Dancing On Air (23 page)

Lisette did not turn around when the door opened, as she expected it was her aunt. It was only when she looked into the ornate mirror that she realised she was wrong. Evander’s image was reflected in the smooth glass. Their eyes met and held, and Lisette felt her heart lurch. She loved him and it took all her strength to stay where she was, rather than leaping to her feet and running into his arms. Staring into his sherry eyes, she knew in the depths of her being that she would always be his. But no matter how much she wanted Evander, she would not become her mother. She wanted a future with love, children and respectability. She wanted her children not only to have their father’s name but also his presence in their lives. Evander could not give her that. Perhaps no man could.

‘Why are you here, Evander?’ Lisette asked. ‘I thought we had said all there was to say to each other.’

‘Your performance tonight was perfection,’ Evander said as he stepped further into the room.

‘Thank you, but you did not answer my question. Why are you here?’

‘To beg your forgiveness.’

‘I cannot change my mind, Evander, no matter how much my heart would wish it otherwise.’

‘I know, I am not asking you to reconsider.’

Lisette closed her eyes. It was absurd, but for an instant she couldn’t breathe. ‘Then why come? Meeting only causes us pain. Far better that we try and forget each other.’

Evander was standing directly behind her chair. He did not reach out and touch her but she could feel the heat of his body. She steeled herself and sat straight up in the chair, but all she wanted to do was to lean back and feel his fingers on her skin.

‘Do you believe that is even possible?’ Evander’s voice was husky and it rolled over her like a satin sheet, smooth and sensually soft.

‘No,’ Lisette said as she stared back at his reflection. ‘No it’s not, but it is all we can do.’

‘I cannot be without you, Lisette... I love you.’ Slowly, Evander reached out and placed his hands on her trembling shoulders.

‘I love you, Evander, but it changes nothing.’ Evander’s image began to mist as tears welled in her eyes.

‘Ah, Lisette... It changes everything.’ Evander bent down and kissed the top of her head.

Lisette stopped herself from tipping her head back and catching his lips. ‘I do not see how. I will not be your mistress and you cannot marry me. We are at an impasse and we have no future together.’

He moved quickly, turning her chair to face him before she could resist. Then dropping down on his knees he placed his hands on her lap.

‘Evander, get up. This does neither one of us any good,’ Lisette said as she dropped her gaze and looked at his elegant hands.

‘Look at me,’ he said as he reached out one hand and gently tilted her chin up. ‘Look at me...and I promise everything will be all right, Lisette. Upon my life, everything will be all right.’

Slowly raising her head, she did as he asked. ‘Sometimes, Evander, no matter how much we wish it...sometimes love isn’t enough,’ she said with a wistful smile.

‘But you’re wrong, Lisette, or more to the point, I was wrong. Love is everything; I was just too stupid to see it. I swear, Lisette, nothing will keep us apart. I love you and we will be married.’

Lisette wondered if she had heard him correctly. ‘Evander, we cannot marry. You said that your family would not approve. You said that if you married me, they would wash their hands of you.’

‘I do not care, Lisette. I’ll be damned if I’ll marry for money and position — Alistair can do that. He has the title and one day will be the duke, not me. I want only you, Lisette... I love only you.’

Her heart swelled with each of his words. She clutched his hands and squeezed them. ‘Evander, I am used to nearly nothing, but can you survive without your property and fine clothes? I would have you any way I can, but if you choose this path...if you choose us, you will be turning your back on your privilege. Can you live with that, or will you regret this decision in the future?’

‘Ah Lisette, we are not destitute yet. And I will never regret choosing you.’ He leaned forward and caught her in a kiss.

Lisette wound her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. His lips were warm and their kiss was kindled by their love and the salt of Lisette’s tears. His arms encircled her and gathered her closer to his heart. Lisette wasn’t sure how long they clung to each other, as time seemed to alter. It merged, sped up and inched along; Lisette couldn’t tell if an hour or a minute had passed. But the truth was she didn’t care. A tingling warmth furled through her body and she wished that she could get closer to Evander.

He pulled back and ran his finger down her tear-tracked cheek. ‘Don’t cry. I have planned everything. Soon we will be married and no one will have the power to separate us.’

‘How?’

Evander gave her a smile. ‘These past weeks I’ve been at Temperly.’

‘Where is that?’

‘North. It is a small estate that belongs to my family. If I were pressured to tell where my favourite place is, other than by your side, it would be at Temperly. But that is beside the point. Not only have I spent the last few weeks there but I have also visited Temperly Edge.’

Lisette gave him a questioning look but remained silent.

‘Temperly Edge is the small village that sits near the estate. I have arranged with Vicar Davis for the banns of our marriage to be called. We will travel to Temperly as soon as possible and be wed.’

‘You have already arranged this? But when did you decide that this was what you truly wanted?’ Lisette asked.

‘I knew that I had made the wrong decision as soon as we had parted. I admit that I am stubborn and it took my entire journey to Pimlico and a verbal beating from Uncle Hans to fully realise what a fool I had been. Once home, I had to make it right. So I left for Temperly that night.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me this?’

‘A mixture of pride and fear. You said that you never wanted to see me again. And I wouldn’t have blamed you. You see, you were right, as much as I hate to admit it… I was afraid. Afraid of what my family would say about us, afraid to make a stance and be accountable for what was truly in my heart. But that is all in the past. I want you, Lisette. I want you as my wife, my lover and my friend,’ Evander answered with a smile. ‘But you have yet to say if you will take me for a husband.’

‘Yes Evander... I will be your wife,’ Lisette said with a laugh. Her mind swirled at the revelation. For the first time in her life it appeared that she was about to get everything she ever wanted — someone who actually loved her.

‘Good!’ Evander stood up and quickly pulled Lisette into his embrace and kissed her hard on the mouth.

Lisette felt his strong arms around her. His kiss enticed and drew her in. He was hers and he loved her enough to give up everything. Happiness bubbled within her but the idea of what Evander was sacrificing for her cooled her enthusiasm. She broke their kiss and took a step back. A frown creased her brow.

‘Evander, you should not have to give up your position and family for me. I love you and that you are willing to sacrifice all to be with me is humbling but I cannot let you. One day, you will look at me and think that the forfeit was too much. One day you will blame me for the hardship in your life, a hardship you would not have to bear if we were to part.’

‘No Lisette, this is what I want. I see that now...and with a clarity that I never thought possible. I will not be without you and I will not allow our hearts to be dictated by our families. Your love has changed me. When I see myself reflected in your eyes I see the man I want to become, and that is only possible if we spend the rest of our lives together.’

For a moment, Lisette found it hard to speak. Tears threatened to overwhelm her but she took a breath and gave him a tremendous smile. ‘Then we had best stay together.’

‘Forever, Lisette.’

‘Yes Evander, forever.’

‘Then come love, I shall escort you home. Then in the morning we will go to Temperly and wed,’ Evander said.

Lisette stood up and reached for her cloak. Evander anticipated her desire, took the cloak and in one fluid action draped the velvet over her shoulders. She stood silently and studied his face as he concentrated on fastening the bow at her neck. In that instant, Lisette made a decision.

‘Take me home, Evander.’

‘I said that I would, as soon as I tie this infernal bow.’

‘No, what I mean is… Take me to your home.’

Evander’s hands stilled. He raised his head and looked into her eyes. ‘Lisette, are you aware of what you are saying? Here, I fear that you must tie the bow, my fingers seem to quaver.’

‘Do you love me?’ Lisette asked.

‘Yes.’

‘And will we always be together?’

‘Yes... I said forever and it is not one of the pretty words you accuse me of using idly. I swear it, Lisette. We will be together in this world and the next.’

‘Then take me home, Evander. Take me to your bed.’

Marie faltered outside Lisette’s dressing room. She had come to tell Lisette to rethink and reevaluate Tinder Michael’s proposal. The girl had been given enough time to recover from her break with Lord Gainswith. It was time for her to secure their future and Tinder’s offer was by far the most stable. Lisette had been distant and difficult over the past few weeks but Marie had decided that it was time that she pulled herself together and finally shouldered her responsibilities. With Lisette’s added popularity, Marie had hoped that the girl would snag another rich lord. Oh, there had been plenty of offers; men willing to give the chit everything she could possibly want. However Lisette continued with her infuriating nonsense about not being any man’s whore and refused to receive any of them. Marie’s only option was to force Lisette into a marriage with Tinder Michaels. At least the marriage would give Lisette the respectability she craved and provide both Lisette and herself with a permanent roof over their heads. Besides, Lisette’s performances packed the Imperial each night and if her fame continued at this rate, Tinder would one day be a rich man.

Marie was about to fling open the door when she heard muffled voices coming from within. Intrigued, Marie silently turned the doorknob and cracked open the door.

‘Do you love me?’ Lisette asked.

‘Yes.’

‘And will we always be together?’

‘Yes... I said forever and it is not one of the pretty words you accuse me of using idly. I swear it, Lisette. We will be together in this world and the next.’

‘Then take me home, Evander. Take me to your bed.’

Marie stood still, astounded by what she had just heard. Finally Lisette was accepting her life — the only kind of life she could ever have. A smile formed. She had thought that Lisette had lost her biggest opportunity but she had been wrong. Obviously the girl’s rejection of Lord Gainswith had made his ardour burn even more brightly. Good, good. She must ask Lisette about his terms and exactly how much he would pay to have Lisette in his bed.

However her questions would have to wait, as Lisette would be otherwise engaged this evening and perhaps even the next. For once Marie didn’t care, as long as the chit arrived in time to dance Wednesday’s performance. She gently pulled the door closed and then, turning on her heels, she walked back down the corridor towards her office.

With each step, Marie felt her mood improve and by the time she started to climb the stairs to her office she was almost buoyant. Lisette had managed to capture not only Lord Gainswith’s purse but also his heart. The possibilities from that combination could be endless. There would be a house and carriages and baubles. Lisette had managed to land upon her feet and, of course, she would take Marie with her.

As Marie reached the final step, she paused for a minute to let the sharp pain from her knee subside. In a way, she supposed that she was almost proud of Lisette. It was an odd feeling, but it was the truth. For the first time ever since she was saddled with the brat, Lisette had finally repaid her for all the trouble and tedious annoyance she had put Marie through. With a sigh, Marie mounted the final step and walked towards her office.

She noticed that something was wrong before she had reached it. The door that she normally kept locked was half open. Using her cane she pushed the door fully open and saw Lord Vincent de Vale sitting in her chair with his elegant boots propped up on her desk. Her eyebrow quirked upwards as she sailed into the room.

‘I see that you have made yourself at home, Vincent.’ Marie walked towards him, leaning heavily on her walking stick as she went. Hellfire and damnation, her knee sparked and burnt with pain.

‘Ah, I did not think you would mind. I have a little business that I wish to discuss with you,’ Vincent said as he removed his feet from the desk and stood up. In an over-emphasised gesture he stood back and allowed Marie to sit down.

‘I do not mind. We have long shared things with each other,’ Marie said, but the feeling behind the words was not mirrored in her tone. ‘Now, what is it?’

‘Always so impatient,’ Vincent said as he sat on the edge of the desk.

‘You still owe me a ballerina. I hope that she is still alive and not broken beyond repair.’