Chapter Seven: Page Three
The music had long since died away and dawn's rosy light had begun to filter in the window when Irvine's eyes snapped open, roving restlessly while his body lay in breath-bated stillness. Dear heaven, what had he done? He'd thought last night had all been a delicious, champagne-sodden dream. Now he stared at Selphie, her features relaxed in the soft, trusting tranquility of sleep as she nestled beside him in her bed. Her bed! The spell of their summer night tryst shattered into a thousand perilous shards. How might Selphie look when she opened her lovely eyes and saw him in her bed rather than Viscount Dintch? Irvine's newly vulnerable heart quailed at the prospect. He had been reluctant to coerce Selphie into wedding him out of duty. Now he had done something far more despicable. He'd made his way into her bed under false pretenses, in the guise of another man. Having yielded to his seduction, she would now be forced to wed him to prevent a scandal. If she could ever forgive him the former, Irvine was certain she would hate him for the latter. Almost as much as he hated himself for abandoning his restraint and his scruples. Last night, somewhere between the rose garden and her bedroom, his befuddled conscience had urged him to doff his mask so Selphie would know it was he. Caught in the wayward grip of passion, he had ignored his own better judgment. Now, in the soft, cool light of daybreak, Irvine bitterly repented his impetuous actions. For a bittersweet moment, he let his gaze brood over Selphie's naked body, her lithe limbs wrapped in the lazy contentment of sated desire. He wanted her now as much as he had last night. More, perhaps, for having experienced the rapture of their lovemaking. He could not bear to tarnish the memory of their enchanted night with the aversion he might see in her eyes if he stayed, nor with the kind of bitter recriminations he deserved from her. Unable to face her until he had some time to marshal his old defenses, Irvine eased himself out of Selphie's bed, gathered up his clothes and stole away.