Despite her embarrassment, Charlotte felt a little smile lurking at the edge of her lips. She relaxed against him. He crossed his arms over her chest and rested his chin on the top of her head.

“Alas,” he said with mock seriousness. “Even this prudent embrace is not going to help me. Why don’t you go warn the group that the fireworks will arrive soon? I shall make my way back to Mr. Glister and offer him some more help.”

He didn’t say it, but obviously if he stayed with Mr. Glister it provided an alibi for their time in the fruit arbor, Charlotte thought. Her heart felt curiously light. She skipped forward, out of his arms, and turned around. Alex looked like an enormous dark shadow, leaning against the tree. She took a step, leaned forward, and pressed her lips against his.

“I knew that all those classical plays had much to offer,” she said softly against his lips. “I could become quite interested in reading … about satyrs, for example.” She turned in a flurry of black ribbons and half flew back to the lights of the house.

Alex cursed again, out loud this time. Damn but these pantaloons were uncomfortable! He grinned and strode back toward Mr. Glister. She was his now. Tomorrow he would go to her father and tell him so.

Thirty minutes later Alex loomed up at Charlotte’s left shoulder as glorious bursts of light cracked and scattered, drifting with the wind in drops of green and gold light. His hands rested lightly on her shoulders and he pulled her back against him. Charlotte snuggled there, feeling curiously content after all the fierce emotion of the past few hours. Up at the window a lean white face watched as a red poppy formed and seemed about to be eaten by a rearing stallion.

Sophie, standing in the circle of her three gallants, peeked at Charlotte. She looked so happy, so glowing. Sophie hoped the viscountess didn’t notice Alex’s hands on Charlotte’s shoulders.

For her part, Charlotte was content just to lean against Alex. She didn’t give a thought to Viscountess Dewland, or the footmen, or anyone else who might see them. She had just discovered that her bottom was snug against the top of Alex’s legs, and although there had been nothing disturbing there a minute ago, even as the poppy flew into a hundred brilliant scarlet sparks she felt … well, she felt. She grinned happily.

Chapter 11

Chapter 11