‘My wife remains at my side,’ he said.
As he turned round, Villanueva’s urbane smile didn’t alter either. ‘Well, I cannot blame you for that, my lord. All the same the offer remains if you change your mind.’
‘You are the flower of courtesy,’ replied Harry. ‘However, I shall not change my mind.’
The conde’s eyes glinted briefly; then he bowed. ‘Well, then, I can only wish you a safe journey. Now, if you will excuse me, I will return to my other guests.’
As he walked away Elena shivered a little. Harry regarded her with concern.
‘Are you all right, my dear?’
‘Yes. Quite all right, I thank you.’
‘Are you sure? You look a little pale.’
In truth the conde’s advances had left her feeling shaken. He was undoubtedly an experienced womaniser, and now she wondered uneasily if he had sensed something about her that had led him to try his luck. Such men tended to be intuitive. He could not possibly know about her past but the incident left an unpleasant taste. It annoyed her that she had laid herself open to such attentions; she was clearly out of practice when it came to social functions like this one.
‘It’s my fault,’ she replied. ‘I should not have come out here alone, only the room was so hot and I needed some air. I didn’t think anyone would even notice.’
‘You are entitled to take the air without being propositioned by a cur.’
She hugged herself defensively. ‘Odious man.’
He frowned. ‘He didn’t try to...’
‘Nothing like that, thank goodness.’
‘As well for him that he did not.’
‘What would you have done? Hit him?’
‘No, killed him.’
Seeing his expression then she was left in no doubt that he meant it. The realisation sent a different kind of shiver down her spine.
Harry kept the lid on his ire. While the thought of any man making suggestive remarks to his wife was an affront, he was glad that he’d been able to nip the situation in the bud and so avoid a very public confrontation. Villanueva had evidently been of the same mind. Having been warned off he wouldn’t try and renew his addresses to Elena.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I didn’t mean to cause trouble.’
‘You didn’t create that situation. He did.’ Harry put his arms around her. ‘You have no need to apologise and no need to be afraid. He can’t hurt you.’
The gentleness in his voice was like balm and she relaxed against him. ‘It was his manner I found so disagreeable.’
He dropped a kiss on her hair. ‘I won’t let anyone hurt you again.’
She looked up quickly and her gaze met his. The intensity of that piercing look caused her pulse to quicken. Very slowly he bent closer until his lips brushed hers.
Harry checked a little then, suddenly afraid that, after all she had endured at the hands of men, such advances might not be welcome from him either.
She felt him hesitate and gently returned the kiss. Thus reassured, he drew her closer. Immediately, all thought of Villanueva was swept away by a flood of sensation in which chill was replaced by delicious, glowing warmth. The glow kindled to flame. Elena pressed closer, her body moulding itself to his, and the kiss became deeper. Now there was no fear, only increasing desire and she surrendered to it, giving herself up to the moment.
Harry restrained the urge to crush her in his arms and let his own desire have free rein. He had no wish to frighten or, worse, repel her. What mattered was that she should enjoy this and want more. Eventually he drew back, looking into her face.
‘I think we should go back inside.’ He smiled wryly. ‘Otherwise I may lose what little self-control I have left.’
‘That might cause a few raised eyebrows.’
‘I fear it would do a lot more than that.’
The implications brought a rosy blush to her cheeks. At the same time it caused a surge of hope that he really did want her, after all. If they’d been alone... Her blush deepened. She had no idea where so bold a thought had come from and was only glad he couldn’t read her mind just then.
Harry surveyed her appreciatively. ‘Do you know how very lovely you are when you blush like that?’
Her neck and face grew hotter. His smile did nothing for her composure at all. ‘You are enjoying this, aren’t you?’
‘You have no idea.’ The tone was both mischievous and provocative.
‘It’s no use, my lord. I shall not rise to this teasing.’
‘What a shame. I shall have to try harder.’
With that he took her back to the ballroom. If she had imagined he’d relinquish her hand, then she was mistaken. He kept a firm hold of it until the next measure struck up. Then he led her onto the floor. As they moved through the steps every look and touch achieved heightened significance and there could be no mistaking the look in his eyes. Her pulse quickened in response. At that moment desire outweighed fear and she found herself anticipating the time when they would be alone together.