As an Earl Desires by Lorraine Heath Page A

feet back and forth, testing
the movement of the wheels beneath her shoes, she wasn’t
certain how anyone could engage in a kiss while wearing skates
without falling flat on their bottoms.
    â€œReady?” Archie asked from his place on
the bench beside her.
    â€œYou go first.”
    â€œI thought we would go together, arm in arm,
providing each other with support.”
    â€œIf you stumble along and go down, then so
shall I.”
    â€œI shan’t go down.”
    He sounded so cocky, so sure of himself—but
without conceit. Had she made the same claim, she would have come
across as arrogant, because she knew no other way to protect
herself except to live behind her shield of snobbery. How did he
manage to say what she would but without the chill? Perhaps it was
because his smile was warm, his eyes inviting.
    â€œI’m afraid that you will have to prove
to me that you have the skill to remain upright.”
    He held out his hand, palm up. “Trust me,
Camilla.”
    She dipped her gaze to his outstretched gloved
palm. If only she could place her hand in his. She lifted her eyes
to his, imploring him to understand that she was talking about more
than theskating and fully cognizant of the fact
that he was as well. “I can’t.”
    â€œIf he weren’t already dead, I believe
I’d kill him.”
    Before she could wrap her mind around the
implication of his words and to whom he was referring, he shoved
himself off the bench and rolled away from her. He faced her, and
as though he’d accomplished some great miracle, he extended
his arms. “There, you see? It’s not so hard.”
    It did seem simple enough and had the possibility
of being a bit of fun. She lifted herself off the bench, her feet
rolled away, and she plopped back down. Not so easy.
    â€œHave your feet tucked farther back behind
the bench to give you better leverage as you’re getting
up,” he suggested.
    She shook her head. “I don’t believe I
can do this.”
    â€œThat doesn’t sound like the countess I
know.” He returned to her side as easy as he pleased and held
out both hands. “Come on.”
    â€œGive me a demonstration of your
skill.”
    â€œIf we dally much longer, we won’t be
the only ones on the path. You need only find your balance, and the
sport is quite simple.”
    â€œI need to see you traverse more than you
have in order to have any confidence in your ability,” she
insisted.
    â€œVery well.”
    He skated away from her, his hands clasped behind
his back, his strides long and sure. Beautiful really. Elegant. But
nothing like the beauty and elegance of a woman. He possessed a
strength and power that radiated from his body, and she thought he
did indeed have the ability to keep her upright.
    He disappeared around the corner, hidden from her
by hedges. Anxious to keep sight of him, she was halfway to her
feet before the traitorous skates tried to take them in opposite
directions, and she found herself plopping back on the bench,
fairly rattling her teeth in the process. Then she heard the whir
of the wheels, and Archie was headed back toward her, confidence in
every stride, his smile beaming.
    â€œIt’s fun, Camilla. You really
must—eh, there! Watch out!”
    She shrieked as a squirrel scampered across the
path. Archie tried to avoid it. He lost his balance and took a
tumble onto the side of the path.
    â€œOh, Archie!”
    She was almost to him before she remembered wheels
were beneath her soles rather than solid ground. As panic took
hold, she began wind-milling her arms. Her legs went this way and
that, as though each were controlled by separate minds. Before she
realized it or could do anythingto prevent it,
she landed on top of him, his arms around her, holding her in
place, cushioning her fall with his body.
    And it was such a young, virile body. Not soft from
overeating as her husband’s had been. Not smelly