One Sinful Night Read Free

music, the knot in his stomach only tightened at the thought of enduring a week of Vivienne’s company. Dinners, card parties, picnics, games, musicales. He would be in contact with her constantly. Even a house as massive as Bingham Hall was too small, too confining, too intimate for both of them to survive the week unscathed. There would be no polite way to avoid interacting with her.
    â€œMay I cut in on this dance, Aidan?” Gregory Cardwell asked in his casual, easy manner. “I’ve grown very weary of dancing with my little Irish cousin all night.”
    Aidan could hardly refuse Gregory’s simple request without appearing boorish. And, judging from the look of surprised dismay on Vivienne’s beautiful face, she was not at all inclined to dance with him either. His gentlemanly manners were too ingrained in him. He had no choice but to dance with her, although Gregory was oblivious to how much Aidan wanted to throttle him.
    â€œOf course,” he mumbled, releasing Helene.
    Before Aidan quite realized it, Gregory had waltzed away with Helene and he stood alone with Vivienne. She waited, her eyes downcast, the long dark lashes contrasting against her smooth, ivory skin. Was she that nervous to be with him? Or that disdainful?
    Suddenly an exuberant young couple unwittingly bumped Vivienne from behind, causing her to stumble against him. Acting on instinct he grabbed her upper arms to steady her. Her head fell against his chest and then she gazed up at him in surprise.
    He swirled in the deep blue of her eyes, unable to speak. His heart raced at the unexpected feel of her so close to him. He had forgotten how petite she was, how easy to hold. The light floral fragrance of her washed over him, recalling the scent of the ocean along a rocky coast, drenching him in an achingly sweet memory: the first time he ever kissed her. It had been heaven to kiss Vivienne by the sea.
    She struggled to right herself, pushing away from him. Instantly he released her as if scalded. His hands trembled slightly and his heart raced. He squared his shoulders and mentally shook himself, taking a deep breath to steady his raw nerves.
    â€œWe might as well dance, Vivienne. We shall be trod upon if we stand here any longer.” His voice sounded harsh, even to him.
    â€œCan you bear dancing with me, Aidan?” she questioned cryptically.
    â€œIf you can bear dancing with me.” He held out his hands to her.
    She merely nodded her head and accepted his hands, which trembled still. Her contact undermined his steady nerves. They moved together awkwardly at first, then fell in rhythm with the strains of the music. The distinct uneasiness between them was to be expected, yet it irritated him that she kept her eyes downcast and refused to meet his gaze, while he could not help but stare at her.
    â€œYou did not seem as surprised to see me as I was to see you,” he stated when he could endure the awkward silence no longer.
    She shrugged lightly, the delicate movement of her bare shoulders almost knocking the wind out of him. “I knew when I came to England that it was bound to happen sooner or later.”
    Her coolness left him unnerved, but he could not stop himself from asking, “You did not marry after all?” The impulse to know her answer was too strong to resist.
    â€œNo.” She answered simply, with no explanation, although an unspoken name hung in the air between them. She looked directly at him, as if daring him to say it aloud.
    His gut clenched yet again at the sight of her dazzling blue eyes fringed by long black lashes. Had she always been this beautiful? He’d never seen her dressed so elegantly, but that was not quite it. Vivienne had grown more…womanly. More lushly feminine. She held herself gracefully, with a surprising air of confidence. He fought an increasing desire to lean close and drown himself in kissing her soft, sensual lips. He could barely breathe at the