Love Lost in Time (Victorian Time-Travel) (13 page)

“Indeed, it appears that way, doesn’t it?” He chuckled and nodded. “Nevertheless, I thank you for the compliment.”

He stepped a little closer and leaned to her ear. Her heart knocked wildly against her chest. Warm breath blew against her neck from his mouth, making her shiver.

“
You are very lovely tonight, too.”

Her grin widened. “Thank you.”

“Now tell me, Miss Chapman, have you seen those two men yet?”

Gulping to moisten her suddenly dry throat, she shook her head. “Not yet.”

“Then, shall we dance?” He held out his hand, palm up.

“I believe that is a splendid idea, my lord.” She placed her hand in his and he escorted her out on the floor.

As luck would have it, the orchestra began playing a waltz instead of a country dance. This meant she would be closer to Andrew just as she wanted.

At first,
his gaze was everywhere but on her. He seemed nervous, which was a hard thing for her to believe. Andrew Merrick…nervous? For some reason, that just didn’t fit in with his personality. But how else could she explain his hesitation to look at her, or ever talk to her? Well, she must say something—anything—to get his eyes upon her once again.

“What an accomplished dancer you are,” she finally said.

He looked at her and nodded. “And let me say the same about you…especially for being an
American.
”

Humor gleamed in his gaze
. She grinned and added, “Were you afraid I was not educated in the art of dancing?”

“I must admit the
thought had crossed my mind.”

Slowly, she slid her hand up his muscular arm a bit, relishing in his incredible build.

“But I’m relieved to admit,” he continued, “that I think you dance just as well as any lady I’ve partnered with.”

His comment made her grateful she had taken ballroom dancing classes before.
“I thank you for the kind words. However, I only have a few dance partners to compare you to, and you have outshone them by far.”

He chuckled. “Miss Chapman, you are truly a flatterer…a most
bold
flatterer, I’ll add.”

“Only when the occasion calls for it.” She shrugged. “I usually only hand out compliments when they are necessary.”

His gaze skimmed slowly over her face, lingering longer on her mouth. Her breathing became ragged, and it had nothing to do with the exertion of moving around in this layered gown, either…or the corset that seemed very tight right now.

“Miss Chapman, will you please tell me why you are so bold with your words?”

She arched an eyebrow. “Do you enjoy women with that trait, my lord?”

The smile on his mouth stretched wider. “Do you
want
me to enjoy aggressive women?”

Gads, he was adorable when he flirt
ed. “Actually, I do, my lord.”

His hand resting on her waist tugged her a little closer. She couldn’t stop the sigh from escaping her lips, and heaven help her, but she couldn’t stop herself from wanting to be held by this strong man in an intimate embrace. Of course, here on the dance floor was not the romantic spot for their first kiss, so hopefully he’d ask her to go outside for a walk pretty quickly.

“Tell me, Miss Chapman, why have you set your sights on me, especially when you claim we have never met?”

She sucked in a quick breath.
What do I say now?
Hesitating, she hoped to have an intelligent thought pop into her head. “Is it a crime to admire someone only after a few days of meeting them? What I have seen of you, my lord, you are indeed an impressive man. What girl wouldn’t want to set her sights on you?” Halle seriously hoped her answer wasn’t too forward, yet it seemed that was the only way to act tonight.

Several seconds passed before he grinned and looked away. Slowly, she released her breath. At least he’d accepted her answer. For now, anyway.

Just as when they had first started dancing, his attention was everywhere but on her. But he still held her scandalously closer than when they had first started dancing. That was encouraging since he could have pulled away by now. But she wanted to talk to him more…wanted to hear his deep, sensual voice, and gaze into his dreamy blue eyes.

“So tell me,
my lord,” she began when the silence between them had become irritating, “when do I get to meet your brother’s fiancée, Lady Agnes Caldwell?”

Andrew’s head snapped toward her so fast she feared it would spin right off his neck. Gone was the pleasant expression he held a few moments ago. His eyes were wide and filled with distrust. Her heart sank.
What have I done now?

* * * *

Andrew studied the woman in his arms. There was something about Miss Chapman that made him want to laugh and enjoy her company one moment, and the next, feel like she was someone he should be wary of.

“How do you know about
Lady Agnes?” he whispered. He shook his head slowly, his eyes not leaving hers. “The only people to know about Edward and Lady Agnes are my brother, Father, and Mother. Even Lady Agnes doesn’t know Edward is going to propose.”

The color from her face slowly faded. She licked her lips before gulping nosily. “Uh…was I not supposed to know about their engagement?”

“Considering there is no engagement, yes, you are not supposed to know.”

“Why is there not an engagement?” she asked with hesitation.

“Something has come up and my father asked Edward not to propose to Lady Agnes yet.”

“Oh,” she answered in a quiet voice.

“Tell me, Miss Chapman, how do
you
know about it? My father, mother, and especially Edward, have not told anyone. So it’s most curious to how you were able to obtain this information.”

“Uh…well, you see, my lord…”

She looked away from him as her gaze moved around the room. Her cheeks were still void of color, and now panic highlighted her green eyes. Suspicion bore deep within his heart. Something was definitely not right!

“Yes, Miss Chapman?” he urged.

“Well, you see…there is a rational explanation. Really there is.” Her focus came back to him for a brief moment. “Although, you might not think it’s that rational at all,” she added softly before looking elsewhere once again.

“I would certainly like to hear it, nonetheless.”

She chuckled, and it sounded forced. “Yes, I’m sure you would…as much as I would love to give it to you...but—” She stopped mid-sentence and stared in one direction. Her eyes widened and shock registered on her face. “Oh, my gosh! What is
he
doing here?”

He glanced in the route her gaze had taken, but he didn’t know to whom she questioned.

“No freakin’ way!” she said, but louder. “Holy crap, I don’t believe what I’m seeing!”

The people around them slowed in their dancing to stare agape at Miss Chapman. Inwardly, he groaned. The little tart was making a spectacle of herself
, and the language she used was most bizarre. “Miss Chapman, please lower you voice.”

“But…it’s him!”

He jerked his head back toward the corner of the room where she was looking. “Who? One of the men you saw before?”

“No, not them. This guy…well, he’s from the bed and breakfast! What’s he doing here in this time?”

Confusion filled Andrew’s head. “Miss Chapman, I fear I don’t understand.”

The dance finally ended, and he pulled on her arm and led her toward the side door. “Will you accompany me outside so we can discuss this in private?”

Finally, she tore her gaze away from the person she’d been staring at and looked at Andrew. “You don’t understand…he shouldn’t be here.”

“Please, Miss Chapman, refrain from saying anymore until we are outside and nobody else can overhear our conversation,” he urged quietly.

He tried not to draw undue attention to them as he ushered her out the door. A few couples strolled the lighted pathway, so he slowed his steps and acted as if he were outside enjoying the moonlight with a woman…which he probably would have been if not for the doubt rushing through his head mixed with the bewilderment from her words.

Glancing at her, he noticed she wrung her hands against her middle. Confusion
marred her expression, but he knew it was for different reasons. She appeared as if she was trying to figure out something.

“It’s certainly a lovely night,” he said only because he didn’t know what else to say.
He didn’t want ask her about the outburst she had inside until he was sure nobody else was around to listen.

“Hmm…yes, it is.” She peeked at him before dropping her gaze back to the path they walked.

“I must say, Miss Chapman, I’m surprised at your loss for words.”

Laughing, she met his gaze again. “You
’re surprised? I’m completely floored!”

He shook his head. “Your choice of words certainly make
s you more interesting.”

She grinned. “Which I suppose can only be a good thing, correct?”

He didn’t answer, just continued walking. They headed for a cluster of trees. He scanned the area around them, and when nobody was nearby, he grasped her hand and pulled her back into an alcove. Shadows surrounded them, making them much more secluded. She stood in front of him with downcast eyes, still wringing her hands. Even though she confused him greatly, she was still a very beautiful woman. Breathtaking, in fact.

“Will you now tell me who the man is that you saw?
And why, pray tell, did you cause such an embarrassing scene in there?” He lifted her chin with his finger until her eyes met his.

“
It surprised me to see Nigel…” She paused and then shrugged. “Actually, I’m not sure if Nigel is his first name or last.”

“How do you know him?” Andrew asked.

“He was the front desk clerk at the bed and breakfast…the inn where I was staying before I came here.”

“Why were you so surprised to see him here?”

“Well…” She took another noisy swallow. “Because I didn’t expect to see him here. I mean, I thought he was from my time—not yours.”

A slight pound knocked against Andrew’s skull
. What in the blazes was Miss Chapman talking about? “Why do you say that? I’ve heard you say it that way a few occasions. Pray tell, what does
time
have to do with it?”

“Believe it or not,
time
has everything to do with it. I wouldn’t be here if not for time. I would have never met you if not for
time.
”

Andrew rubbed his forehead
, baffled.

Sh
e reached up and took hold of his hand, moving it away from his head. She kept it in her grasp as she ran her thumb across his knuckles. She was a bold woman to touch him in such a personal way. Yet it amazed him to think this small gesture softened his heart, and eased his headache slightly.

“My words are going to become very confusing here shortly. I just want to make sure you are prepared for what I have to tell you. I desperately want you to understand what I’m about to
say. It would kill me if you don’t understand or believe me.”

The pleading in her eyes let him know how important this was.
Whatever she had to say, she struggled with it, yet she acted as if she wanted to deliver the news to him in a calm, gentle manner.

“Tell me.”

Softly, her fingers stroked his hand. Her touch was so very tender. So soothing.
Affectionate. And so very personal. A different emotion leapt inside of him, and once again, he received the impression they had known each other before, but he knew not where. Now as she touched him, peace settled inside him. He was not as confused as he’d been moments earlier, and it really didn’t matter what explanation she gave about her confusing actions. As long as she continued to gaze into his eyes and stroke his hand…he was fine.

Little by little, he became mesmerized by the passion in her
green eyes—the way her gaze slid over his face slowly from the top of his head, to his eyes, his nose, and to rest of his mouth. The lovely color of her eyes darkened, which made the desire he had for this incredible, interesting woman kick up a notch. For a fleeting moment, nothing else mattered but holding her. This woman made his thoughts jumbled, yet all he wanted to do was close his eyes and enjoy her touch.

The moonlight peeked through the leaves and highlighted her hair, making the golden strands in her locks stand out more. It took all of his willpower not to pull the pins from her hair and admire the way her length tumbled over her shoulders in a seductive manner.

With his free hand, he cupped her face. She gasped, but then a dreamy sigh quickly followed as she stared deeply into his eyes. She even snuggled closer to his touch.

Never before had a woman’s reaction to his caress been so rattling, but he knew without a doubt Miss Chapman was attracted to him…nearly as much as he was attracted to her. He wouldn’t stop to question why things were happening so quickly. There was time for that later. Now, all he wanted to do was…