Chapter 5: Page 3
Selphie considered for a moment then shook her head. "I
have enjoyed dancing with you very much and I hope we
may share many more in the future. But I have grown a
trifle weary for tonight."
She wasn't going to leave already? Irvine wanted this
night with her to last at least until dawn. "More
champagne, then?"
"I mustn't. I have had almost too much as it is."
She did want to leave. Irvine's heart sank, though he
chided himself for being greedy of her company. This
night had given him more than he'd dared hope for when
he'd accepted Lord Dintch's invitation.
Still he could not resist trying for more. "Almost too
much may be just enough."
"In that case, I have had just enough and should not
indulge any further."
"As you wish, then." He tried to stifle a sigh but did
not fully succeed. "Good night. Our time together has
meant more to me than you will ever know."
He stooped to kiss her hand.
While his lips pressed to her fingers, unable to part
from them, she slowly raised her hand. "Good night? I
have no wish to end our pleasant interlude so soon,
sir."
"You haven't?"
"Indeed, not." She caught her lower lip between her
teeth for a moment. "I was hoping we might take a little
stroll together under the stars. If you are willing?"
If? A whole bottle of champagne could not have set him
so delightfully befuddled as her unexpected invitation.
"I would be honored."
Irvine lost all track of time as they walked arm in arm in
the starlight, talking about everything and nothing. He
felt as if he knew Selphie better after this one evening
than after all the years of their acquaintance. She was
everything he had hoped and more. Every second in her
company, he fell a little further under her spell.
At last they found themselves wrapped in the magical
perfume of a slumbering rose garden. An expectant hush
fell over them and Lord Kinneas knew the moment was
right. Taking Selphie in his arms, he kissed her in the
way he'd waited so long to do. His kiss claimed her as
his own, even as it offered himself to be her willing
subject for the rest of his life.
Yet even in this sweet fulfillment of his dream, a tiny
doubt bedeviled him. Would Selphie be responding with
such innocent passion to his kiss if she knew his true
identity?
Selphie considered for a moment then shook her head. "I
have enjoyed dancing with you very much and I hope we
may share many more in the future. But I have grown a
trifle weary for tonight."
She wasn't going to leave already? Irvine wanted this
night with her to last at least until dawn. "More
champagne, then?"
"I mustn't. I have had almost too much as it is."
She did want to leave. Irvine's heart sank, though he
chided himself for being greedy of her company. This
night had given him more than he'd dared hope for when
he'd accepted Lord Dintch's invitation.
Still he could not resist trying for more. "Almost too
much may be just enough."
"In that case, I have had just enough and should not
indulge any further."
"As you wish, then." He tried to stifle a sigh but did
not fully succeed. "Good night. Our time together has
meant more to me than you will ever know."
He stooped to kiss her hand.
While his lips pressed to her fingers, unable to part
from them, she slowly raised her hand. "Good night? I
have no wish to end our pleasant interlude so soon,
sir."
"You haven't?"
"Indeed, not." She caught her lower lip between her
teeth for a moment. "I was hoping we might take a little
stroll together under the stars. If you are willing?"
If? A whole bottle of champagne could not have set him
so delightfully befuddled as her unexpected invitation.
"I would be honored."
Irvine lost all track of time as they walked arm in arm in
the starlight, talking about everything and nothing. He
felt as if he knew Selphie better after this one evening
than after all the years of their acquaintance. She was
everything he had hoped and more. Every second in her
company, he fell a little further under her spell.
At last they found themselves wrapped in the magical
perfume of a slumbering rose garden. An expectant hush
fell over them and Lord Kinneas knew the moment was
right. Taking Selphie in his arms, he kissed her in the
way he'd waited so long to do. His kiss claimed her as
his own, even as it offered himself to be her willing
subject for the rest of his life.
Yet even in this sweet fulfillment of his dream, a tiny
doubt bedeviled him. Would Selphie be responding with
such innocent passion to his kiss if she knew his true
identity?
