He cleared his throat and took a step back.
“I will leave you… to change back,” he said, his voice gruff. “It fits you perfectly.”
Catherine nodded, though there was a flicker of something his mind whispered could be disappointment in her eyes.
“Of course, My Lord,” she whispered. “Thank you again… for your assistance.”
As Catherine disappeared behind the screen once more, Edward moved to the window. He stared out at the grounds beneath him, but this time it was as though he could not truly see it. His mind was filled with images of Catherine in the blue gown, disrobing behind the screen so close to him…
And with these images came the unbridled desire to touch her, even if it could only be once more.
Chapter 13
Too soon, the evening of the Midsummer Ball arrived. Edward stood at the foot of the staircase, waiting for his sister and her governess, and it felt as though his cravat was threatening to constrict his airway.
This constriction only seemed to intensify when Catherine appeared at the top of the staircase next to his sister. Though he vaguely registered that Emily looked far too grown, his attention was drawn to Catherine—who again, looked like a vision in blue: doing justice to his mother’s gown like no one else could.
“Ladies,” he spoke through dry lips. “You… you do look quite lovely.”
A grin appeared on Emily’s face as she rushed down the stairs, still keeping a bit of her typical youthful clumsiness.
“Oh, Edward,” she exclaimed, her eyes shining with delight. “Is this real? Am I truly going to the Midsummer Ball? With you and Miss Winslow? I can hardly believe it!”
Edward flashed his sister a grin.
“Yes,” he said patiently, his tone filled with affection. “But I must remind you, Emily, not to call Miss Winslow by that title this evening. She is our cousin, Lady Catherine.”
“Right,” Emily said, though a faint frown appeared between her brows. “But Edward, may I ask why we are pretending?”
“Well, little one,” he explained, glancing at Catherine who had descended the stairs gracefully and stood a few steps away from them. “Miss Winslow has never attended a ball before and I figured since you have not either, she could be there to help me keep an eye on you—and of course it is more of a reason to keep me out of the social circle.”
He winked at her playfully and Emily shook her head with a laugh. “Oh, Edward. You are incorrigible, dear brother,” she laughed. “But I must admit that I am glad Miss Winslow… I mean… cousin Catherine… is attending too. I do feel rather… nervous.”
“Nervous?” Edward looked at Emily worriedly. “If you would rather not go…”
“Oh, do not be ridiculous,” his sister interrupted him in a way only she could. “I want to go—I am looking forward to it. It is just all rather… intimidating.”
Edward was silent for a long while, then he nodded in understanding. “Yes. Your first ball is quite an event—but we will be there with you, won’t we… cousin Catherine?”
He finally looked up at Catherine directly, as opposed to the subtle glances he had allowed himself. A blush rose to her cheeks, only serving to make her look even more beautiful, and his heart skipped a beat.
“Yes,” Catherine said now, turning her gaze from him and focusing it on Emily. “We will be there with you every step of the way,” she explained kindly. This seemed to calm Emily, who grinned a bit brighter.
“Thank you,” she whispered before looking at Edward with wide eyes. “But Edward… do I look alright?”
Edward nodded slowly though as he spoke, his gaze found Catherine once more. “You look beautiful,” he spoke, his eyes resting on Catherine’s blushing face. “Like a true lady.”
Emily beamed at this, not having noticed his traveling gaze. Edward clapped his hands together in an attempt to rid him of the ridiculous thoughts about Catherine’s beauty that swirled in his head.
“Come,” he insisted, holding out an arm for each woman. “The carriage is waiting.”
Emily spoke incessantly as they walked down the cobblestone pathway to the waiting carriage, though Edward hardly heard his sister’s babbling. Instead, he was transfixed by the warmth of Catherine’s arm that was looped through his, the floral smell that radiated from her, the soft brush of her curves against his body as they walked.
He hesitated when they reached the carriage, and he turned to look at her. For a second, the universe lay wide open in her eyes, and he could see the apprehension, the fear—but also the desire. Then she lowered her lashes, and it was gone.
He held his hand out to her and helped her into the carriage. His fingers curled around hers for a second longer than what was permissible, and then they were seated in the carriage. Somehow, he landed next to her—with Emily seated across from her. He could feel the warmth of Catherine’s soft thigh brushing against his and he swallowed, looking down at his hands.
What he wouldn’t give to feel the creamy expanse of her thighs without the material of her dress as a barrier between them. He wanted to tear away all barriers, feel her body pressed against him, taste her skin and see her trembling in his arms.
