping up her cheeks. “It’s not as difficult as I thought.”
“See? I told you,” Aaron replied, his tone gentle. “Now, there’s one more thing. When you’re walking with a gentleman, you should allow a bit of contact, just enough to hint at what might be in the future. It’s all about the promise, the anticipation.”
Judith raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “The anticipation?”
Aaron nodded. “Yes. Like this.” He positioned himself beside her, close enough that their hips almost touched. “When you walk, let your hips sway naturally. It’s not about pressing against him, just a gentle brush.”
Judith felt her cheeks heat up again. “Aaron, this is…”
“I know it sounds a bit scandalous,” Aaron said with a chuckle, “but trust me, it’s all part of the dance. Here, walk with me.”
He took her hand again, and they began to walk back to Worcester House. This time, he walked much closer to her, which caused her entire body to grow stiff and awkward, but as they continued, her confidence grew. She felt the subtle, almost imperceptible brush of their hips and found herself enjoying the closeness.
“There you go,” Aaron said softly. “You’re getting it.”
Judith looked up at him, her eyes meeting his. “This is… so peculiar. Lord Peterborough never walked this close to me when we were courting.”
She hadn’t thought of her ex-fiancé in so long that it felt strange comparing him to Aaron.
Aaron’s smile was warm and genuine. “I’m glad you get to experience how it should be. Remember, it’s all about making a connection, showing a bit of interest without being too forward.”
