The promise in a kiss

chest, over his shoulders, and lock them about his neck—stretching herself against him.

He stood, passive, watching her from under hooded lids.

Praying that the sudden shock of the contact—breast to chest, hips to thighs—didn’t show, valiantly ignoring the fascinating contrast between the silken softness of his coat and the hard body it covered, she drew his head down, stretched up on her toes, and set her lips to his.

She kissed him, and he kissed her back, but only in response, in equal measure. Reassured, pleasantly distracted, she repeated the caress, a little firmer, a little longer. His lips returned the pleasure, then parted slightly. She couldn’t resist the temptation.

He tasted . . . male. Different, enticing. His tongue met hers, retreated, returned. Another dance, another play, the ebb and flow of a physical touch, one rather more intimate than the meeting of hands.

It was novel, exciting. She wanted to know more, learn more. Feel more.

Ten minutes later—ten totally enthralling, fascinating minutes of complete and utter abandon—she surfaced on a gasp. Lips parted, her heart thudding in her ears, she stared into his eyes, gleaming from beneath his heavy lids. Then she stared at his lips. Long, lean, lightly curved—so mobile.

So satisfying.

She swallowed. “The music’s stopped.”

“As you say.”

Sometime while her wits had been distracted, his arms had closed around her, supporting her against him. She was caged by muscles that felt like steel, yet she’d never felt so comfortable, so secure. So uninterested in safety.

She dragged in a breath and kissed him again—just one last time to imprint the sensation on her memories. To let the feel of him, hard as rock beneath his finery, sink to her bones, to revel in the way her softer flesh sank against him.

He drew her deep but didn’t try to hold her. When she pulled away, he let her.

She looked into his eyes. “You may set me down now.”

“If you’re quite sure you’ve finished?”

He didn’t smile as he said it.

“Quite sure,” she replied.

He let her slide down, set her on her feet; his arms fell from her, but reluctantly.

“My compliments,mignonne .” Capturing her hand, he raised it, kissed it. “You play fair.”

“Certainement.”She lifted her head, fighting down her dizziness. “I believe we should return to the ballroom.”

She turned for the door; he stopped her with a hand on her arm. “No—not that way. We’ve been here, alone, too long. It would be best to go by another route so the dowagers don’t see us return.”

She hesitated, then inclined her head. He had given his word; if the last ten minutes had proved anything, it was that she could place her trust in that.

Sebastian led her through a maze of corridors; they reentered the ballroom at the opposite end. He returned her to Madame Thierry’s side, wondered fleetingly at that lady’s clear encouragement, then, well satisfied, retired.

If Helena Rebecce de Stansion could resist the temptation to enjoy all he offered without risk, he’d eat his chapeau. And once she’d enjoyed, if he couldn’t convince her to declare herself his . . .

He couldn’t think of a suitable punishment, but no matter. He wasn’t about to fail.

“I

t is all going well—fabulously well. Uncle Fabien’s plan, under my guidance, is unfolding just as it ought.” Louis stripped off his waistcoat and flung it in Villard’s direction.

Stooping to pick up the garment, Villard murmured, “So she has caught his eye?”

“He has her in his sights, no doubt of that. He is hunting in earnest now. Until tonight”—Louis waggled his hand—“it could have been mere idle interest. But he is not idle now. And she, the prey, she is running. The chase is on!”

“Perhaps—if I might suggest—a note to your uncle to apprise him of your good news?”

Louis nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, you are right. Uncle Fabien likes positive results. No sense in missing a chance to claim his notice.” He waved at Villard. “Remind me to write first thing in the morning.”

“If I might be so bold, m’sieur, the fast packet leaves early in the day. If you were to write this evening and a rider left tonight, monsieur le comte would have your good news days earlier.”

Louis plopped down on the bed and stared at Villard.

Villard calmly added, “And monsieur le comte does like to have the most up-to-date news.”

Louis continued to stare, then he grimaced and waved at Villard. “Bring me my writing case. I will write my communiqué now, and you may see it off immediately.”

Villard bowed. “At once, m’sieur.”

Chapter Four

T

HEnext morning Helena paced her bedchamber; eyes narrowed, she considered the night before.

Considered the unexpected tack Sebastian had taken.

Remembered her dreams.

Wondered again what it would have felt like to spread her hands over his chest, beneath the silk and satin of his coat, to feel the width and weight of his muscles . . .

“Non, non, non, et non!”

Furious, she whirled, kicking her skirts before her. “Thatis why he did it!”

To make her dream, yearn, desire . . . want. To make her come to him, surrender like some witless lovelorn maid.

A sneaky, underhanded conquest.

Safe and alone in her bedchamber, she could admit it might have worked.

“But not now.” Not now that she’d realized his true goal. She was twenty-three—no starry-eyed innocent when it came to the games men played. A seduction could be achieved by more than one route; monsieur le duc assuredly knew every road.

“Everytwist in every road. Hah!”

He would not catch her.

There was only just over a week to go before the ton left London; she could assuredly hold him at bay until then.

“M

ignonne,it is customary to pay some attention to the gentleman who partners you in the dance.”

Helena shifted her gaze to Sebastian and widened her eyes. “I was merely taking note of the ladies’ jewels.”

“Why?”

“Why?” She stepped around him, circled, then returned to face him, her gaze straying once more to the ladies nearby. “Because the quality here is quite remarkable.”

“Given your heritage, you must possess a king’s ransom in jewelry.”

“Oui,but I left most of it in the vault at Cameralle.” She gestured at the simple sapphire necklace she was wearing. “I did not bring the heavier pieces—I did not realize the need.”

“Your beauty,mignonne, outshines any jewels.”

She smiled, but not at him. “You have a very quick tongue, Your Grace.”

H

elena was at the breakfast table the next morning when a package was delivered.

“It’s for you.” Louis dropped it beside her plate as he joined her.