But his voice stopped her.
“Lady Elizabeth.”
She paused.
“There’s a ball next week. An important one.”
“All of them are apparently important,” she replied without turning. “And yes, I can dance, if that’s what you meant to ask.”
“But can ye dance toallure?” he asked behind her.
She turned back sharply. Her arms folded across her chest and his eyes followed, dipping just slightly too low.
“That sounds improper.”
“Itisimproper.” His voice dropped, rough with something dangerous. “Do ye have a trusted maid?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Because tomorrow night, ye’ll come to me house. That’s where the next lesson will be.”
Not a request. Astatement.
“Are youmad?”
“Maybe,” he murmured. “But it’ll be discreet. Staff paid. Doors closed. No one will know.”
“That’s whatevery scandalbegins with,” she snapped.
And yet… her pulse quickened.
Because shewastempted. Her body remembered the way his eyes tracked her. The heat that flared between them in plain sight…
What would happen behind closed doors?
“I won’t do anything… untoward, me lady. It’ll only be a lesson,” he assured, his voice steady.
No. She should say no. Pomfrey had noticed her. She had options. She was this close to securing a respectable future.
And yet…
“Very well.” The words escaped before she could stop them.
She hated herself a little for it. But she also felt… thrilled.
“Good. I’ll send a carriage. Midnight.” His voice was low and reverent now, as if sealing a pact. “Be ready, lass.”
She didn’t know if it was a promise, an invitation… or a threat to everything she’d worked for.
But the sound of his voice haunted her long after she’d gone back home.
Chapter Fifteen
“What could go wrong?” she whispered to herself.
The answer was clear.
Everything.