He caught her mood. Possibly it was but the complement of his own. Freely he interpreted it, feeling her body throb in swift accord to every motion, aware of the almost passionate surrender of her whole being to the delight of that one magic dance. She was reckless, and he was determined. If this were to be all, he would take his fill at once, and she should have hers. Before the dance was more than half through, he guided her out of the labyrinth into the darkly curtained recess that led out to the verandah, and there holding her, before she so much as realized that they had ceased to dance, he gathered her suddenly and fiercely to him and covered her startled, quivering face with kisses.
She made no outcry, attempted no resistance. He had been too sudden for that. His mastery was too absolute. Holding her fast in the gloom, he took what he would, till with a little sob her arms clasped his neck and she clung to him, giving herself wholly up to him.
But when his hold relaxed at last, she hid her face panting against his breast. He smoothed the dark hair with a possessive touch, laughing softly at her agitation.
"Did you think you could get away from me, you brown elf?" he whispered.
"I--I could if I tried," she whispered back.
His hold tightened again. "Try!" he said.
She shook her head without lifting it. "No," she murmured, with a shy laugh. "I don't want to. Shan't we go back--and dance--before--before--" She broke off in confusion.
She made a motion to turn her face upwards, but, finding his still close, buried it a little deeper. "I--promised the Colonel--I'd be good," she faltered into his shoulder. "I think I ought to begin--soon; don't you?"
"Is that why I am to have only this one dance?" he asked.
His caressing hand found and lightly pressed her cheek. "What are you going to do when it's over?" he asked.
"I don't know," she said. "There's Billy. I may dance with him."
He laughed. "That's an exciting programme. Shall I tell you what I should do--if I were in your place?"
Again she raised her face a few inches and again, catching a glimpse of the compelling blue eyes, plunged it deeply into his coat.
He laughed again softly, with a hint of mockery. "I should have one dance with Billy, and one with the omnipotent Colonel. And then I should be tired and say good night."