“Um…would you like something to eat?” he asked, desperately trying to distract himself from his longing, which was making his body ache uncomfortably.
“Maybe later,” Hestony replied, taking another sip and licking her lip in a way that made Hal wince. “It’s warm in here, isn’t it?”
“We could find the terrace,” Hal suggested.
“I would like that,” Hestony murmured. “It’s not dance time.” She indicated the chamber orchestra, who were engaged in tuning up. All clad in black, they made a small, somber group off to the one side of the hall.
“Well, then.” Hal bowed and bent his arm so that she could rest hers on his. “May I escort you, My Lady?”
Hestony giggled. “Oh, Mr. Ellington,” she said. “You know there’s no need to stand on such ceremony, not with me.”
Hal swallowed hard. “Um, yes. But I can’t help it,” he grinned, knowing he was being like a silly moonstruck boy, but he was unable to help the effect she had on him. “You look beautiful.”
Hestony giggled. “Oh, sir,” she said lightly. “You speak so sweetly.”
“I speak true, My Lady,” he said. The words were out of his mouth before he could recall them. He saw her cheeks flush delicate pink.
“Oh, Mr. Ellington,” she whispered. He heard a wealth of feeling in her voice and suddenly, all the heat in the room seemed to have descended on him.
“Shall we go to the terrace?” he murmured.
“Yes, let’s.”
With her hand slipped into the bend of his elbow, they went out of the big glass doors to the terrace.
Outside, the atmosphere was completely changed…where there had been a loud murmur of voices, there was a gentle hush. The heat of the ballroom waned, replaced with a soft breeze that blew cool across the town. Hal breathed in, feeling as if his heart would burst.
His eyes were glued to Hestony, where she leaned on the railing of the terrace. Her pale skin glowed in the muted light from the hall, her soft curls were ruffled by the breeze. Her creamy dress was yellower than the white stone of the rail.
“It’s so beautiful,” she murmured.
“Yes, it is.”
Hal came and leaned beside her on the rail, looking out over the sparkling city. The sky was black overhead, a dense color, like velvet, that seemed to mute all sound. The stars spangled it like jewels, tossed heedlessly in a flaming arc across it. Below, the city seemed so small, the roofs darker silhouettes against a darkened sky, the windows lit here and there in squares of brightness.
“When I was a girl,” Hestony murmured, “I used to sit and watch the city as the sun set. There was a little room at the top of the house, and a padded seat by the big window. I used to sit there, just hidden by the curtain, and watch the sunset cool to white and the stars rise.”
Hal felt his heart clench, imagining the moment. “You were assuredly a lovely child.”
Hestony smiled at him, a small frown wrinkling her pale eyebrow. “I don’t think anybody would have said it at the time,” she said. She sounded a little sad. Hal wondered when her father had passed, and what it had been like growing up with Lady Hartfield for a mother.
“I can’t imagine anything lovelier than a child who loved to watch sunsets,” he mused. “I know my tutor would have loved me to be so peaceable! My favorite thing was climbing rocks with Lord Westmore! My clothes were always a mess.”
Hestony chuckled. “You must have been a sweet child.”
He raised a brow. “A real terror, you mean.”
“I cannot imagine that,” Hestony murmured.
“Just as I imagine you were all things lovely, just as you are now.”
Hestony looked into his eyes and he saw a strange look there – almost fear, replaced almost instantly by a melting warmth.
“Oh, Hal,” she murmured.
He was leaning very close to her on the rail, and it was all too easy to lean forward, and rest a hand on hers, his lips descending onto her cheek.
She sighed and closed her eyes and her hand rested on his arm. He rested a hand on her shoulder and kissed her lips. She sighed again and her lips parted under his.
Hal felt the kiss through every part of his being. Her lips were tender as petals – or, as he imagined petals to be – and her mouth tasted sweet and warm. He clung to her, drawing her against him, and knowing that he had never felt so cared-for, so happy.
His arms held her to his chest and his body pressed to hers and he took a deep breath, knowing that, if he stayed another moment, he would forget himself completely.
“My Lady,” he whispered. He looked into her eyes and he felt such a sense of need rising in him that he clenched his hand, scarce able to contain it all.
“Oh, sir,” she whispered. Her eyes were bright, her lips sweetly parted. Hal made himself step back, knowing that he would fall into temptation again.
“It’s a beautiful night,” he murmured.
“Yes,” she said. Her lip curved sweetly into a smile. “It is indeed.”
He held his breath and turned away, knowing that image of her, smiling sweetly in the soft light on the terrace, would stay with him for the rest of his life.
“Should we go in?” he murmured. “The orchestra’s just starting.”
Indeed, music was drifting out of the hall – discordant at first, as the musicians tested their instruments, and then, slowly, gathering into a brief introduction.
“Do you want to dance?” Hestony asked. Her blue eyes were lit from within.
Hal grinned. “My dearest Lady Hestony! Were you to honor me with a dance, I fancy I would like it more than anything in this life.”
Hestony giggled and gently squeezed his bicep. “Now you’re just flattering,” she said softly. “But yes, I would like very much to dance with you.”
They entered the hall, and Hal immediately felt the heat like a wall into which he walked. He could have wished for a looser knot to his cravat, but he didn’t want to risk untying it. He was surprised to note his valet was right that the style was modish.
“It sounds like a waltz,” Hal frowned, listening as the orchestra played a bar, then stopped.
“I like waltzing,” Hestony said firmly.
Hal chuckled and took her hand as they walked to the dance-floor together. The couples had lined up and they joined them. Hal felt his breath stop as Hestony put her hand on his shoulder and her other hand in his. He closed his eyes a moment and put his hand in her waist.