Louisa could think of no way to answer, except to close the final, minuscule distance between them.
She loved him. She knew that now. What she didn’t know was what on earth to do about it.
HUGH MADE A HERCULEAN effort to pull himself away from Louisa.
She was utterly irresistible but he was conscious of the fact that there were other guests at this party and they would start to come upon them.
Much as he wanted her, he didn’t relish the idea of making it a spectator sport.
He studied her face for a moment, drinking in her heart-stopping beauty.
The sooner he got her back to the house and in a private room somewhere, the better.
“Come,” he said softly, taking her hand and walking toward the exit of the maze.
They walked in silence; Hugh was lost in his own thoughts and he assumed Louisa was lost in hers.
Still, she didn’t move her hand from his and Hugh was surprised at how happy that simple act made him. It felt right somehow, to be holding her hand, as though she had always belonged right there, walking beside him.
“Are you warm enough?” he asked her quietly, not wanting to speak loudly and ruin the perfect stillness that surrounded them.
Louisa smiled wryly.
“Not really,” she confessed.
He wasn’t surprised.
The sky was bright and cloud free; the stars and full moon gleaming, illuminating the gardens with a white light and though it was beautiful to see, it certainly made it chilly.
There was already frost forming on the grass beneath their feet.
And much as her dress was stunning enough to cause an apoplexy, it wasn’t conducive to keeping the cold at bay.
“Here,” he said gruffly, removing his coat and placing it around her shoulders.
It swamped her, which didn’t surprise him since she didn’t even come up to his chin.
What did surprise him was his reaction to seeing her in it.
All of a sudden, he was filled with a need to protect her, to keep her safe always.
It was a heady feeling but one which was more than a little confusing.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“My pleasure,” he said.
And then, because she looked so endearing, he leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on the top of her head.
It was a moment of perfection and he was starting to want a lifetime of them.
SHE WAS SURROUNDED BY his scent and it was exquisite.
Furtively, Louisa clasped the lapels of the dark blue superfine and inhaled. It smelled of soap, sandalwood, and Hugh. It was heavenly.
Hugh wasn’t speaking much and nor was she.
His chivalrous act, his concern for her wellbeing, his love for his brother and, of course, his kisses were forces too strong for her to fight.
She might as well embrace the fact that she loved him.
Then, when he rejected her as he had three years ago, she could go away and lick her wounds in peace.
But wouldn’t it be nice to just let herself enjoy his company?
“Let’s get inside and get warm,” Hugh interrupted her thoughts.
She looked guiltily at him.
“Oh, Hugh, you must be freezing,” she said, starting to remove his coat. Here, take—” her words trailed off as she looked at him, really looked at him, since he’d given her his coat.
Now that he wasn’t wearing his jacket, she could see more of him and what she saw was enough to make her mouth drier than the Sahara.
She could see the muscles of his arms through the thin material of his lawn shirt, they looked so defined, so big.
And his jacket had very obviously not been padded like that of some of the dandies of the ton, given the size of his shoulders and the breadth of his chest.
“Louisa?”
Her eyes snapped up to his, and she was horrified to see the light of amusement in them. He knew, the cad. He knew the effect his body was having on her.
“You were saying?” he continued with a smug grin.
“I thought you might be cold. I was g-giving you back your coat,” she murmured dropping her eyes and refusing to meet his gaze again.
“Keep it,” he said, chuckling softly. “I do believe your heated glances are enough to keep my blood warm.”
Louisa gasped in outrage. How dare he embarrass her so?
“I beg your pardon,” she exclaimed. “I am not giving you heated glances. The very idea.”
He laughed again then bent to give her a swift kiss.
“You are one in a million, Louisa Bright. Come on.”
He moved ahead of her, and Louisa scrambled to keep up.
“Take the coat back,” she demanded.
“No,” he answered mutinously.
“Hugh,” she said exasperatedly.
“Louisa.” He imitated her tone like a big, overgrown child.
“Will you take the bloody coat?” she screeched.
“I’ll tell you what,” he said, his tone placating. “Meet me later tonight, and you can return it to me.”
She eyed him suspiciously, her eyes narrowed.
“Can’t you just take it now?” she asked.
“I could. But I don’t want to. If you return it later, that means I get to see you later.”
Louisa couldn’t help but laugh at his charming smile.