His Lady Mistress

238 His Lady Mistresshimself. And did she look paler than at the outset of theevening?‘Your rights, my lord?’ The storm clouds had gathered inher dark eyes. ‘I was under the impression that you had renouncedyour rights. Or would repudiated be the correctword?’He possessed himself of her hand and bowed over it, turningit slightly to press a kiss on the bare skin of her innerwrist. Her slight shiver racked him. ‘I’m sorry, Verity,’ hesaid quietly. ‘That was not how I meant it. Come. Dance withme. Believe me, waltzing with Calverston will be infinitelyworse than Roger de Coverley with Selkirk. At least you cantrust me to keep my hands where they ought to be during adance.’Her eyes closed briefly. ‘Yes. Very well.’He led her into the dance, savagely aware of the soft, sinuouswaist under his hand, the gently rounded hip just below.The temptation to let his hand slip, caress her, draw hercloser...if he did that, he was lost.Conversation. One was meant to converse with one’s dancepartner. Light, social chit-chat that could help a man ignorethe scent of roses and lilies twining through him and the needpounding in his blood. He wanted to speak to her of love, ofhow much he wanted to take her in his arms... He groanedinwardly. He’d done that. She was in his arms. And it waskilling him. He wanted to remove her from the ballroomand...he wanted to kiss her. Make love to her. Make herbelieve, understand that she was his. That he had been adamned fool. And he couldn’t say any of that, let alone doany of that, in a crowded ballroom.She stumbled slightly as he whirled her through a turn. Hisarms tightened, drawing her close, supporting her until sheregained her balance. Ruthlessly he ignored her efforts to pullback to a more decorous distance.‘Max—people are watching. Don’t you think...?’‘Too much,’ he growled. If people were watching, and he