He led her deeper into the garden but well away from the hazardous vegetation. With his hands around her waist, he waltzed with her. Emily’s heart beat faster, and she swallowed hard. She could smell his shaving soap, and his palm rested upon her spine. His eyes were dark silver in the mist. Were it not for the moonlight, they would have stood in complete darkness.

She accidentally stepped on him, and his eyes narrowed. “Why aren’t you wearing shoes?”

“They didn’t fit. I could not tolerate the pain any longer, so I hid them behind a plant.”

He shook his head in exasperation, then lifted her feet to stand atop his. He pressed her close, and memories welled up inside. He had held her in his arms like this before they’d run away to be married. At the time, she had believed it to be wildly romantic, and he, the daring hero. Now she saw their impulsive wedding as the mark of fools.

“I am sorry about the way I treated you back there,” he murmured. “But after tonight, I don’t want to put you or the children at risk of attack. I wouldn’t forgive myself if they harmed you.”

She didn’t acknowledge the apology but shivered at his warm breath against her cheek. When the music ceased, he held her for a moment.

The faint light of the moon cast shadows over his face. Upon his collar she saw the faint stain of blood, and it bothered her. He had almost died tonight. She found herself watching him, her breath rising and falling in rhythm with his.

Lord help her, she remembered too well what it was to love this man. Her hand moved up to his face, as if to memorize it. The warmth of his skin, the striking features of his face captivated her. His dark gray eyes melted away her inhibitions.

And this time, she kissed him. At first, the lightness of his lips against hers was like a soft breeze, barely there. Then, he slanted his mouth to take her more deeply, his tongue touching hers. The wet sensation made her relive every moment of her wedding night in his arms.

He had been every dream come true, both gentle and passionate. She’d loved him so much, believing that he loved her, too. The memory shadowed her, the past colliding with the present.

Don’t think of it. Just be with him now.

The seduction in his eyes held her spellbound, stealing her breath while intense heat spread through her skin. Her breasts tightened against the delicate fabric, as his mouth moved away from hers to trail down to her shoulders.

She closed her eyes. “You don’t remember anything of what it was like, do you?” Her own memories haunted her, of feeling his hardened body atop hers. “Our wedding night.”