He touched her chin with the tip of one index finger. "I'm leaving tomorrow, Lily." Maybe he was imagining it, but he thought he felt her quiver. "Leaving?" she asked in a small voice. "I'm going back to Fort Deveraux." He could see she was mentally gauging the distance between Tylerville and the fort, and that eased some of his anxiety about leaving her. "You'll probably forget all about me," she said. Caleb chuckled ruefully. "I couldn't do that if I tried," he answered. "And I don't intend to try. Lily, there's an officers' ball at the fort next Saturday night. Will you go with me?" Her alabaster throat moved as she swallowed, and it was obvious that she was searching her mind for reasons to refuse. "I don't have a proper dress-" "That won't be a problem. I have a friend who'll be able to come up with something for you to wear." Lily's eyes narrowed. "What friend?" she demanded. Caleb wanted to shout for joy. She was jealous! "You met her in the dining room yesterday-Mrs. Tibbet." "Her clothes would never fit me," Lily protested. "No," Caleb agreed, "but her niece's would." He knew then that she wanted to go to the ball, and the knowledge made him exuberant. "Where would I stay? The fort must be ten miles from here-I could never get back to Mrs. McAllister's in time to go to bed." "You could spend the night with Colonel and Mrs. Tibbett. There probably aren't two more acceptable chaperons in the whole territory." Lily smiled uncertainly, and the eagerness in her face twisted Caleb's heart. "I've never been to a ball," she said in a speculative tone of voice. "Would I get another box of chocolates?" "Only if you promise not to eat them in front of me," Caleb replied, remembering the agonies he'd suffered watching her roll the sweet around on her tongue. Then, after planting a light kiss on Lily's mouth, he escorted her back to the house and took his leave.
( Linda Lael Miller )
[ Lily and the Major ]
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