“Thank you, so much,” Esther said. “I cannot believe that this is happening.”
“Here,” said Ruth, as she took two iced punch glasses from a passing footman. She handed one to Esther. “A toast to your good fortune.”
The sisters toasted one another, and Esther took a long, cool sip of punch. She was hoping that it would help her nerves. Suddenly, though, she looked across the room and saw Harry walking towards them. Her heart sank.
“Good evening,” Harry said as he stepped close to her.
Esther nodded and said, “Good evening to you.” Ruth smirked behind him.
“I was hoping that you would give me the honor of a dance tonight,” Harry said. Esther knew that she couldn’t refuse him, as she also intended to dance with Allan. “Of course,” she replied quietly.
As the first dance came to a close, Harry said, “Perhaps we should dance this second dance together. It’s about to begin.” He held out his arm to her, which she took, reluctantly.
As the second song began, he led her out onto the dance floor, and they began to dance.
* * *
Allan saw Harry and Esther move towards the dance floor, and immediately he sat his almost empty glass of punch down on an empty tray and began to walk towards Ruth. He didn’t want to give Esther the impression that he was interested in any other lady here, but he also had to dance. So, asking her sister seemed like a good option for him.
“Would you care to dance, Ruth?” He asked with a smile.
“I would love to, Allan,” she replied.
Allan took her arm and led her to the dance floor. The chalk design was already smeared from the first dance, but it would help them to stay on their feet and not slip on the smooth floor.
The music began, and the two of them began their dance, Allan keeping an eye on Harry and Esther across the room.
“She doesn’t look entranced by him, does she?” Ruth said with a laugh. Allan couldn’t help but to chuckle. “No, she doesn’t,” he replied.
He and Ruth continued to dance and make small talk, but his main concern was watching Esther. His intention was to dance with her during the next set. Getting closer to her was his only desire right now.
Allan and Ruth finished the dance, and he thanked her for the lovely time. He couldn’t quite see Esther in the crowd, though, and he hoped that another gentleman hadn’t already asked her to dance.
“She’s over there,” Ruth said, smiling and pointing towards the left. Allan began walking in that direction, and suddenly caught sight of Esther, who was still talking to Harry. This was certainly not a situation that he wanted to be in, but if he wanted to dance with her, facing Harry and asking her in front of him was his only choice.
He approached and said, “I’m sorry to interrupt.” He did not look at Harry, only at Esther. “May I have this dance?”
She smiled and nodded, and he took her arm. He didn’t see Harry’s reaction, and he was glad for it. The music had begun, and he couldn’t believe that he was not only near Esther, but actually touching her. With the dance, she only became more beautiful to him, and he felt as if he were walking on air.
With every turn of the dance, and every movement of their bodies, he was able to see her from every angle. It was like no one else was in the room with them, though he could see blurs of color out of the corner of his eyes. Her smile was gorgeous, and he simply couldn’t stop looking at her.
Though they were not fully bringing their bodies together, Allan could feel the heat between them, and the attraction he was feeling for her was causing a pain in his nether regions. It was getting more painful with every turn, and he wanted her badly.
The dance ended faster than he ever thought possible, though it was surely at least ten minutes in length. He led her to the edge of the dance floor, and said “I enjoyed that very much, Esther.”
She was a bit out of breath, but replied, “So did I.” She smiled widely at him, and he could see her take a deep breath. When she did, her breasts rose, and he immediately was thankful for the strong buttons that were holding his aching member against his body. He was hoping that his attraction to her was not obvious.
“I think I need some more punch,” he said, unsure of what to say to her. He certainly wanted to dance with her again, and he didn’t care what anyone else would think about that, but he didn’t want to come on too strong. He had every intention of moving this relationship to the next level, but he wanted to be sure that she felt the same.
He turned towards the footman who was passing out punch and took a glass. He turned to ask Esther if she wanted one, but she was talking to Edward, who had seemingly just asked her to dance. She looked over her shoulder at Allan and smiled widely. That smile told him that she would accept a second dance.
* * *
“Dinner was fantastic, Mary,” Esther said. The ball had broken for supper, but it was about to begin again. Between conversations and dancing, this was the first that she had been able to have time with her sister, the hostess.
“I’m so happy you enjoyed it,” Mary replied. “Are you having a good time?”
“Oh, I am having a wonderful time.” Esther replied. “I am so happy you had this ball.”
“Me, too,” Mary said with a smile. “You looked enchanted when you were dancing with Allan,” she said quietly. “If he asks, will you dance with him a second time?”
Esther smirked and nodded, and Mary started laughing. “I knew the two of you would come together eventually.” Mary leaned into Esther and whispered, “Harry will not be happy if he sees the two of you on the dance floor a second time. He will know that Allan intends to court you.”
Esther couldn’t hide her smile. She wanted this, and she wasn’t going to let Harry stop her. “As soon as he asks, I will accept,” she said.
“Well, you will hopefully have your opportunity soon, as the ball is about to begin again,” Mary replied.
Almost as if on cue, the musicians began to play. The sisters looked at each other, and both started quickly walking back into the ballroom. Esther looked around for Allan, and as she turned to the right, she saw him approaching with a smile. However, coming quickly right behind him was Harry, who was also looking at her. If Harry got to her before Allan, she would have to decline, which meant she would not get another dance with Allan.
She knew that Mary had seen both men approaching, based on the quick gasp she heard coming from her sister. For a moment, Harry had moved in front of Allan, and Esther saw Allan’s look of surprise and knew that he realized what was going to happen if Harry got to her first.
Esther wasn’t quite sure what Allan did, but suddenly, he was standing directly in front of her with a grin. “Esther,” he said, sounding out of breath, “Please, may I have a second dance with you?”
She smiled widely and nodded. Mary squeezed her arm, and when she looked at her younger sister, she, too was grinning. Allan held out his arm for her to take, and she grabbed it tightly. This would be the moment she knew that she would remember for the rest of her life.
* * *
Esther couldn’t believe that the night had gone by so quickly, but it was extremely late. In fact, she wouldn’t be surprised if she saw the sun rising very soon. Most of the guests had left, and only a couple of people were still gathered in the ballroom and hallway. She was exhausted, but she didn’t care.
She knew that people had noticed that she and Allan had danced twice during the ball, and she couldn’t have been happier. After the second dance, she hadn’t had a chance to speak with him, and she knew that it was time to head to bed, so she wasn’t sure that she would see him tonight.
During that second dance, Esther had really noticed how close Allan had brought his body to hers, and she felt an aching between her legs for him. She knew these thoughts were not appropriate, but it felt so good.
Esther was jolted out of her salacious thoughts as Ruth came towards her and said, “The men have settled into playing cards, so I think
I am going to retire. I am utterly exhausted.”
Esther nodded. “I am, too, Ruth,” she said. “But I am so happy.” She couldn’t suppress her smile.
Ruth grinned, and said, “You have had an amazing night.” She paused and Esther could see Ruth looking behind her. “I think it might get a bit more wonderful. Good night, sister.” Ruth smiled, and then walked away.
Esther was confused, and then from behind her she heard Allan’s voice. “Esther?”
She turned and met his eyes. He looked so handsome, and her head was swimming with thoughts about him that she probably shouldn’t be having. Once again, she felt a jolt of arousal throughout her body.
He looked at her and then said, “I can’t imagine a better evening, and I’m so happy that I was able to spend it with you.”
She swallowed hard, and said, “I had a wonderful time, and I am so happy to have spent it with you.”
His green eyes seemed as if they were gazing into her soul, and Esther was loving every minute of it. She noticed that he looked up, looked around, and then said, “It seems as if most everyone has left.”
She, too, looked around. The only people Esther saw were a group of maids beginning to clean up at the end of the hallway. “Yes, it’s quite empty here.”
Allan looked up again, and then held her arm in his hand. “Follow me.”
He led her down the hallways a bit, and then turned right into a darkened alcove. He led her as far in as he could, and they were standing almost in complete darkness. She could only see the outline of his body, though she could tell that he was moving closer to her.
Allan took his hands and placed them on the sides of her face. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, Esther,” he said. “And from the moment I saw you, I have wanted this.”
He held her head firmly, yet gently, and leaned in towards her. Their lips met, and she felt the heat from his body moving into hers. She felt his tongue slip into her mouth, and he kissed her with a hunger that she never thought possible. He moved his body close to her and pushed hers against the wall. She could feel his growing excitement through her gown, and she felt the ache between her legs become more pronounced than ever before. It felt as if she would never get relief, and all she wanted was to rub her hips against him.
As if reading her scandalous thoughts, Allan pulled away and said quietly, “I can’t do this. I am afraid I won’t be able to control myself if I keep kissing you. Please, meet me tomorrow in the rose garden at noon.”
Esther nodded, and he leaned in and gently kissed her on the lips again. He whispered, “Stay against the wall for one moment.” She watched as he took a step forward out into the hallway and looked up and down in both directions. He motioned for her to come forward, and then he stood back. “Go to bed, my dear,” he said. “It’s clear, and no one will see you.”
She looked at him one last time and was sure that she could see his trousers bulging. Her loins were still quivering and aching for him, but she walked out into the hallway. Esther rushed towards the stairway quickly to head to her bedroom, and she suddenly came to the realization that she was falling in love with Allan.
Chapter 20
Allan kept glancing at the clock hanging on the wall in the library. Though he got very little sleep last night, he wasn’t tired. In fact, he felt wide awake and alive. He knew he would see Esther soon, and was excited.
He thought that he would come back to the library to continue the book he had started, and that it would help him to pass the time. He was wrong, though. He couldn’t concentrate. So, he was taking turns looking out the window and watching the clock.
After their time at the ball…and the incident after the ball…Allan felt confident that he had made the right choice to pursue Esther over Bridget. Esther, after all, was better suited for him. Though he still had some reservations over how she might react to his body should their relationship continue to grow.
“My Lord?”
Allan turned at the sound of the voice. It was a footman who had just walked into the room.
“Yes?” Allan asked.
“Lord Harry has asked for you to join him in the drawing room,” the footman said. “He is waiting now.”
“Very well,” Allan said. His stomach was immediately in knots, as he wasn’t sure how Harry was going to react to him dancing with Esther.
He sighed, and then followed the footman out into the hallway, and then they turned a corner and continued to the drawing room. Another footman opened the door, announced that Allan had arrived, and he walked in.
Harry had his back to Allan as he walked in, and it seemed he was blankly staring out of the window. Allan swallowed hard, and then said, “Good morning, Harry.”
Allan watched as his cousin turned slowly, and he was surprised to see a smile on Harry’s face. “Good morning,” he replied to Allan. “Please,” he continued. “Have a seat.” Harry motioned to the pair of sofas that they typically used when in this room.
Harry sat, and then Allan followed suit. His hands were sweaty, and he wiped them on his trousers. He again glanced at the clock and noted that he had thirty minutes before he was supposed to meet with Esther.
“Did you enjoy the ball?” Harry asked.
Allan nodded. “Very much so,” he replied.
Harry nodded, too. “So it seemed.”
“Did you?” Allan asked Harry.
“I did,” Harry replied. “But I have to ask you. What are your intentions with Esther?”
Allan cleared his throat. “I assure you that I only have the best of intentions.”
Harry nodded. “I suppose if she doesn’t want to be with me, being with you is the next best thing.”
Allan wasn’t sure how to take that comment, so he simply continued. “I intend to court her, and I intend to make that official, today,” he said. “I will meet with her shortly, as we planned last night, and I will make sure that I do this in the correct way.”
Harry nodded again, but he did not smile nor show any other type of expression that Allan could read. “I have to say that I suspected this would happen. I have seen the way she looks at you, and though I know you have tried to hide it, you look at her in the same way.”
“I do care for her, Harry,” Allan said. “And I will always treat her with respect.”
“I understand,” Harry replied. “I wish you the two of you a lot of luck and many happy years together.” His tone was flat and unfeeling.
“I never did this intentionally to hurt you, Harry.” Allan said.
“I never said you did,” Harry snapped back. “I simply called you here to enquire about your intentions. Now I know, and now I must get back to work.”
Harry stood and walked out. Allan knew that he was upset, and he felt bad that he had hurt his cousin. However, he couldn’t deny the feelings he had for Esther, and he didn’t want that to stop.
Allan glanced at the clock again and noted that he had about fifteen minutes before he was scheduled to meet Esther. He may as well go now and wait at the rose garden for her. It was, after all, better to be early than late.
* * *
“I am so happy for you, Esther,” Ruth said with a smile. The two sisters were sitting in Esther’s room and Rose was helping her get ready to meet Allan at the rose garden. “You must tell me every detail when you return.”
“I will, I will,” Esther said. She had told Ruth most of the details of what happened with Allan last night, though she certainly left out their passionate kiss. She didn’t want her sister to know that, nor did she want anyone else to overhear.
“You look lovely, My Lady,” Rose said, as she put the last touches on Esther’s hair.
“I agree,” said Ruth. “Allan will certainly be impressed.”
Esther smiled, and took a deep breath. “Will you walk with me, Ruth? I don’t want you to stay, of course, but it would be nice to walk to the rose garden with someone.”
Ruth nodded. “Of course,” she said. “
I would have walked with you even if you hadn’t asked.”
Esther turned to Rose and said, “Please come, too, Rose,” and then walked out into the hallway.
Ruth and Esther, with Rose following, walked out into the summer day.
The air was warm, and there was a slight breeze. Esther felt butterflies in her stomach, and she could see that Allan was already there.
Ruth stopped, turned to Esther and said, “I am going to leave you here, but please make sure to give me every detail!” She smiled, and then leaned in and kissed Esther on the cheek. “Good luck!”
Esther saw Allan notice her as he stood and smiled. She couldn’t help but smile back. He looked just as handsome as he did last night, and the closer she got, the better he looked.
Lusting For The Broken Earl (Steamy Historical Regency) Page 18