"No."
"But you keep—"
"No." She wasn't going to tell him she felt phantom lips caressing her brow.
He shrugged and smiled. "They left us alone again."
"I was just leaving." She rose and started toward the door, then, sensing him on her heels, whirled to face him. "Would you please stop following me around?"
"I haven't been—"
"Yes, you have. All afternoon, you've shadowed my every step."
"Have I?" He looked puzzled, as though he truly hadn't noticed.
"Yes. And you keep touching my things." Not to mention touching me, she added mentally, plucking the feather from his fingers.
Rain pattered while he stared at his empty hand as though he hadn't noticed he'd been holding the quill, either. Taking it with her, Alexandra left him there and hurried off to the solitude of her room.
Men could be so oblivious.
EIGHTEEN
CHOCOLATED SPONGE CAKES
Take a measure of sugar and a like amount of butter and mix together well. To this add two beaten eggs and then flour in the same amount as the butter and sugar. Put together with a little milk to make soft and pour into your pan. Put in your oven for half an hour until well risen, then cut into little squares, cover with chocolate icing, and decorate with white icing strands to make them look like little presents on a plate.
Mere acquaintances have been known to call on me hoping to find these offered.
They look like tiny gifts and are reputed to be irresistible!
—Katherine, Countess of Greystone, 1769
BONIFACE'S PRETTY face was even prettier with red cheeks.
"Take her hand, Boniface," Tris said patiently, demonstrating with Corinna. "You can do it."
Even with their hands gloved, the butler held Alexandra's fingers so hesitantly she had to cling to his to hold on.
"Put your other hand around her back."
Though Boniface complied, Alexandra could barely feel his fingers grazing her spine.
"Music, please."
All three sisters began humming.
"The basic figure is a full turn in two measures using three steps per measure. Like this." Tris swept Corinna into the dance, the two of them turning so fast she was forced to rise to her toes. She stopped humming. Her laughter echoed through the cavernous great hall.
Alexandra hummed through gritted teeth.
Griffin and Juliana took a few tentative steps, then seemed to grasp the idea. "Oh, this is fun!" Juliana cried, leaving Alexandra humming alone.
She changed to la-la-la's. Boniface still stood there, limply attached to her, his blue eyes wide with apprehension. Unlike most families, the Chases didn't ban their servants from marrying, and Alexandra had sometimes wondered why he chose to remain a bachelor. Now she knew.
By all appearances, he was terrified of women.
"Shall we dance?" she prompted, abandoning the music. It was still raining—it had rained all night—and the drops sounded louder in the sudden silence. "Hum!" she commanded her sisters, turning back to Boniface when they took over. "Well?" she asked.
He nodded mutely, remaining riveted in place.
Tris frowned as he twirled past. "Go on, man. Give it a try."
"It's delightful!" Corinna called encouragingly.
Seeing her sister in Tris's arms, a stab of jealousy caught Alexandra by surprise.
At last, Boniface took a few jerky steps, and she lurched with him, trying her best to stay attached. She hardly noticed the three times he trod on her feet, busy as she was watching Tris guide her sister in whirling circles around the planked wood floor. He danced with admirable grace, looking handsome and debonair and absolutely delicious.
She could pretend that she didn't want him following her or touching her or talking to her. But that didn't make it true.
She wanted him as much as ever.
"Enough," he finally said, saving Alexandra's toes. They all stopped humming. "Change partners. No, wait—allow me to fetch another sweet first." He walked over to where Alexandra had set up a few refreshments on a side table, taking his sixth bite-sized chocolate-covered cake. "These are truly excellent."
"So you've assured me," she said with a little smile.
He snatched another one and ate it quickly before returning. "Now we switch partners." To Alexandra's disappointment, he went to Juliana. "Griffin, you take Alexandra. Boniface, I think you'll find Corinna an accomplished waltzer already."
Corinna beamed. Boniface's face turned even redder, if that were possible. Alexandra and her sisters resumed providing the music, and everyone began dancing.
Griffin held her a bit awkwardly, but at least his hands were firmer than the butler's. Tris shouted occasional words of encouragement and correction. He and Juliana glided by, making the dance look effortless—and sparking envy that seemed to spread from Alexandra's heart clear out to her fingers and toes.
She wondered if she'd actually turned green.
"Stop watching him," Griffin muttered.
She focused up at the hammerbeam ceiling. "La-la-la."
His fingers gripped hers tighter. "You think I don't notice the way you look at him?"
"La-la-la."
"Three days from now, this room will be full of eligible men, all vying for your hand."
"La-la-la."
"I hope you'll fall in love with one of them."
The great hall looked plain and empty today, but on Friday evening it would be crammed full of people, blazing with torchlight, and twinkling with the jewels adorning their guests. Guests who had been invited expressly to provide her with the chance to meet someone special.
And her brother wanted her to find love. He wasn't bent on marrying her off to the first man who offered.
She stopped singing. "I hope so, too."
"I'm glad to hear it." Griffin smiled…until her gaze wandered again to Tris. "Pay attention to your dancing, will you?"
"I think I'm improving." She looked back to her brother. "You're a great deal better than Boniface."
"That's not saying much," he muttered as the butler stumbled by with Corinna.
"Switch!" Tris called, heading toward the cakes. While everyone else shuffled partners, he ate two more.
Then finally, just when Alexandra felt like she'd been waiting forever, he slipped an arm around her waist and took her hand. As he locked her body into the proper position opposite his, he locked his eyes on hers, too.
Pure lust rippled through her. And
