“I agree. Never have I seen two finer men.” I looked back at Danny. His eyes danced with desire as he began to make his way over to me.
I felt someone take my elbow and begin leading me in the opposite direction. I quickly looked at my mother. “What are you doing?”
“Why Mr. and Mrs. Covington, what a pleasure.” I looked to see Devlin standing alongside his parents as they greeted my mother and myself. His eyes roamed over my body, taking in the sight of my bare shoulders and exposed breasts. Smiling slightly, I looked over my shoulder. My father was talking to Danny and they were both in deep conversation. Finally, father smiled and shook Danny’s hand. When Danny turned and winked at me, I took a sharp intake of air from his smile. I pulled my arm from my mother’s grip and made room between my mother and me for two of the most important men in my life.
“Daddy,” I whispered as he kissed me on the right cheek, then the left. Danny walked up and smiled as he gave me a small bow and a smile that instantly had me moistening between my legs.
“Mr. and Mrs. Covington, what a lovely surprise to see you here,” Father said as he glared at my mother. Mr. Covington reached his hand out, smiling. “Mr. Montgomery, how are you fairing these days?”
Father turned and motioned for Danny to step alongside of him. When Danny held his arm out for me, I quickly placed my hand upon his arm.
Father cleared his throat as he said, “May I introduce Daniel Stowe, Sophia’s betrothed.”
My mother had been using a fan to cool herself off when she dropped it to her side. “What?” my mother said in a state of shock.
“What?” I whispered as I turned to Danny. I didn’t think my evening could possibly start out any better.
Danny winked and leaned down, dangerously close to scandalous behavior. “Your beauty takes my breath away.”
“I could say the same for you, Mr. Stowe,” I replied.
Glancing up, I couldn’t help but notice Devlin staring at Danny with a pained expression. I gave a polite bow and let Danny excuse us as he led me to the dance floor. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close to him, but not close enough t
o have tongues wagging.
My nose filled with his musky scent and my nipples hardened against my bodice. Closing my eyes, I took in the feel of him holding me in his arms.
The moment I felt the warmth of his hand on my cheek, my eyes sprung open. “I feared you might run away.”
Frowning, I asked, “Why would I run away?”
His eyes lit up like the stars during a clear evening sky. “I asked for your hand; I know we have not known each other for long, but I’ve lost my heart to you, Sophia. It is forever lost to you and only you.”
Grinning like a mad fool, I glanced over Danny’s shoulder. My mother was glaring at us. I could almost feel the coldness of her stare. Her hate for Danny showed more and more. I felt as if I couldn’t breathe. “Take me away from here, Danny. Claim me as your own like you promised you would.” I raised a brow to him and tilted my head as I peered up through my lashes. “You wouldn’t want to see me break all social boundaries and dare to ruin my reputation now would you, Mr. Stowe?”
Danny’s smile widened as he laughed. I adored his laughter. It felt as if it hummed through my entire body.
Then, his smile faded some and his breathing picked up. “My family has a beach cottage here on Tybee Island.”
Smiling, I nodded. “Take me there.”
His eyes searched my face. “Sophia, are you—”
Placing my fingers to his lips. “Take me there, Daniel. Please.”
It hadn’t been hard to escape from the dance unnoticed. Lucy began to follow me out of the pavilion, but I turned and told her I was taking a walk with my betrothed and she was excused. She smiled and turned on her heels.
Minutes later, I was in Danny’s arms as we rode in his carriage to his family’s beach cottage.
The carriage pulled up and Danny jumped out. He reached into the carriage and picked me up. I let my head fall back as I let out a laugh. I felt so free. No social standards to tell me how unladylike I was acting. No mother to whisper how the Stowe’s did not have the means that the Covington family did. It was just Danny and me. My heart pounded within my ears. The driver pulled off, leaving my betrothed and I alone.
At last. We were alone.
Danny placed both hands on the sides of my face. “Do you know how beautiful you are, Sophia? I had to get you out of there. I wanted to beat my fists on almost every man’s face who dared to stare at you and your bare porcelain skin.”
Giggling, I looked down. Placing his finger on my chin and lifting it, Danny stared into my eyes. “Will you do something with me before we go into the house?”
I nodded my head. “Of course, I will.”