To Kiss a Highland Rose (Kiss the Wallflower #6) - Tamara Gill Page 0,20

the hopes he would see her, be pleased and appreciative of her appearance.

She picked up the diamond-encrusted cross that sat about her neck, fiddling with it, a nervous flutter in her stomach when she could not locate him. There were many parties and balls in the city tonight. He may have attended another event.

"Shall we take a turn about the room?" Georgina said, setting off, Julia by her side.

Elizabeth followed them, stopping to talk to the guests whom she knew. The outdoor ball Marianne Roxdale was holding the on dit for conversation.

Leaving the small group a little while later, she turned to find Georgina and Julia but could not see them anywhere. Continuing on, she watched the dancers as she made her way around the room before she ran nose-first into a muscular chest positioned right in front of her.

"Oh, I do beg your pardon," she said, stepping back and holding her glass of champagne out to the side to stop assaulting the gentleman with her drink, along with herself.

"Good evening, Lady Elizabeth."

Shock rippled through her at the silvery words. Her eyes flew up, meeting those of Lord Hastings. "Ye came," she blurted, forgetting herself a moment and wishing she could pull those words back into her mouth. "I mean, good evening, my lord. I did not think ye were here."

"I just arrived," he stated, taking her hand and kissing her gloved fingers. The breath in her lungs seized, and if she were the fainting type, she was sure she would need smelling salts right at this moment. His devilishly handsome face, his eyes that held wicked intent, made her want to forget the ball and just walk out of the room, away from everyone here so they may be alone.

What else could he do to you if you were alone?

The thought came out of nowhere, and heat bloomed on her face, not the best appearance for a red-headed woman with freckles.

"Will you dance with me?" he asked, not letting go of her hand.

Elizabeth felt herself nod and allowed him to lead her out onto the floor. The strains of a country dance sounded, and couples hurried onto the floor to take their places. Elizabeth stood beside Lord Hastings, feeling as though her heart would burst outside her chest, it pumped so fast. The man made her nervous, made her all jittery inside. Did this mean she liked him as much as she hoped he wanted her? She sent up a silent prayer it was the case and that she would not yet again be labeled Lucky Lizzie for others here in Scotland as well.

The dance started, the steps taking them from each other only to join up yet again. His stormy-blue eyes bored into her, not shifting to the other couples about them. He was all-consuming, made it impossible to concentrate on anything else.

"I'm glad to see you back in town, Lady Elizabeth. I missed saying goodbye to you at Lady Dalton's estate."

"Ye left early, my lord. I was not out of bed by the time you departed," she lied, having been up for several hours, unable to sleep with what happened between them at the ball. The kiss, the clutching, his moan.

Oh dear lord, that sound he had made when she touched her tongue to his. Even now, it made her want to repeat the embrace, hear it again, fell him against her, in her. This must be what her sister-in-law Sophie meant by desiring one's husband, an essential ingredient Sophie had said was required for a happy and enjoyable marriage.

Desire??/p>

Did that mean she desired Lord Hastings? Was this what she was feeling? She also liked him very much, he was amusing and a lovely dancer, but other than that she did not know him much. Only that his brother had passed, and he inherited his father's title.

"I must ask, my lord. What do you like to do when you're not paying court to ladies such as myself or dancing away your nights at balls and parties?"

"Well," he said, twirling her before setting her back in line with the other women dancers. "I take care of my estate. I have not had it for long, you see, and there is much to learn. I'm in Scotland to look over Bragdon Manor as you know, ensure all is in working order before I return to England."

The idea of him leaving for England after the Season shot a pang of sadness through her. If he did not ask her to