“Hello, milady.” He raised her hand to his lips but did not touch her fingers to his mouth.

“H-h-hello,” she stuttered back at him. She swallowed a wince.

He smiled gently, his lovely blue gray eyes filled with warmth. “I am Sir Robert.” His voice was deep and slightly rough.

“I am Lady Flora of Chanterwall,” she managed to say without stammering.

 “I know, I have been asking everyone in the castle about you since I spotted you when you arrived.” His smiled deepened and Flora’s heart fluttered.

“Would you care to join me in the dance?”

Flora nodded her agreement and he walked her to the ring of men and women her friends had joined. They danced for the rest of the evening, laughing and clapping and making merry as the season encouraged them to do.

Flora did not know what time it was when they finally stopped, exhausted but happy. Sir Robert pulled her close to one of the pillars holding up the heavy roof of the castle. She stared into his eyes. He looked suddenly serious but still kind. His hands came up to cradle her cheeks, which were heated from exertion. Flora’s laughter subsided and the fluttering in her chest returned ten-fold.

As Sir Robert lowered his head and tilted her chin up, Flora let her eyes close. The touch of his lips seared hers. His teeth nipped lower lips and she gasped. Sir Robert’s tongue pressed slowly but inexorably into her mouth to slide against hers. Flora gripped the front of Sir Robert’s tunic.

She whimpered as he lifted his head. “I have needed a taste of you since I first saw you tonight. I know it is wrong of me to take such liberties, but I simply could no longer resist.” His voice was rougher now and she saw a strange light in his eyes, a light that ignited a spark in her belly.

“Sir Robert, I—”

“Flora?” Her mother’s voice scattered Flora’s wits, making her forget what she was going to say to the man in front of her. She blushed and bowed her head.

“I must go.”

Sir Robert tipped her head up and looked deep into her eyes. His eyes held an intensity she had never before seen. “I hope that we can find more time to spend with one another.”

Flora smiled and nodded, her cheeks heating. She opened her mouth to say she would enjoy that but her mother called for her again. “Flora?”

“Good night, Sir Robert.” She slipped from between his body and the stone pillar.

“Good night, Lady Flora,” he called after her. His voice was soft, but she heard him and the warmth in his voice.