“I believe you did so already.” Lord William winked.
Emma giggled and shook her head. “You are very different now than the man I have come to know. Why is that?”
“Perhaps I merely decided that it was not worth attempting to change your perception of the world, my lady. You are entitled to your opinion, and it would be utterly ungentlemanly of me to not respect that.”
Emma narrowed her eyes. “Pardon me for being frank, but you did not seem too happy to see me as I descended the stairwell at Woodlock Manor.”
“I was simply taken by surprise. I was not informed that you would be joining us, which was a rather foolish thing of me to assume, as you are a guest of the duchess,” William admitted with a cringe.
“Is that a regular occurrence, my lord,” Emma grinned. “Not to think?”
William chuckled in amusement and nodded. “Perhaps it is simply men’s brains that are inferior to women’s in this particular situation.”
“How gallant of you to admit this so openly,” Emma chuckled, and a laugh escaped her throat. She had not imagined she would ever laugh in such a manner at something William said to her.
Ever since their first meeting, William had not seemed the kind of man who Emma wished to spend her time with, but this evening he had shown a different side of himself.
He was charming, considerate, and caused Emma’s heart to pound in her chest, setting ablaze the fire in her loins he’d ignited in the study, and every moment after, in fact.
William’s gaze rested on hers and her lips parted unintentionally.
“My lady,” William said quietly and cocked his head at her.
“My lord,” she uttered in return.
“I believe staring is considered rude,” he continued.
“I was under the impression staring was not frowned upon this evening,” Emma pointed out.
“I was referring to the guests staring at us, and not you staring at me,” William said with a grin.
Emma shrugged her shoulders and grinned as well. “I will not apologize for something that I am not sorry for.”
“Is that so?” He smirked.
“Indeed.” Emma chuckled.
“Admittedly, I should say the same, as I could not tear my gaze away from you during your descent of the staircase at Woodlock Manor. I had not seen a more beautiful woman in my entire life,” her dance partner admitted suddenly.
A blush swept up Emma’s face, causing her to lower her gaze. “Your words flatter me, my lord.”
William reached for her face and tilted her chin upwards, their faces very close to one another, but neither seemed to mind.
“I only speak the truth, my lady,” he whispered. “And I would never speak any untruths towards you. Ever.”
Emma’s heart fluttered as William’s touch against her skin caused fire to explode inside her.
“Where was this charming man when we first met, my lord?” Emma inquired, her eyes sparkling.
“Perhaps he was a fool who did not realize what a wonderful and delightful woman you are, my lady,” William answered. “You deserve to be treated with the utmost respect, and not the manner in which I have done.”
“I appreciate you saying this,” Emma said and glanced around subtly.
She wished to continue this intimate and sensual play of words, and as the music came to an end, Emma stepped away from William but continued to hold onto his hand.
“Perhaps you can find a secluded place for us to continue our conversation, my lord,” Emma said slowly, with all the sensuality she was feeling.
For a brief moment, Emma’s message was obviously lost on William, but he soon realized the meaning of her words and nodded.
Emma loosened her grasp on his hand and curtseyed, thanking him for the dance. “I shall meet you in the hallway?”
“Indeed, my lady,” William smiled politely and left her side.
Emma waited for a few moments before she made her way to the entrance of the ballroom, which led to the long hallway of Retford Manor. She looked around so as to make sure that no one noticed her slip out into the dark hallway.
Then she made her way to where William was standing, half hidden in the shadows.
The moonlight that shone through the large window behind him bathed him in a silver glow that accentuated his features and took Emma’s breath away.
He reached out his hand to her, a charming smile forming on his lips. Emma approached without a moment’s hesitation.
Their fingers intertwined and he whisked her away, down the moonlit hallway to a secluded room at the end of passageway.
Her heart pounded in her chest as William placed his hands on her, her senses heightened by the absence of light.
With only the moon to guide them, and the soft melodic sounds of the orchestra playing in the ballroom, they began to undress one another.
Chapter Ten
William glanced at Emma, who straightened her gown and checked her reflection in the large mirror on the wall. The moonlight that seeped through the window allowed adequate lighting to provide Emma the ability to ensure her hair, face, and the dress were perfectly in place after their passionate moments of intimacy.
It had been utterly unplanned, but William was perfectly content that it had been the right choice. Most of his spontaneous activities were the ones he treasured most.
As he straightened his own attire, confirming there was not a thread out of place, he gazed at Emma, who was obsessing over whether anyone would notice she had been up to something that she should not have been. According to others, of course.
“Emma, you look perfect,” William said and she whirled around, glancing at him with a furrowed brow.
“I beg your pardon?”
Knowing he had most probably overstepped his boundaries, he cleared his throat. “You appear as perfect now as when you entered.”
A smile formed on Emma’s lips as she slowly approached him and took his hands. “I do not wish to dredge things up unnecessarily, but what we did, once again—what does it mean?”
Dredge things up? Last time she had refused
