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His mouth hitched at the corner. “It was not luck but planning; I asked one of my grooms to get a good place with my closed carriage early to hold a place for us.”
She glanced around, a sense of excitement filling her. “That was well thought out, thinking ahead like at chess.”
At the mere mention of chess, Pippa could see the memory of her giving herself to him appear in his eyes. A wicked ache rolled through her body, and perplexingly her breasts ached. She couldn’t quite tear her gaze away from him, and she had to squeeze her fingers to find the will to look away. “There’s a lot going on over there. I can see the basket and the balloon is now filling with hot air. The silks are very pretty and colorful.”
“Come, let’s move closer.”
People were running around the basket, placing things inside and there was a lot of bustle, although Pippa was unsure what was the reason for their urgency. She was fascinated by all the activity and there was a hubbub of noise around and behind their carriage as the other spectators chattered and pointed at the balloon.
William handed her a telescope, his hands brushing hers as he showed her how to focus it on the basket. She sneaked a quick glance at him, her heart turning over in response at the unchecked desire in his eyes.Oh, God. Her whole being seemed to be filled with a sense of waiting…and anticipation…and longing. Fearing he would see all those in her eyes, she redirected her regard to the telescope. A few Peelers walked up and down in their dark blue uniforms between the crowd of spectators and the balloonists and their team, making sure that there was no interference from anyone who was not supposed to be involved in the ascent. Pippa could now see that the balloon had risen and was now full.
Several gentlemen dressed incongruously in thick coats and mufflers were walking toward the basket. There was some conversation with the men who had been working on getting the balloon ready and then they climbed into the basket. The basket was now hovering above the ground and only the many tethered ropes kept the conveyance close to the grass.
Then some orders were given that she could not distinguish, and the ropes were released and pulled into the basket and the balloon was off the ground and was climbing fast to cheers from the crowd of spectators.
Pippa laughed. “It is astonishing how wonderful it is to watch!”
“It is,” he said with a smile in his tone. “Incredibly lovely.”
The soft intensity in his tone had Pippa quickly peeking at William. He was watching her and not the balloon, and she saw the heart-rending tenderness in his gaze. Her mouth dried, and she clenched her fingers on the telescope until they pained her. Pippa had to fight the overwhelming need to lean closer to him. “William?” she softly called to him, hating how inexplicably shy she felt at the moment.
“Pippa?”
“Why…why did you invite me here?”
“To watch the balloon ascent.”
“Infuriating man,” she whispered.
“You still adore me.”
Those words ripped through her chest, and she stared at him wordlessly. Shockingly he gently tapped her chin. Something intense flared through his eyes, and she suddenly felt out of sort.
“You are missing it, Pippa. Look to the sky.”
She wrenched her gaze back to the balloon rising spectacularly in the sky, trying to ignore his nearness and the dizzying current racing through her heart and entire body. He was so disturbing to her in every way, yet she still could not read his intention or understand exactly what he wanted from her.
* * *
William was learningthis courtship game was more complicated than he had anticipated. The lovely prey that he had been circling for a better part of a week stood in the ballroom laughing and chatting with a group of friends. How enchanting she appeared, garbed in a dark golden gown which clung to her lush, petite figure. Her raven-black hair had been swept up in a simple chignon, with artful curls kissing her cheeks, a few blooms from some of his flowers woven into her hair.
That tender emotion wrenched inside his heart. Though she had politely thanked him for the flowers yesterday, William wished that he had seen Pippa’s face when she received the bouquet; he imagined her pleasure might have been mixed with considerable annoyance. Had she ripped his note to shreds or had she smiled?
When he’d driven her home from Hyde Park yesterday, she had been silent…almost nervous. Their conversation had been light and almost inconsequential, yet his awareness of her had kept him on edge and his damn heart racing so much it was a wonder it had not expired. When he’d handed her down from the landau, she’d cast him a glare, dipped into a curtsy, and flounced away. William chuckled. He did enjoy her in all her moods, and he missed her.
Of late he had been drinking more than usual but still his sleep had been unsettled and full of dreams of Pippa, her laugh, her smile and of the way they had come together. If his suit was successful, then he was certain that their life together would always be interesting, and he didn’t want her to change.
A desperate hunger crawled through William. He wanted to go to her at this very moment but could not. Everyone seemed to understand that courtship should be handled with a perfect balance of charming sincerity and discretion. A gentleman could not show the lady he was pursuing, or even society itself, that he was completely besotted with her. Amusingly he had discovered that was just another path to ruination. Any too obvious feelings would imply they had already anticipated their marriage vows, and all the blame would fall on the lady for allowing him to take her to bed early.
Damn rubbish. Nor could he ask her to dance again tonight, though he wished Pippa in his arms more than anything else. He would have to dance with another lady first, or even two, before he could ask Pippa again. Dancing only with her again since he had already done so twice was another path to start wagging tongues and rumors surrounding their courtship. A discreet affair could be done more seamlessly. The rules were so damn stupid, but nonetheless he had to follow them so that she did not doubt his intentions when he asked her again to marry him.
“You are truly here,” Wycliffe murmured, coming to stand beside William, where he reclined by the Corinthian columns on the upper bowers. “I had to tell my wife you asked me courtship advice so that her claws did not come out when she sees you sniffing around her friend.”
William shot an icy glare at the earl, indeed noticing that his countess, Prue, watched William with a gimlet stare. He had foolishly mentioned a few times that Wycliffe should take a lover when their marriage had been strained, and the lady seemed determined to always remember it. He mockingly bowed in her direction, and Lady Wycliffe turned away but not before he saw that the corner of her mouth had hitched into a smile.
“Are you certain of this nonsense that I must dance with others?” he asked irritably, tugging at his cravat.
Wycliffe grinned, clearly enjoying William’s discomfort.
