leaned.
Finally he pushed her away completely. He held on only to her hands, as if the rest of her were dangerous.
Lady. He kissed the very tips of her fingers, making her shiver. Would I be too bold to say your love makes you unmannerly?
Unmannerly? Luce blushed.
Daniel took her back into his arms, slowly, a bit nervously. Good Lucinda, you must not find yourself in this place dressed as you are. His eyes kept returning to her dress. What clothes are these? Where is your costume? He reached into a wardrobe and flicked through the clothes pegs.
Quickly, Daniel began to unlace his boots, tossing them on the floor with two thuds. Luce tried not to gape when he dropped his trousers. He wore short gray pantaloons underneath that left very little to the imagination.
Her cheeks burned as Daniel briskly unbuttoned his white shirt. He yanked it off, exposing the full beauty of his chest. Luce sucked in her breath. The only things missing were his unfurled wings. Daniel was so impeccably gorgeous--and he seemed to have no idea of the effect he was having on her by standing there in his underwear.
She gulped, fanning herself. Is it hot in here?
Put these on until I can fetch your costume, he said, tossing the clothes at her. Hurry, before someone sees you. He dashed to the wardrobe in the corner and rifled through it, pulling out a rich green-and-gold robe, another white shirt, and a pair of cropped green pants. He hurried into the new clothes--his costume, Luce guessed--as she picked up his discarded street clothes.
Luce remembered that it had taken the servant girl in Versailles a half hour to squeeze her into this dress. There were strings and ties and laces in all sorts of private places. There was no way she was going to be able to get out of it with any sort of dignity.
There was, um, a costume change. Luce gripped the black fabric of her skirt. I thought this would look nice for my character.
Luce heard footsteps behind her, but before she could turn, Daniel's hand pulled her deep into the wardrobe next to him. It was cramped and dark and wonderful to be so close. He pulled the door shut as far as it would go and stood before her, looking like a king with the green-and-gold robe wrapped around him.
He raised an eyebrow. Where did you get this? Is our Anne Boleyn suddenly from Mars? He chuckled. I always thought she hailed from Wiltshire.
Luce's mind raced to catch up. She was playing Anne Boleyn? She'd never read this play, but Daniel's costume suggested he was playing the king, Henry VIII.
Mr. Shakespeare--ah, Will--thought it would look good--
Oh, Will did? Daniel smirked, not believing her at all but seeming not to care. It was strange to feel that she could do or say almost anything and Daniel would still find it charming. You're a little bit mad, aren't you, Lucinda?
I--well--
He brushed her cheek with the back of his finger. I adore you.
I adore you, too. The words tumbled from her mouth, feeling so real and so true after the last few stammering lies. It was like letting out a long-held breath. I've been thinking, thinking a lot, and I wanted to tell you that--that--
Yes?
The truth is that what I feel for you is ... deeper than adoration. She pressed her hands over his heart. I trust you. I trust your love. I know now how strong it is, and how beautiful. Luce knew that she couldn't come right out and say what she really meant--she was supposed to be a different version of herself, and the other times, when Daniel had figured out who she was, where she'd come from, he'd clammed up immediately and told her to leave. But maybe if she chose her words carefully, Daniel would understand. It may seem like sometimes I--I forget what you mean to me and what I mean to you, but deep down ... I know. I know because we are meant to be together. I love you, Daniel.
Daniel looked shocked. You--you love me?
Of course. Luce almost laughed at how obvious it was--but then she remembered: She had no idea which moment from her past she'd walked into. Maybe in this lifetime they'd only exchanged coy glances.
Daniel's chest rose and fell violently and his lower lip began to quiver. I want you to come away with me, he said quickly. There was a desperate edge to his voice.
Luce wanted to