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"You are not being helpful," Aline said severely, struggling to hold back a sudden sive me permission to do what you’ve already decided to do? Would that help to pacify your guilty conscience?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact But no one can do that for ive you permission to do as you please Now do you feel better?"
"No, just frightened And asyour ut a reat deal of pain"
"You’ve already had the pain," he pointed out "Now youthe htly, "you are such a terrible influence, Ada down at her
Gideon wandered to the terraced gardens behind the estate stone path that curved around a row of artfully shaped yews He had hoped that the outside air would distract hi, and he had to slow the pace of his drinking a bit Later, when the guests disbanded for the night, he could allow his thirst free rein, and he would pickle himself properly Unfortunately, he still had to endure a few hours of relative sobriety until then
A few strategically lit garden torches provided enough light to acco, Gideon ca fountain e about in the clearing She see the distant music that floated frolided in a drea occasionally to sip froliirl but a young woman with pretty, if unre that her goas old, and her hair was braided loosely down her back Perhaps she was a houselass of wine
The wouided Cinderella whose ball gown had vanished before she had even reached the party Shehis desire for another drink, Gideon drew closer, while the gurgle of the fountain obscured the sound of his footsteps
In the midst of a sloirl, the woman saw hiant slouch, dipping his head and regarding her with a teasing gaze
Recovering quickly, the woman stared back at him A rueful slow of torchlight Despite her lack of classic beauty, there was so irresistible about her…a kind of vibrant feminine cheerfulness that he had never encountered before
"Well," she said, "this is quite et what you have just seen"
"I have a ret
"How disagreeable of you," she said, and laughed freely
Gideon was instantly captivated A hundred questions crowded in his mind He wanted to knoho she hy she was there, if she liked sugar in her tea, had she cliirl, and what her first kiss had been like…
The flood of curiosity puzzled hih to ask questions about hi himself to speak, Gideon approached her cautiously She stiffened slightly, as if she was unused to proxier As he drew closer, he saw that her features were even and her nose was a little too long, and her ht color…green, perhaps…shining eyes that contained unexpected depths
"Waltzing is somewhat easier with a partner," he commented "Would you care to try it?"
The woman stared at hie land with a friendly foreigner Music froh the air in a heady current After a longfor an excuse to refuse him "My wine isn’t finished"
Slowly Gideon reached for the nearly elass in her hand She surrendered it without a word, her gaze relass to his lips, Gideon downed the contents in one expert s, then set the fragile vessel on the edge of the fountain
She laughed breathlessly and shook her finger at him in mock reproof
As he stared at her, Gideon’s chest felt very hot, the way it had once when he’d had croup and his nurse hadpot of herbs He re able to breathe after hours of near-suffocation, the greedy s as they drew in the hot, precious air Oddly, this felt rather like that…a sensation of relief, though from what he wasn’t quite certain
He offered her a bare hand, having reloves and placed the his palm up, he silently willed her to take it
Apparently the decision was not an easy one She looked away froes of her teeth catching at the plush curve of her lower lip Just as Gideon thought she was going to refuse hi at his He held her hand as if he cradled a fragile bird in his palh that he could smell the hint of rose water in her hair Her body was sliers Despite the undeniable ro of lust as his body reacted with typical male awareness to the nearness of a desirable fe her expertly across the uneven flagstones
"I’ve seen fairies dancing on the lawn before," he said, "when I got deep enough in a bottle of brandy But I’ve never actually danced with one before" He held her htly as she tried to alter their direction "No, let e of the pave as he compelled her back into his rhyth her nose at hi fairies And no doubt your ould have a thing or two to say about this"
"I have no wife"
"Yes, you do" She gave hi sht in a lie
"Why are you so certain of that?"
"Because you’re one of the Americans, and they’re all married, except for Mr McKenna And you are not Mr McKenna"
"There’s one other unroup," Gideon co her with one hand At the coainst him and smiled down at her
"Yes," she replied, "but that would be…"
"Mr Shaw," Gideon said helpfully, as her voice trailed into silence
"Oh…" She looked up at hi her so securely, she would have sturinned at that "Says who?"
She ignored the question "And while I’m certain that at least half the rumors about you couldn’t possibly be true--"
"They are," Gideon said without a trace of shame