did very well tonight,’ Alex said as they walked side by side.
‘It was hardly much of a test,’ Lina said with a shrug. ‘Your sister and her husband are not exactly judgemental. They are very easy to spend an evening with.’
‘Nevertheless, I think we might just win this little wager of ours.’
‘My behaviour wasn’t too scandalous?’
‘It wasn’t impeccable,’ Alex said after a moment’s thought, but regretted it as he saw Lina’s face drop. He could have just kept the tone light, congratulated her again, and enjoyed their time together, but something was gnawing at him, making him lash out uncharacteristically.
He stopped, turning to lean against a stone column to try to regain his equilibrium. Throughout the entire evening, ever since he’d seen her walk into the drawing room dressed in red and looking beautiful, he’d had the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her. He’d barely been able to tear his eyes away from her lips and all the time he’d been imagining what her body would feel like under his, what her skin would taste like and what her breath would feel like on his neck. He wanted her more than he’d wanted any woman in a long time.
Alex didn’t like this feeling—the sensation of being out of control. These last three years he had trained his mind and body to live by his strict rules, but suddenly they were rebelling.
Maybe he needed a mistress. Not Lina, of course—she was entirely inappropriate. His past lovers had mainly been young widows, but he had once been attached to an actress for a few months and before that an opera singer for nearly a year. Never had anyone he knew kept a gypsy dancer as a mistress.
Alex’s eyes flitted to Lina’s and for a moment he didn’t care about her background. A mistress was to be kept secret anyway, so perhaps it didn’t matter that Lina was from a different world.
‘What did you want to talk to me about?’ Lina asked. She’d turned half-away from him and was looking out over the gardens, her face illuminated by the moonlight.
‘I wanted to give you this.’ Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out a small package, handing it over to Lina. He felt a spark as their fingers touched that sent a shudder of desire through his whole body.
‘What is it?’
‘Open it and see.’
Deftly her fingers undid the small bow on the top of the box and pulled off the lid.
‘It’s beautiful.’
‘I’m sorry I can’t pay you.’
Not looking up, Lina gave a small nod, running her fingers over the sparkling silver hair comb.
‘Thank you,’ she said, her voice tight. Alex scrutinised her face, wondering if he’d done something wrong.
‘I know it’s not much.’
She shook her head. ‘I think it’s the most beautiful thing anyone has ever given me.’
Despite the words of reassurance Alex could tell something wasn’t quite right.
‘If you would prefer something else we can always return it,’ he added. He didn’t have much experience of buying women gifts, not recently.
‘It is perfect. Thank you.’
‘Allow me.’ He took the comb from her, placed his hands on the thin material that covered her shoulders and spun her round so her back was to him. Against his better judgement he allowed his fingers to trail across the soft skin at the nape of her neck, wishing it was his lips instead. He felt her stiffen beneath his touch and quickly, before he could do anything he might regret, he pulled his hands away. Gently he slid the comb into the back of her hair, adjusting it so it was straight.
‘Thank you,’ Lina said, raising her hand to her hair and gingerly touching the comb. She turned and for a moment they were standing far too close, their bodies only inches apart. It would be so easy to lean forward, take her in his arms and kiss her until she begged him for more. Alex felt his body sway slightly, closing the gap between them, but at the last second he gained control of himself and stepped away.
‘Shall we return to the others?’ he asked stiffly.
He saw her hesitate. ‘I’ll follow you in a minute or two.’
Normally Alex would not let a young woman remain outside by herself, even somewhere as safe as his own home, but right now he had to put some distance between them and if that meant being ungentlemanly, then so be it. He knew if he stayed out here with Lina any longer, he would do something he would regret.
Lina watched Alex stroll back along the terrace and disappear inside the house and slowly willed her body to relax. Carefully she raised her hand to her hair and touched the comb again, running her fingers over the intricately decorated surface and feeling the tears spring to her eyes.
‘Don’t be a fool,’ she whispered to herself.
The words she had said to Alex were true: this was the most beautiful gift anyone had ever given her.
Needing some time and space to clear her head, Lina carefully lifted the skirts of her dress and descended the steps into the garden. She would return to the house in a few minutes, but first she needed a moment or two to regain control of herself.
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