“She’s only danced with three men. And one of them twice.” Will sat in the chair nearest the fireplace. “I’m worried about her, Elizabeth.”
“Ellie is not like Lucy. She’s shy and quiet and prefers a smaller group of friends. Lucy will always have friends and men around her.”
Will frowned. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”
Elizabeth laughed and took the seat across from him. “Lucy is a very smart girl. She knows she’s pretty but doesn’t use her looks to gain attention. She lets her personality do that.”
“And Ellie?”
“I think Ellie will be all right. As the Season continues, she will find some friends with whom she has a lot in common. They will help her through the next…”
She trailed, realizing that Ellie might not be here next year.
“Next what?”
“They will help her through for as long as Ellie is here.” Elizabeth looked away from him to the empty fireplace. She didn’t want to think about how lonely it would be here without him and his siblings.
“We should get back,” she whispered.
Will nodded and stood at the same time Elizabeth did. With only a step between them, Elizabeth couldn’t move. One step and she would be back in his arms where she yearned to be. One step and she could kiss him. One step and she might make the same mis—
Suddenly, he moved and brought her into his arms, kissing all thoughts of mistakes out of her head. She wrapped her arms around his neck, desperate to get closer to him. His tongue lashed across her lips, forcing her to open for him.
The velvety roughness of his tongue scraped across hers, sending warmth to her belly. She moved her hips against his, eager to feel his rising manhood. As she moved her hands to his cravat, he clasped her wrists to stop her.
Pulling back, she felt heat scorch her cheeks. How could she have thought he wanted her like this again? She was a foolish woman.
He brought his forehead against her. “You have no idea how much I want to continue this right now. But we cannot.”
Oh, God, he was being the logical one. That was supposed to be her responsibility…and one she had been quite remiss at lately.
“Of course not,” she whispered.
“Elizabeth, if we didn’t have a house full of people”—he paused and looked down at her—“you would be flat out on that sofa right now.”
Her mouth gaped. She swallowed down the lump in her throat.
“We must get back to the ball.”
Elizabeth blinked and understood. People might realize they were missing. “Yes. You go first. I’ll wait here for a few more minutes. Go to the gaming room. Then people in the ballroom will see you leaving there and assume you were in there all along.”
Will gave her a half smile. “You are quite decent at coming up with believable excuses for misbehavior.”
“Just go,” she said, pointing to the door.
After Will left, Elizabeth sat back down in the leather chair. The sound of a throat clearing forced her to look back at the door. Caroline stood in the threshold with a haughty smile on her face.
“You really should be more careful with your reputation, Elizabeth. It is the only thing you have to offer a husband,” Caroline remarked and then turned to leave.
“Caroline, wait!”
Caroline stopped and turned back. “Yes?”
Elizabeth rushed to the door, pulled Caroline fully into the room, and closed the door. “Nothing happened, Caroline. You must believe me.”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “Indeed, Elizabeth. You were alone with a man in a locked study for several minutes. Anything might have happened.”
“Please. Do not tell a soul.” Now she was pleading with the devil.