The duchess' welcome - pt 3

So comforted was he by her smile after the news he had received in their time apart, that he wanted to take her hand and run, like he did on their first morning together. He wanted to take her somewhere where it would be just the two of them. Somewhere where he could dance with her forever. More than that, though, James really wanted to kiss her. He wanted to pull out all the pins that held up her golden hair, tangle his fingers up in her curls and kiss her.

He must have been wearing his heart on his sleeve, because Zoey was getting uncomfortable. They were still at the foot of the staircase, his arms around her waist.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Duke and Duchess Beaumont will now dance The Lovers' Dance!" said Cassandra.

The crowd cheered and applauded again, but still James didn't budge. Zoey licked her lips nervously.

"Jamie, I think that's us," she said softly.

Damn those eyes! Damn them to hell! She thought as she felt herself getting light-headed the longer he looked at her with