Falling for the Marquess - Julianne MacLean Page 0,55
found herself smiling in return as she shook hands with Gillian, realizing that this shy young woman was her future cousin by marriage.
Just then, Seger appeared in the doorway. Clara’s heart tumbled over itself at the mere sight of him looking so handsome in the light from a wall sconce next to him. He wore a formal black jacket and white waistcoat. His face was pure perfection—all fine lines and classical elegance. But beyond his physical beauty, he possessed a free and open disposition that was such a large part of his extraordinary charisma. In this era of restraint and sexual repression, he was quite the opposite. He exuded an offer of pleasure and laughter.
That, perhaps, was what made people uncomfortable around him. He drew attention. He was extreme in his pursuit of gratification, and he made women think lustful thoughts. Perhaps they worried that it showed. Perhaps they felt their cheeks flushing with desires for this, that, and everything, and they feared the whole world would know it.
Seger’s gaze fell upon her, and he smiled. “Clara.”
All her senses came alive at the husky sound of his voice and the fierce intensity in his eyes as he entered and approached her, kissed her hand, then greeted James and Sophia. He was so suave and irresistible that he took her breath away.
Oh, she hoped Mrs. Gunther had been wrong about him. Clara prayed she was not making a serious mistake, agreeing to marry a man who would have the power to break her heart into a million pieces, because she adored him so much and he was not so ardent in his affections.
He had told her he would try to be faithful. Try.
How hard would he try?
A footman entered the room and brought a tray of champagne around. Clara gratefully accepted a glass.
They all stood and talked about wedding plans and about Clara’s family: when they would be able to travel to London, where Clara planned to purchase her wedding gown, and other topics related to the upcoming nuptials.
“Had they set a date yet?” someone asked. “Why not next spring?” Lady Rawdon suggested. “Sooner,” Seger had replied, with a seductive, knowing glance in Clara’s direction.
She felt as if she were watching the conversation from a great distance away.
A short while later, Seger lured Clara to a quiet corner of the room and watched the others, as if to make sure no one was watching.
“You look lovely tonight.” He ran a finger along her forearm and up to the top of her long glove. “But you always look beautiful.”
“Thank you. I’m nervous, Seger.”
“Why? We are engaged now. All is right and proper.”
She glanced uneasily at the others, who were laughing about something. “Yes, but it all happened so fast. Aren’t you worried? You don’t have cold feet?”
He smiled. “If anything, I want to move the wedding date forward. That’s how badly I want you. I’d like to move straight to the honeymoon.”
He touched her briefly behind the ear, kissed her on the mouth, and sent a wave of gooseflesh down the length of her body. It was all done so quickly, so discreetly, that it left her trembling with desire for something more.
How skilled he was at seduction. He could reduce her to a blob of besotted pudding with a single touch.
She wondered suddenly if he would ever do something like that to another woman in another drawing room one day. Was that how easy it would be?
No, Clara, she quickly chided herself. She had to stop thinking these things. He had told her he would try to be faithful. He had told her he wanted her more than he’d wanted any other woman in a very long time. She would be content with that and enter into this marriage with favorable expectations.
Clara swept all that jealous nonsense away. “I admit, I am looking forward to our honeymoon, too.”
“Then let us marry in September.”
“Your stepmother suggested the spring.”
“Yes, but she’s not thinking about what I am thinking about.”
Suppressing a chuckle, Clara replied, “I’m afraid to ask.”
“Good, because I don’t think there are words for it.” They walked leisurely around the room, aware of the others talking and laughing.
“October, then?” Seger asked.
Clara raised an eyebrow. “A wedding should not be rushed. There are things to plan, like flowers and music and food.”
“It can all be planned in a day if one is focused.”
“My gown must be designed and made. That can’t be done in a day.”