Virginia stood out on the balcony, deeply breathing in the cool night air. She tugged on the bodice of her dress attempting to loosen it a bit. How did Violet tolerate the long hours of dancing and socializing in dresses so tight she wondered. She was leaning her arms on the stone railing when she heard a familiar voice at her elbow.
"Would the belle of the ball care for a drink?" he asked softly.
She turned and saw Drake standing near her holding out a glass of wine. "You said that your intention tonight was to live up the expectations of hosting the social event of the season. You seem to have succeeded." He raised his glass to her in salute.
"Yes, it seems to be a great success," she replied coolly, accepting the proffered glass, glancing behind him, noting that he had closed the french doors that she had left open.
"You and Timothy seem to be enjoying yourselves," he said.
"His name is Thomas," she corrected him impatiently, knowing he most likely called him Timothy on purpose.
"Yes, of course, of course," he murmured dismissively.
"Yes, we're having a wonderful time."
"He's not half good enough for you," he stated, casually removing his frock coat and draping it about her shoulders.
She was momentarily taken aback by his chivalrous gesture but was determined to not be swayed by it. "Drake, is it possible that you're jealous of Thomas?" she said with mock surprise.
"Don't be ridiculous," he retorted.
"You are jealous!" she said gleefully.
"And what would I be jealous of?" he asked angrily.
"That someone else is able to hold my interest? That someone other than you can send a shiver down my spine?" She stared at him imperiously.
He returned her stare with glittering eyes. He came very near to her, so near she thought he was going to kiss her. When he spoke she could feel his breath on her cheek. "Does he make you feel the way you do right now? Does his very nearness make you feel the way you do when I stand this close to you?" he whispered.
She hated to admit it but she was reacting simply to his being close to her. Her heart was pounding, her breath was uneven and, of course, the butterflies were fluttering. He could easily see how he effected her.
"I've been watching you my dear V, and I haven't seen him once get this sort of reaction from you." He stared into her green eyes, his hazel ones glowing in the moonlight. "I don't even have to touch you and look at you, you can barely breathe," His fingers rose and gently stroked the base of her throat. "your pulse is racing, and I believe I once heard you mention something about butterflies? Are they there too?"
She gasped and stepped away from him. He chuckled, knowing that he was right. She kept backing away from him, but he kept advancing until her back was against the far railing of the balcony and he was so close his legs were lost in the voluminous folds of her skirt. "Drake, please," she pleaded softly turning her head.
"Please, what?" he replied, his voice a mere whisper. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply as his fingers trailed softly across the lushly exposed tops of her breasts. His hand dipped lower and cupped one mound, squeezing gently. She gasped and grabbed his wrist, pulling his hand away.
"Please don't touch me," she said in a hard even tone. "You may not be aware of this, but I do not care to be groped by you tonight," she said straightening her dress.
"And who would you have grope you? Thomas?" He chuckled softly, twirling a tendril of her hair around his finger. "I'd be willing to wager that other than kissing you, he hasn't even touched you. Have you ever asked him to touch you? Have you ever wantonly pressed yourself against him? The same way you did the second time we met when all you knew of me was my name?" He put a finger under her chin, tipping her head back. "You know very well that I'm the only man who can make you feel that way. Admit it, V."
Instead of sparks of passion his softly spoken words were met with sparks of anger. "Will you please stop pestering me about that! Not now, nor will I ever say such a thing to you!" She pushed him aside and stalked back down the balcony. She stopped halfway down, took a long sip of wine, and rested her elbows on the railing.
He caught a whiff of cigar smoke and looking over the edge of the railing, he saw Thomas lighting a cigar on the lower terrace.
Leaning his back against the railing he said to her just loud enough for Thomas to hear "Come now, Virginia, you know it's true, why do you deny it?"
She rolled her eyes and without looking at him, said, "I came out here to get some peace. Could you please leave me alone?"
"Ah, but my dear, I can't leave you alone. And as much as you'd like to think so, you can't stay away from me either."
"I can stay away from you quite easily, I assure you," she replied, still clearly annoyed with him.
He approached her and said, "Just like on my ship? If you will recall, you were the one who seduced me." He gently pushed his jacket back off one shoulder and trailed his finger along her bare skin.
"Yes, and what a mistake that was," she snorted.
"Come, my love, admit it, you enjoyed yourself immensely," he said tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. He trailed his finger around the edge of her ear, and down her throat.
"It doesn't matter whether I enjoyed it or not, it shouldn't have happened."
"It matters to me that you enjoyed it and I enjoyed it as well. Memories of our times together out on deck late at night gave me great comfort during the long voyages back to you. Images of your ivory skin glowing in the moonlight, your eyes shining with desire, ah yes, for many nights they filled my dreams." He paused gazing down at her face, her cheeks flushed, her eyes fairly snapping with irritation. "And not just on my ship. It also happened just down the hall from here. A few steps from where we stand right now."
