Staring at his lips, she nodded. “I believe you.”
He groaned as his mouth came down on hers, hot and seeking. His thumb pressed against her chin, and she opened her mouth to allow him in. His tongue stroked, swirled and lit a fire within her that she feared could not be controlled. She pressed harder against him, wanting more of this new consuming feeling.
“Grey!” Lady Elizabeth’s voice cut like a clap of thunder through the silence.
He pulled away, but held Madelaine firmly by the arm.
Her knees wobbled but that she could get under control. It was her labored breathing she was unsure she could slow down. His dark gaze bore into her as he scrubbed a hand over his face. “I shouldn’t have done that, but I couldn’t resist. Forgive me?”
“How could I not? I askedyouto kissme. Remember?”
He grinned. “I quite forgot. I’m not used to being the one seduced. You muddled my wits.”
She’d muddledhiswits? She’d just been kissed for the first time in her life. And what a perfect kiss. She wasn’t sure she’d think properly for days. With an embarrassed laugh, she faced Elizabeth who strode toward them with a dark scowl on her face. Madelaine ought to care that Elizabeth was angry about something, but all she could do was smile. She’d never felt so wonderful in all her life.
Ten
Grey had never liked masquerade balls or any ball really. He could never seem to allow the wallflowers to remain ignored. Their sad faces pained him, and he always ended up dancing with one, which invariably led to his having to gently divert their attention to someone else who was actually interested in marriage, and besides that, taking pity on the wallflowers hadn’t been good for his rake reputation.
Tonight was different. He was looking forward to the ball and the chance to speak with Madelaine. And to dance with her. Touch her. Twirl her around the floor. He didn’t care if there were hoards of wallflowers, someone else would have to rescue them tonight. Now, if only the damned dinner would end, so the ball could start. He intended to begin a proper courtship of Madelaine, as he’d earlier assured his sister, but this boring dinner was dragging on.
Sandwiched between the queen and Lady Grace, Grey stared across the space at Madelaine and Thorton, while imagining the meat on his platter was Thorton’s head. Grey sliced into the beef with his knife and started to chew. Thorton delved his hand under the table, and Madelaine’s back went rigid. Grey almost choked.
“Are you all right, Lord Grey?” Lady Grace asked.
He nodded while gulping in a greedy breath of air. He was going to smash Thorton’s face, if the man touched Madelaine again. Grey’s blood boiled the farther to the bench’s edge Madelaine was forced to scoot in order to avoid Thorton’s groping hands. Hell, she was in danger of tumbling to the floor any second.
Grey had to rescue her. “Your Majesty, might I be excused to go and talk to my sister. We’ve not had a chance to speak today.” That was true enough. After Madelaine had left to deliver the ring to the queen, Liz had shouted at him for a good half-hour for kissing Madelaine.
“You may be excused after you tell me of your mother. What has she been doing this past year and why have we not seen her at Court?”
“I couldn’t say.” It embarrassed him that he’d been too busy cavorting throughout London and Essex with various women to bother seeing his mother much. And when he had seen her, he’d been more interested in whether his actions had ruffled his father than to ask after his mother’s wellbeing.
The queen looked at him with knowing eyes. “A wife will settle you down, Lord Grey, and I imagine that will please your mother immensely. Then she will actually see you, instead of reading about you in the gossip sheets.”
“You’re wise as always, Your Majesty.” He took a gulp of wine to avoid further conversation and to wash down the shame threatening to choke him. He had much to atone for, and as soon as he was finished with training he would go see his parents and apologize to both of them. “If it’s acceptable, I would like to make a fresh start at being a more attentive son and brother by going to speak with Elizabeth now.”
Queen Charlotte nodded. “Of course you may.”
He started to rise, but the queen restrained him with a hand. “After you dance the first set with Lady Grace.”
“As you wish,” he said through clenched teeth and a false smile.
A half hour later he was twirling Lady Grace around the dance floor at the dictate of the queen while watching Madelaine dance with Thorton. Lady Grace prattled something in Grey’s ear. He could hear the annoying buzz of her words, but he dismissed them for the nonsense they undoubtedly were. Until she said Madelaine’s name. He snapped his eyes away from Madelaine and Thorton, who was behaving for the most part, and looked at Lady Grace. “What did you say?”
She lifted one eyebrow. “I said it looks like you have competition.”
“For what?”
“In seducing Madge.”
His hand clenched involuntarily over Lady Grace’s fingers.
“You’re hurting me.” Her words held bite.
He loosened his grip and spoke. “I’m not trying to seduce her. And her name is Madelaine.”
Lady Grace smirked as they twirled until the song ended. “That’s a very clever ploy you’ve adopted. I hope it works for you. I look forward to dancing again tomorrow night and hearing about your progress.”
