"You mean kiss me to make him jealous? It won't work. Blake is impervious-"
"If you really think that, you have a lot to learn about Blake. So, shall I kiss you now? Then we can see what happens."
She was not completely averse to the idea, so she said, "All right, do it," and puckered her lips as though she had tasted something sour.
Philip laughed. "I can see you really do need some help. But I think it might be better if it happened unexpectedly. After all, most men aren't going to give you fair warning that they're about to try to seduce you."
"And are you? Trying to seduce me?" she dared to ask.
He shook his head. "No, my dear. Never. Merely trying to prove to you that you're wasting your time if you think you'll be able to settle for anything less than the man you love."
"What makes a rake like you such an expert on love?" she challenged impertinently.
He shrugged, and for a moment looked so bleak that she was sorry she had ever been so rude. "I wasn't always a rake, you know. I'm certain love exists. My parents- But no more of that. Love is not for me, so I live as a rake."
"Why is it not for you?"
"I'm a dreadful sinner. I don't deserve-"
Impulsively she leaned forward and gave him a warm kiss. It was very nice, but nothing like the torrid kisses she had shared with Blake. She stepped back and grinned. "I think this is just another gambit to get women into bed. The brooding and misunderstood hero."
He flashed her a warm smile which did not light his eyes. "Good. You're getting the hang of this game. But as I was saying."
He had by now led her out onto the small terrazzo. As soon as the other couple who had been canoodling cleared out, he took her into his arms for a warm and very skilled kiss. It was interesting, and she complimented him on his skill and asked for a second kiss for practice.
"Like this," he instructed, gliding his tongue into her mouth, and encouraging her to do the same.
"And men like that?"
"If it's the right woman, surely. Now just remember, we men are a bit bristly." He lifted her hand and put it to his cheek. "So don't grind your chins or flesh together too much or you'll leave marks."
"I see," she said, feeling a light prickling through the fabric of her glove. "Thank you. You've been a big help," she said honestly.
"Here, try this," he suggested, giving her one more deep and prolonged kiss.
She kissed him as a purely academic exercise. He did not make her at all nervous, nor aroused either. Eventually he lifted his lips.
"So, now that we've got that out of the way, will you own that I was right about Blake?"
"What about me?" Blake asked, looking daggers at Philip, for he had seen the last long kiss between them and felt livid.
"That you're a perfect guardian," she said promptly.
Blake stared at her in confusion. He had seen them kissing with his own eyes, yet they did not even look guilty or concerned. Or flushed with passion. Not like when he and she had-
Philip bowed. "I'm going to see if I can find my partner for the next dance. Enjoy the fresh air, you two."
"Was he troubling you in any way?" Blake asked with a frown.
"Not at all," she said sincerely. "Why?"
"I wouldn't like to think I had been less than vigilant where you are concerned. He was kissing you, and he is said to be-"
"I know. We have discussed it. You've tried to warn me off him. But he's fine. He doesn't trouble me in the least."
As she spoke she dared to step closer to Blake, and she could feel the warmth of his body. She sobered, thinking of all the time they had spent together in each other's arms under the travelling rugs.
"Cold?" he asked. His eyes too glowed with the warmth of the shared recollection.
He dared to put one arm around her, and led her back into the ballroom. "Come, my dear, another dance will warm you up, I'm sure."
"If you like."
She could not really complain about being in his arms. She just wished it was some place other than upon the crowded dance floor. At least he got to press himself more tightly to her as they waltzed.
But at the end of the dance he said curtly, in a far more harsh a tone than he intended, "I would appreciate it if in future you were not seen skulking in corners with Philip Marshall. You will only get yourself talked about."
She glared at him. "I shall take it under advisement."
Adam came along at that moment, and she seized upon his offer to dance like a dog upon a bone.
Blake could have kicked himself. He had now propelled her into the arms of yet another man… And Arabella was angry, he could tell.