Chapter Twenty-Six
Lina attempted to summon a smile, but failed quite spectacularly, unable to shift the deep frown from her face. She must have looked frightful, as the young woman next in line to have her fortune told recoiled and then stepped out of the line, glancing behind her as she retreated to a safer part of the fair.
‘You’re scaring away my customers,’ Sabina said, giving Lina’s hand a quick squeeze.
‘Sorry.’
‘Take a break. The dancing will be starting soon.’
Lina nodded, slipping away from the queue of eager young girls ready to have their fortune told and trying to lose herself in the crowds of the fair. She couldn’t believe it was only two months ago she’d first met Alex at a fair very much like this one. Even now she could remember every detail so vividly—his confident smile as he’d outlined the wager, the way he’d convinced Raul to let her go, how he’d taken her in his arms on the dance floor and made her fall a little in love with him even then.
When she’d left London just over a week ago, she’d thought she was doing the right thing. Time and distance were meant to help a broken heart, but it seemed like every day her pain got worse. She just wanted to see Alex one more time, look upon his face, perhaps even kiss his lips once more. It seemed so cruel that after so long in close company they would never be in the same room again.
As she neared the grassy space near the musicians that was to be used as the dance floor, John came striding over.
‘Ready to start the dancing?’ he asked.
Apart from Raul and Sabina, no one else knew the extent of Lina’s heartbreak, although everyone had been careful around her for the first few days after she’d returned. Uncle Tom had not reappeared, no doubt hiding from his creditors, and his threats that Lina was not welcome back home had been completely unfounded.
‘Shall we do the double spin at the end of the first round?’ Lina asked.
John grinned. ‘Sounds good, girl. The audience always loves that one.’
As the pace of the music began to increase, Lina felt a little of the gloom lift from her heart. Dancing at least provided a momentary respite from her heartbreak.
‘May I have this dance?’ a low voice asked just as they were about to step out in front of the audience.
Lina turned around slowly, barely able to believe it could be Alex standing behind her.
‘Alex! Wh-what are you doing here?’
‘You ran off without saying goodbye.’
Lina swallowed. It had been cowardly, but she hadn’t been able to face a long goodbye.
‘Are you dancing, Lina?’ John asked.
‘Find one of the village girls, John. We’ll start together.’
Alex led her out in front of the assembled crowd, placed a hand in the small of her back and pulled her towards him. Even through the material of her dress Lina’s skin sizzled at his touch and momentarily she forgot the steps that she’d been dancing for years.
Thankfully Alex improvised, whirling her round in great circles but always managing to keep her body close to his. Every so often his thigh would brush against hers, reminding Lina of that wonderful night they’d spent exploring each other’s bodies.
‘I didn’t think I’d ever see you again,’ Lina said as the music slowed and John started encouraging more of the villagers on to the dance floor.
‘Come with me,’ Alex said. He gripped her hand and pulled her through the crowds, only stopping when they were at the edge of the fair. It was quiet here, away from the hustle and bustle, but the sounds of merriment drifted over on the warm autumn breeze.
‘I missed you,’ Lina said before she could stop herself.
‘I missed you, too.’
His lips were on hers before Lina knew what was happening and she felt her legs go weak and buckle at the knees as he kissed her deeper and more passionately than ever before.
‘I’m sorry, Lina,’ Alex said, breaking away after a few moments. ‘I wronged you so completely. Can you forgive me?’
She frowned, unsure what he was asking forgiveness for.
‘I should never have asked you to be my mistress. I see now it was demeaning and stupid.’
‘You wanted me, I wanted you. It was the only way it could have happened,’ Lina said quietly.
‘No, it wasn’t.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘At the Wilcox ball I realised something—something I’d felt for a long time, but I hadn’t been able to admit to myself.’
Lina felt a fizz of anticipation. She wasn’t entirely sure why Alex had sought her out, why he’d brought her to this remote corner of the fair and kissed her, but already her heart was soaring. She just hoped it wouldn’t crash back down and break with his next words.
‘I love you, Lina, and I can’t bear to spend one more day without you.’
‘You love me?’
‘I love you.’
She swayed slightly on her feet, unable to fully comprehend his words, and immediately Alex’s arms were around her waist, holding her up.
‘You love me?’
‘I love you,’ he repeated for a third time.
‘I love you, too, Alex.’
‘I know,’ he said with a mischievous grin.
‘So arrogant.’
He shrugged. ‘Can you bear to spend your life with such an arrogant man?’
‘You mean...?’
‘Marry me, Lina.’
‘Surely it wouldn’t work? We’re from different worlds.’
‘I don’t care.’
‘You’ll be shunned from society.’
‘I don’t care.’
‘No one will ever accept us.’
‘I don’t care. The people who matter will come around when they see how much we love each other. The rest can gossip and whisper about us for years to come. All I want is you. Will you marry me?’ he asked for a second time.
‘Yes.’
He kissed her then, and time slowed so she felt every caress, every nip, until he reluctantly pulled away.
‘On one condition,’ Lina said, barely able to conceal her smile.
‘What’s that?’
‘You let me ride your Arabian.’
‘You drive a hard bargain, Lady Whitemore.’