And with that he walked away, Storms eyes lingering in surprise as they found their way back to Eleanor. The first waltz would sound soon and it was time to start heading toward her, making note of all the exits that would lead to the gardens… just in case.
Eleanor had seen many handsome men since her trip to London, but the man standing next to Bonnet may have been the most handsome of them all. Well, after Storm that is. But, she dared not think about him right now. So, to distract herself, she moved just a tad closer to Bonnet in order to find out what was going on.
“Oh, I... I... I had not thought to dance tonight. I am watching over my sisters.”
Eleanor was convinced this was the first time in her life that Bonnet had ever stumbled on her words. Then, the beautiful gentleman spoke with a voice that was utterly seductive.
“My mother stated it would be her pleasure to keep an eye on the Westbrook ladies.”
As if on cue, a woman joined them. The Dowager Oakshire was as stunning as her son.
“Yes dear, you go dance with my son. I will see to your sisters. Not that they need it. Your brothers glare frightens most of them away before they can ask for a dance.”
And then Eleanor gently pushed Bonnet closer to the gentleman asking for the dance and whispered softly.
“Go Bonnet. You deserve an evening of dancing.”
Then simply because she truly had no other option, Bonnet found herself being led to the dance floor. Eleanor watched her closest friend blush as she curtsied before her partner and prepare to be swung into a waltz. Bonnet would never forget that moment, she would wager.
“Shall we?”
Eleanor did not need to turn to know who had presented their hand to her. He was so close she could feel the warmth of him. Oh, how she wanted to dance with him. It would be so amazing to swing around the dance floor. When she did not respond immediately, he brought his lips closer to her ear.
“I believe this is my waltz.”
She did turn that time, and it felt as if she may never catch her breathe again. She had spent so much time trying to resist thoughts about how attractive he was, but tonight there was no helping it. The man was stunning. His raven locks had grown slightly too long and she had a hard time refraining from brushing one from his brow now that she could remember the feel of it against her hand. Storm clouds were in his eyes as he scanned her face, and for one moment Eleanor felt as if there was magic in the air. And then the old dowager spoke.
“Go on my dear, I will look after Miss Felicity as well.”
Eleanor still could not speak. The way he was staring at her… it was… it was… unnerving. This must what if feels like to be beautiful. Trapped in the feeling of his gaze, Eleanor was unaware that she had even moved until she felt her hand slipping into Storms as if it were always meant to be there. Smiling a bit too wide, he held her gaze and, a moment later, she found herself whirling amongst the other couples who were dancing. They did not speak for quite some time, but finally she found her voice.
“She looks so happy.”
Storm looked to her curiously.
“Felicity? It does seem she has grown rather attached to the earl.”
This time Eleanor looked confused.
“I meant Bonnet.”
For the first time since they began dancing, Storm seemed to actually look at the crowd around them, quickly locating his sister. Eleanor watched a smile come to his face, as if his sister’s happiness meant more to him than his own.
“She is happy because of you, Eleanor. Because you showed me how overlooked she has been and now she is no longer against the wall.”
“That is kind of you to say, but I rather suspect her smile had more to do with the devilishly attractive partner she is dancing with. Do you know who he is?”
“You think he is handsome?”
Eleanor could not help but stare at the man.
“I can assure you, there is not a woman in this room who would claim otherwise.”
She saw a frown cross Storm’s face.
“I suppose that is a good thing. I mean, it will draw more attention to my sister, right?”
Eleanor smiled.
“Yes. Of course. Who is he though?”
“Would you say he is more handsome than Hunter?”
Eleanor debated the question and then sighed.
“I cannot say. I know your brother far too well and nothing of the other gentleman. It would be an unfair judgement.”
“I see.”
Eleanor looked once again at the man. He could not seem more different from Hunter.
“You are not going to tell me, are you? Who he is.”
With a chuckle, Storm leaned in with a wicked smile.
“He, my dear, is of little consequence to you.”
Raising her brow, she met his gaze, “Oh? And why is that?”
“Because my sweetling, he is not me, and need I remind you that it is quite rude to discuss the mediocre handsomeness of another man while dancing with me.”
Eleanor laughed a bit too loudly, but she could not help it. He was truly a devil when he was trying to be charming. She was about to say something of equal amusement in return when his expression grew serious.
“I have been a bad brother to her.”
Nothing could have surprised her more.
“Storm, you are a great many things, but there is not one person at this ball that would ever accuse you of being a bad brother.”
Their eyes seemed completely trapped, neither able to pull away. For the very first time Eleanor felt as if she could see the man that he had been before he was forced to become the man he was. She wondered what he was seeing in hers. Lord knew her eyes could not lie to him. And for some reason she wanted him to know just how much she approved of him.
“I have allowed her to be overlooked for far too long. You were right to point it out.”.
“Storm, I never meant to imply that it was your fault. Truly, Bonnet is very happy.”
At that moment, she thought she actually saw lightning flashed through his eyes but she continued.
“Bonnet is so lucky to have you. I am not sure there is anyone who could have done what you have. She is a very strong woman, Storm, you know that, but you are the strength that keeps your family together.”
For the briefest of moment, it seemed as if the very air around them changed. It was as if he had just let go of his deepest fear, and she realized perhaps, he had. Storm truly had not believed he had become as good of a man as his family deserved until that very moment, and it occurred to her that perhaps he had been taken for granted just as much as Bonnet had. Tears came to her eyes then. Tears for him. And then, to her disbelief, she found that he had danced them right outside the doors leading to the garden, and a moment after that, they were alone in a dark alcove clearly designed for young lovers to steal a moment together.
“Storm, what are you doing?”
But he did not answer. What he did, was cup her face with both his hands and with the softest whisper she ever heard, merely said thank you and brought his lips to hers.
Kissing Eleanor Pinecrest was, without a doubt, the greatest moment of his life. Her lips were soft and welcoming. She had left out a gasp of surprised right as his lips met hers, but the moment they touched, he felt her sigh and then, hesitantly her hands slid to his shoulders, her fingers gently gripping his coat to draw him closer. Storm obliged at once, moving one of his own hands from her cheek to capture her waist. Passion ignited within him, but Storm reined it in. This kiss was not about his desire for her, nor was it about the curiosity he had about tasting her mouth all day. When he kissed her, it was simply because he had needed to. It was because she had just given him a gift he had not even known he needed. It was because, during that one moment in the ballroom, he was the man he once might have been and she was the woman she still should be.
What insanity this was. Storm felt his lips grow firmer against hers and realized that he had never found such plea
sure with anyone before. Her lips tasted of lemonade and innocence and morning dew. Her tenderness sunk through his skin and she was just as vulnerable as he had imagined. In a million years, he could never have believed that Eleanor Pinecrest was the woman whose kiss could change the world around him, but it had. It did. It still was. He was hungry for more of her, and as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her warm body against him, Storm deepened the kiss.
Eleanor surrendered to him, allowing his hunger to grow with her own. Their tongues collided, there passions ignited and for that one glorious moment, Storm Westbrook was lost. He was no longer the man struggling to keep his family loved and cared for. Nor the man that was still mourning the loss of his parents even years after their death. Storm Westbrook was, in that moment, simply a man, who wanted the women in his arm so fiercely, nothing else in the world could intrude on it. And then, suddenly, her lips were gone.
Storm managed to gather his wits to question her sudden withdrawal, but before he could speak he made the mistake of looking into her eye, near emerald now and ablaze with curiosity. She pressed a finger to his lips to silence him and it was only then that he heard the footsteps that had caused the distraction.
“Albert, return me to the ballroom at once!”
He recognized the woman’s voice instantly
“But Peaches, I love you!”
Someone dared try to steal a moment alone with his sister! How had his brothers not stopped this? Immediately he went to put the gentleman in his place, but Eleanor placed her hand on his arm and shook her head no. Begging him with her eyes, she whispered.
“Trust her.”
He allowed himself to remain still, but he knew he was close enough to save her when the time came.
“Really, you have to return me. Albert you are a good friend, but I will have to stop speaking to you if you keep up this foolishness.”
“But I love you!”
“You do not. Please Albert. Before my brothers arrive and cause a scene. I do not want my reputation ruined because you cannot control your foolishness. I value you as a friend, but if you do not escort me back in at once, I will have no choice but to leave you here to sulk alone.”
There was a silent moment, and Storm again felt the urge to intrude. One more look to Eleanor and he tried to refrain again. Then the young man spoke.
“Very well, Peaches, I will take you back to your brothers, but I do love you.”
And then the couple disappeared. Storm stood a bit amused, a bit bewildered and terribly proud of Peaches. He would not have imagined his sister being that strong. And then he turned to Eleanor again, who was smiling at him.
“Your parents would be very proud of you.”
To his surprise, he felt his own eyes filling with tears.
“I… I ...”
“You should probably return inside. The Westbrook women are strong, but it does not hurt to have a brother who has perfected his glare around sometimes. And I am sure people will start to wonder where we are.”
He did not want to leave her. She was right of course, they needed to return to the ballroom, but there seemed so much to say. So much to confess. But, as she tucked her delicate hand in his arm it appeared it would all have to wait until their next dance. Although his desire to remain with her was overwhelming, Storm knew that if he did not leave her side, the whole point of his dancing with her would be moot. The thought of another man waltzing her into the gardens, however, seemed almost as unbearable as the thought of leaving her side. As they returned to their families, she whispered softly.
“Thank you for the dance, Lord Wakefield.”
He hated his title now, from her lips. Squeezing her hand before releasing her, he whispered back.
“The pleasure was mine, Miss Pinecrest. I will fetch you for the next waltz.”
Then, before she could respond, Storm dragged himself away from her and headed toward Peaches. She had at least found her way to Coach as Bonnet had been escorted to the dance floor once more. As he was about to ensure that his sister had recovered from her argument outside, a footman approached him with a note. Concerned, Storm immediately recognized his youngest sisters writing.
“Chance is not well. I think he needs a doctor. Please come home.”
Storm took a quick glance around the ballroom to see if he could find Hunter. This was the first ball he actually did not want to flee from, but as much as his youngest sister was prone to exaggeration, she would never interrupt him at a ball if Chance was not truly ill. If she wrote to him, his brother needed help. Hunter was clear across the room and it seemed as it would take him longer to reach than he had time for.
“Is everything alright, Storm? You look… out of sorts.”
Turning to Aria, he handed her the note and saw her face grow a bit paler. They had lost so much already, whenever one of them fell ill, the fear of suffering another loss was always on their minds.
“I am going to go fetch a doctor and tend to him. Will you please tell Bonnet when she is done dancing? I am sure she would scold me for leaving without speaking with her, but I think this is urgent.”
“Of course. Do you want me to gather everyone and follow you?”
Storm shook his head.
“No. That would raise a lot of unnecessary gossip. I will send word if I think it is necessary for everyone to return home.”
His sister barely nodded before he was rushing toward the exit his mind focused on his youngest brother, saying a silent prayer that his mischievous sibling would recover quickly.
Chapter Seventeen
Storm had spent the whole night tending to his brother. Chance was ill, but the physician assured him that it was nothing serious. In a few days it should pass, but until then, Storm was given a stern warning that his brother needed to remain resting. For a young mischievous boy, that was no easy task. But as long as Storm was there to keep him company, Chance seemed to be handling the resting orders far better. It had been a long night of helping his brother to the withdrawing room, pressing cool water to his brow and comforting him and Storm felt completely drained. He had not managed to sleep at all and it was not until the sunlight started to peak through the window that his youngest brother was finally able to close his eyes and rest. And the it when Storm remembered Eleanor.
He remembered how stunningly beautiful she was the evening before. How perfectly she seemed to fit in his arms. And mostly, he thought about her kiss. The kiss that had turned his world upside down and when he thought about it he came to realize that the world had not yet righted itself again. Storm could not help but remember her lips and the way they seemed meant to be kissed by him. So really, he thought, there was only one logical thing to do. He needed to kiss her again. Yesterday had been emotional, for them both, so it could have been the kiss was only so lovely because of the new bond they had formed.
He wanted to experience kissing Eleanor again. Truly kissing her. Last night the emotion that had passed between them made the kiss more of a need. It seemed impossible to deny that moment of intimacy they both needed. Today, however, today he wanted to kiss her, because there was the slightest chance that it would still feel perfect. And if it was… well if it was he supposed he would have to adjust to this world he was now in. A world in wish he wanted, of all people, Miss Eleanor Pinecrest.
So, although Storm had sorted out the logic of it all in his head, opportunity was not nearly as kind to him. He could not leave his brother’s side, nor would he be able to attend the ball this evening. The only hope he had was to pray she come to his home at some point in the day and he could steal her away for a few moments. Even if he could not secure another kiss, at least he could make sure that she had been affected by him just as much.
“How is he feeling?”
Bonnet poked her head into the room and pulled him from his thoughts.
“It was a rough night, but he is tough.”
His sister smiled.
“He gets that from you.”
&
nbsp; Storm shook his head.
“He gets that from you.”
Bonnet smiled.
“From us both then.”
Storm looked to his sister and was once again overcome with gratefulness. Seeing his sister through Eleanor’s eyes had been so enlightening. He hoped he would never take her for granted again.
“You should get some rest. I can stay with Chance for a while.”
Storm shook his head.
“No sense in us both being worn out. I suspect that you will have a few callers today and you should enjoy yourself.”
His sister sighed.
“You should be calling on women yourself.”
Storm knew that he had a promise to keep, but right now, he was focused on saving Eleanor, tending to his brother and trying to stay awake. It was all he could handle.
“There is still plenty of time left this season.”
Bonnet frowned.
“Well, in case you are wondering, Eleanor will be here this afternoon. I would change before you come to say hello though. She is bound to have some callers herself. After you left last night I do not think she stopped dancing for more than ten minutes.”
Storm felt his stomach wretch but tried to keep a stoic face.
“That is good, is it not? It was one of the reasons you gave her your dress.”
“Do not try to be calm about this in front of me. I know you like her Storm. The sooner you admit it, the better.”
For a moment they just stared at each other, until suddenly Chance stirred and Storm found himself soothing the boy. Bonnet came over and pressed a kiss to the child’s brow and whispered.
“I will go have a maid bring fresh water.”
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