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He had this moment to turn back. But she was here, and she wanted to be his. He felt it. He knew it. She had said it with her mouth, had shown him with the way her body desired him and if he found her strong, and wild, and brilliant, ought he not also to believe her?
He knew there was a chance it was his weakness, his selfishness winning out. Remnants of the boy he’d once been, who had wanted nothing more than to meet a woman who might understand him.
That did not exist, that love he had once believed in. He was no longer naive enough to believe one person might accept all the ways in which he was different.
But Beatrice wanted this part of him. And so he would give it.
He was powerless to do anything else.
‘Into the garden.’
‘Is there a garden?’
‘There always is,’ he said.
‘Oh,’ she answered. ‘Why is that?’
‘Without a garden, there would be no garden path for rakes to lead innocent women down, would there?’
‘Hugh has warned Eleanor about such things.’
‘But never you?’
She laughed, hard. ‘I think Hugh would never have thought he would have to.’
‘He should have. Perhaps you would’ve stayed clear of me.’
‘I did not know it was you.’
‘Did you?’ he whispered.
She shivered beneath his hold. He had not meant to issue that challenge, but he had done so. ‘Walk with me.’
They walked out through the large double doors and into the dark of night. The moon was only a silver sliver, and the stars were all alike, but none of them were as compelling as the ones in Beatrice’s hair.
They had entranced him all evening. Beckoning him to unpin her curls and fill his hands with them. With all of her stardust and glory.
‘Briggs...’
‘Didn’t you want to live your fantasy tonight? Of going to a ball? Of having a man meet your eyes across the room and find you irresistible?’
‘Yes,’ she said, her voice a choked whisper.
‘I find you irresistible.’
She looked at him, her eyes wide, glittering, even in the moonlight.
‘You don’t mean that.’
‘I do, Beatrice, or we would not be out here.’
‘I thought perhaps you just wanted to walk.’
‘As much as I want to walk, I could take one in Grosvenor Square whenever I wished. I don’t wish to walk with you.’
‘What do you wish for me?’ she asked, her voice hushed.
They walked deeper into the garden, and he knew that they had to be deeper there before he risked answering her question.
