Smiling down at her, he whispered.
“Then I hope you wear it every day.”
Eleanor blushed. She would not meet his gaze but clasped his shoulder a bit stronger.
“Storm, you know you do not have to feel obligated to give me gifts. I do not want you worried that I believe you want things to change between us because of the other night. It was a beautiful, unexpected moment. I am not a foolish young miss who thinks you pinning away for me now.”
The waltz was about to come to an end and she knew tonight they would not have another moment to speak, but as the last strings sounded, he brought his lips to her ear.
“Eleanor, I agree that it was unexpected, but what happens if I do want things to change between us because of it?”
No words could have shocked her more. She moved her head to search his eyes. To see something of the truth in them.
“Storm, I…”
“You need to get back to your court.”
She tried to shake her head. Desperately she searched for any escape. Any chance to keep him for a few moments longer to understand what was going on between them. He was already leading her back to her next dance partner, but she just was not ready.
“Please take me to the punch.”
She stuttered the command far too desperately.
“Although that would be my greatest honor, you have already had someone fetch you some punch.”
Eleanor glared at him.
Not breaking their stride and with his facial features blank as if they were talking about nothing of importance, Storm slowed their pace.
“Unless of course, you wish things to remain as they are.”
Eleanor realized they were almost back amongst the others and that she was not going to get all the answers she wanted.
“I assumed you wanted it to be just a moment.”
“Yes, well dear, our assumption cannot be trusted as of late. And that was not an answer.”
With a sight, he raised her hand to his lips and whispered.
“We have much to discuss, Eleanor.”
She wanted to say something, anything, but at that moment her next dance partner arrived an all Eleanor could do was allow herself to be led to the dance floor with her mind not truly able to grasp what he had just implied and too scared to allow her heart the moment to dream about it.
Chapter Nineteen
Storm was growing more and more frustrated with his lack of time with Eleanor. He had missed the first waltz with her because he had been greeting some late arrivals and could not make it to her side in time. Then, when he finally managed to make it to her side, she was dragged away to the dance floor and he found his anger rising. He needed time with her. As he debating his best option to steal her way, his sister approached him.
“You cannot disappear with her at your own ball.”
On edge, Storm turned to Bonnet trying to remain calm.
“I can do as I please.”
With a sigh, his sister held her ground.
“Normally I would not deny that, but tonight, Storm, I am telling you that you cannot leave. People are going to notice your absence, and now, they will notice hers. You have drawn much attention to her. If you are both found missing, people will gossip. She will be ruined.”
Storm glared. He could not help it. He loved his sister, but he hated when she was right.
“I will invite her and Felicity to stay and have some rooms set up. You should be able to have some time to speak with her during breakfast tomorrow. It is the best I can do.”
With a frown, Storm nodded.
“Very well. Please see to it.”
She went to leave him but turned around again for a moment.
“And Storm, you have to dance with some of the other ladies tonight. Unless you are certain you will marry her.”
Then, she was gone and Storms eyes found their way back to Eleanor who was dancing with Devon Remington again and smiling far too wide. Then, because he had no choice, he listened to his sister and found some foolish young deb to take to the dance floor.
It was late. Although the last of the guest had left nearly half an hour again, Eleanor entered the ballroom looking for Bonnet. One of the young maids told her that the woman usually stayed after the guest left to ensure that the staff were well organized to handle cleaning the room. What she found, however, was one of the most charming sights she had ever seen in her life. Storm stood alone in the room, his arms up as if poised to initiate a waltz, with the most hauntingly beautiful smile on his face. Instantly, feeling like she was intruding, Eleanor turned to exit, when something stopped her. Turning back, her eyes met his and she could swear she saw a blush come to his face.
“I am sorry to intrude. I was looking for Bonnet. A maid told me that she was probably here.”
Storm tilted his head slightly and shook it.
“No. I told her to go to bed. She was exhausted. The staff can take care of all of this tomorrow.”
Eleanor smiled and turned to leave. Storm’s voice trailed after her.
“Is there something I may help you with?”
Hesitantly, she again faced him.
“No. I was just going to see if she needed help with anything before I headed to bed myself. Thank you for allowing me and Felicity to spend the evening.”
Then, with a completely sincere voice, her friend whispered.
“You will always be welcomed here.”
Eleanor blushed. They had not been able to speak much during their waltz that evening as it seemed that the crowd was particularly large and speaking with any sort of privacy would not be possible.
“Were you just about to dance by yourself?”
She had not really met to ask such a thing, but there was little she could do about it now. Especially after all that had happened between them during the last few days. Storm had said that he had hoped that there could be more between them, now that he had kissed her. Perhaps he had truly meant it. And if he did, well, then he should be honest about whatever it was he was doing here. He chuckled and moved closer to her. Being alone with him had never seemed wrong, she realized, but the way he looked at her right now, she felt a shiver run through her.
“When my parents were alive, they would host the grandest balls here. I confess, at the time, I hated it. I have never been overly fond of balls. Though, I hope you can keep that secret to yourself.”
Eleanor smiled but nodded.
“Of course, Storm. You may share anything with me and you know I will not betray your confidence.”
Storm moved closer to her again and Eleanor felt something change in the air between them. The intensity in his eyes when he looked at her now seemed to steal the air around her and leave her breathless.
“You know, I trust you far more than is wise, I think.
The air grew thicker, but he continued his thought as he slowly moved closer to her.
“Anyway, my parents held the grand balls, that I dreaded going to, but of course attended once I was old enough and unable to ignore my duty.”
Eleanor smiled softly and wondered what he must have been like back then. A carefree young gentleman. It was hard to imagine, honestly. He was such a strong, confident, and powerful man now. Thinking of him as anything else seemed wrong.
“Then, one day, after everyone had gone to bed, I snuck back downstairs for a brandy when I heard voices from the ballroom. I do not know what who I thought it could be, but I was worried all the guest had not left, so I entered the ballroom. What I found was my parents. They were lost in each other, dancing a waltz. There was no music, the room was still a mess from the evenings affair, but neither of them cared. All they wanted was to end the evening knowing that they would always share the final dance.”
Eleanor could not have imagined a more romantic thing in her life. Her heart ached for him. For his loss. For the loss the world suffered now that they lost two of the few people that truly knew what loving another meant. His voice cracked ever s
o slightly and Eleanor realized that Storm missed his parents still so dearly. She found herself walking toward him now. All she wanted to do was comfort him.
“I learned after that evening, that it was how my parents ended every ball they hosted. Since they passed I have often wondered if that was their sole purpose in hosting such festivities. Simply for that one moment when they could waltz in the empty ballroom together, simply lost in their affection for each other. I swore one day when it was my turn to host a ball, I would continue their tradition.”
Eleanor wished she could reach out to him, but she was afraid to break memory he was clearly reliving. Storm was the most amazing man, she thought, now that she had seen such a different side of him. When he was vulnerable her heart literally felt like it may explode with the desire to wrap him in her arms and assure him that everything would be fine. But, although she was unsure if he would welcome her touch, she knew that he always valued her honesty.
“They sound like beautiful people.”
He whispered.
“They were. Sometimes the loss of them is so overwhelming.”
Eleanor understood that feeling far too well.
“I know that this may sound cruel, but it is perhaps best that they were taken from the world at the same time.”
He looked at her surprised, but she hurried on.
“My mother and father loved each other fiercely as well. It was so amazing to just see their love for each other in each moment they shared. When father lost mother, it was the worst moment I think he had ever experienced. It was so hard to watch him suffer her loss. After her death, it was never the same. I often think back on that day as the real day I lost both my parents. Father without mother, he was just an empty man. When he died of a broken heart a few years after, we had to suffer through all the pain again.”
A tear fell from her eye and she realized that, once again, Storm must think her a ridiculous watering pot. He held out his handkerchief to her and unable to help her smile, she took it and brushed away her tears.
“Dance with me Eleanor.”
Eyes wide, hers flew to his.
“Storm, you should… you should wait for someone special…”
Holding out his hand to her Storm held her gaze.
“Eleanor,” he whispered in a gentle voice, “I did.”
It seemed like an eternity passed between them before she slipped her delicate hand into his to partner him. Storm knew, by some natural instinct, that he did not need to kiss Eleanor again to now his feeling for her had changed. Since the moment he had found her crying over her feet, Storm realized that there was far more to Eleanor than anyone knew. They shared the same values, the same sense of humor, and he thought sadly, a far too similar past.
Storm always found comfort in her eyes and laughter in his heart when he was with her. He trusted her without reason and never hid the truth. She in turn, always listed to him and gave him her honest opinion, whether she knew he would share it or not. What more could a man want in a wife. Not to mention, he thought, that with each passing day he found her more and more beautiful. Right now, for example, he realized just how lovely her blush was.
Drawing her into the dance, he conjured up a song in his head and began to lead them around the ballroom. She closed her eyes at first, internally sensing his rhythm and following his lead. Enchanted, Storm found himself wishing the moment could last forever. And, he thought with a bit of surprise, perhaps it may.
They danced in silence for a few moments, but Storm found himself staring at the woman in his arms. Her beauty had surprised him, but now that he was aware of it, Storm grew more and more attracted to her. Perhaps there was something to be said about a woman he did not flaunt her beauty. It was as if somehow her beauty had snuck up on him with each passing day, and knowing the beauty that lay in her heart, made his sudden awareness of her even more disturbing. It was very inconvenient, though he of all people should know that convenient and Eleanor were not two words that were likely to be used together. Humor sparkling in his eyes when she met his gaze.
“What is so funny, Lord Wakefield.”
“I was just thinking about Miss Pemthorpe.”
Eleanor frowned.
“I feel like I was just insulted somehow.”
Storm laughed loudly and twirled her. When she returned to place in front of him she was smiling again. Eleanor had a breathtaking smile.
“She is getting married. Have you heard?”
Humor glistened in her eyes.
“You see, I told you that one dance with you can change a woman’s life.”
Twirling her again and shifting them closer to the open doorway which led to the garden, Storm raised a brow.
“You have had the pleasure of four dances. I am truly shocked that you are not the Queen of England already.”
Bursting out laughing, Storm saw tears come to Eleanor’s eyes. Tears of happiness. Those she was free to shed as often as she wished. Meeting his gaze, she shook her head and her eyes grew a bit more serious.
“Well, I can say with much sincerity, that you and your family have changed my life.”
Storm stopped dancing. A cool breeze blew in from the gardens and Storm felt the memory of their kiss come to mind. He wondered, as he often did, if his parents were looking down on him with approval. Brushing a lose strand of hair from her brow, he met her gaze.
“And I can say, with sincerity, that kissing you has changed mine.”
Cupping her chin toward him, his eyes lowered to her lips.
“I never had a chance to find out if you regret it.”
Then before she could break the spell between them he lowered his mouth to hers and let the world around them slip away.
Eleanor closed her eyes the moment he stole her breath, and wondered how so much could have changed between them in such a short period of time. Storm had gone for despising her, to tolerating her, to befriending her and now… well now she clearly had no clue what he felt. All she knew was that kissing him felt right. It was as if he was the only man whose lips would fit against hers perfectly. She knew that whatever was happening between them would be over as soon as she became a governess, so Eleanor felt that she should treat every moment she had with him as if it was their last.
Gliding her hands up his chest, she slid them around his back and pressed her body against his. A soft groan escaped him and a moment later, Eleanor felt his arms tighten around her until there was no air left between them at all. He deepened the kiss and Eleanor eagerly welcomed him advances. Never knowing if this would be the last time she would ever know the feeling of a man’s lips against hers, Eleanor yearned to remember every moment.
As this was only her second kiss, she wished that she had more to offer, but could only hope that her curious nature would be enough to please him. Her whole body felt alive in his arms and his warmth seeped into her soul in ways she knew would change her forever. This man, this incredible, remarkable man, wanted her. At least in this moment. Eleanor felt more powerful than the Queen of England.
Then his lips parted for a moment and with a nearly hoarse voice, Storm whispered.
“Say you will never regret this, Eleanor. Please.”
His brow was pressed to hers and his lips only still inches away. Eleanor’s eyes fluttered open and she was immediately lost in the thunderclouds reflected in his. Bring her hands to cup his face, Eleanor met his gaze and laughed.
“There are a great many things I regret regarding my actions toward you, Lord Wakefield, but I will never regret kissing you. Not the first time and not now.”
Something very much like relief hit his eyes, but before she could ponder on it, his lips brushed against her ever so lightly.
“Eleanor, you should leave.”
Eyes wide, she felt a sharp pain hit her at his words. Quickly realizing that he had said the wrong thing, he drew her back against him and kissed her once more.
“I do not want you to leave. The truth of the matter is, the
overwhelming desire I have for you at this moment is about to turn me into the kind of gentleman I would prefer to believe I am not. So, to save my soul from actually sweeping you into my arms and throwing you into my bed, it would be best for you to leave. And lock your door. And perhaps stick a chair against it because I just realized I have a key to all the rooms in my home.”
Eleanor looked to him as if he may have lost his wits, but then she quickly realized that if he were to sweep her into his arms and throw her into his bed, she was just as likely to turn into the kind of woman she would rather believe she was not. Still… there seemed to be so much more they needed to discuss.
As if sensing her thoughts, he whispered through ragged breath.
“Now, Eleanor. Would be wise. We will talk tomorrow when I have managed to turn back into a proper gentleman.”
Knowing that it was not the time to argue she turned on her heels and went to flee the room. She walked about five steps when she felt his hand on her arm, turning her to face him again. Pulling her back into a kiss Eleanor wondered if his warning had come too late. But whatever it was that had taken hold of him seemed to still have a grasp. As he pulled away, he touched her cheek one final time.
“Good-night, Eleanor. I am sure I will see you again in my dreams tonight.”
And then, before she could move, it was Storm that fled into the gardens leaving her both amazed and disappointed. When he disappeared from view, Eleanor lifted her skirts and hurried to her bedchamber, knowing he would be haunting her dreams that evening as well.
Chapter Twenty
The next day at precisely one in the afternoon Storm stood in the foyer of Eleanor’s home. He had spent half the night reliving their second kiss, and the other half wondering what he was supposed to do now. He had sent word to her, before she left his home, that he would come to collect her for the ride in the park. So, when her butler stated that she in the drawing room Storm did not let the man even finish his sentence. He was anxious to see her. To finally have the discussion they needed to have.
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