Chapter Nineteen
G yles had watched Josephine’s reaction to the play far more than he watched the performers themselves. Seated in his family’s reserved box on the second floor of the theater, they had an overhead view of the stage. He swore the lady was on the edge of her seat the entire time until the intermission.
“Shall we get something to drink, my lady?” Gyles asked holding out his hand for her to take.
“That would be lovely.” Her gloved fingertips slipped into his palm as though they had always belonged there and tingling sensations went up his arm at their contact. She smiled brightly into his face and they excused themselves from Gyles’s parents.
Once Gyles had procured two glasses of wine, they stood in the vestibule with others who milled around talking. “Are you enjoying the performance?” he asked while her eyes sparkled in delight as if in answer to his question.
“Gyles… It’s been so long since I’ve been to the theater. It’s wonderful,” she exclaimed in excitement. Hearing his given name pass her lips caused his heart to flip inside his chest. “Are you enjoying the play as much as I am? ”
He chuckled thinking the play was average but maybe he was just used to attending these sorts of things and had become jaded in his opinion of them. “I am happy that you are happy with the play, my dear. If I am to be honest, I have been enjoying observing you watching the play more than the performance itself.”
She lowered her eyes while a serine smile graced her lips. “I’m not sure how to respond to such a statement, my lord. That you’re watching me so intently is a bit embarrassing,” she murmured.
“That I find you more entertaining than the play is a compliment, Josephine,” Gyles replied softly. He took a sip of his wine noticing a becoming blush rush across her cheeks and all he could think about was taking her in his arms.
“You are too kind, my lord.” She finished her wine licking her lips afterwards and this was almost his undoing. Those soft brown eyes rose to meet his own and that just about snapped his control. The house lights began to flicker announcing that the play was about to resume. People began to return to their seats.
Gyles finished his wine and handed their glasses to a passing servant. Placing her hand in the crook of his arm, he scanned the area finding a curtained alcove so they could have a moment of privacy and be hidden from view.
Josephine automatically turned in his arms. A promise lit her face, and he swore his heart melted for this lady at the sight. He didn’t hesitate as he lowered his head pressing his lips to hers. He allowed her to take the lead for he didn’t want to rush her and when she stepped closer, he pulled her into his arms and deepened their kiss.
A low moan of pleasure escaped her, and his tongue began to dance with hers. She tasted like the wine they had been drinking and he wished they were in a more private setting. But perhaps that made their little excursion all the more exciting… a taste of adventure he had been waiting to explore with this particular lady.
He remembered himself before she realized just how aroused he had become with such a simple kiss. When he stepped back, her look of disappointment was surely matched by his own dismay that they couldn’t continue their exploration of one another. She patted her hair, not that even a strand was out of place, and he held back the curtain, but Josephine stopped short and gasped.
The Duchess of Winshire stood with a look of displeasure written all over her features. “It’s a good thing you came out of there when you did, elsewise I would have needed to interrupt your little…” She let her words trail off while her eyes examined Josephine to see if she had been a willing participant.
Gyles bowed. Josephine curtseyed while they both murmured Your Grace .
She gave them no time to make any further reply when she continued. “I was going to send word for you both to meet with me next week, but I can see for myself we must expedite such a conversation. You will join me at Winshire House for afternoon tea tomorrow. No excuses.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” they answered in unison before they stole a glance at one another.
The duchess left them, and they quickly returned to their box to resume watching the play. But Gyles was already beginning to worry. He hated to think that his rash decision to kiss Josephine had ruined her chances of having the Duchess of Winshire’s approval. Without the duchess’s backing, Josephine might never return into the good graces of Society and this would be all his fault.