Seduced by a Dandy ~ The first novelette from "Different Desire", a Gay Victorian Romance and Erotic novelette collection

slightly disappointed by my lack of sensibil ity and I tried to cover it up:
    “I d id not mean to interrupt you , of course. I was just wondering if you would like some refreshment? ”
    She seemed mollified by my smile and said rapidly:
    “Well, the man to the left is my second cousin Mr Nathaniel Wyndham and to the right is Mr Henry Middleton , from Lincolnshire .
    “How do they know each other?” I asked .
    “Oh, they have known each other for ages. I do not know really,” she said clearly uninterested .
    “Would you mind introducing me ?” I pressed on.
    “Of course not! I would be delighted to, ” she said, however her voice betrayed her discontentment at including them in our company.
     
    *
     
    I noticed that the dark handsome gentle man was unexpectedly leaving his corner with Cousin Anne trailing forlornly after him and to my shock I realized that the y were walking in our direction! As he came closer I noticed that he was even more striking and elegant than I previously thought. I resolutely tried , in vain , not to speculate what he might look like underneath the stylish black frock and all that lavish lace. Clearly the Italian fashion was more extravagant that the British. The thic k layers of silk lace would look foolish on any ano ther man , however the white lace only enhanced his dark comple xion and increased the difference between the soft silk and his strong masculinity .
    Undoubtedly the Italians are far more alluring than any other people in the world , I though t and swallowed hard as h e was getting closer. I silently prayed that I would not blush in his presence, as I have a n unfortunate ability to colour up at the slightest embarrassment or excitement.
    “Cousin Nathaniel , I would like to introduce Mr Luciano Cosanni from Milan . Mr Cosanni, this is Mr Nathaniel Wyndham and this is Mr Henry Middleton ,” Cousin Anne said, sounding slightly disappointed over the end of the intimate conversation she had shared with Mr Cosanni. Now she was alone with three gentle men ; she was sure they would start discussing horses or hunting before she knew it. Men were so incredible dull in groups.
    “How nice to make your acquaintance ,” I said and bowed, perhaps a little more formally and awkwardly than I had intended .
    “The pleasure is all mine ,” he said with the most wonderful ly accented English and bowed smoothly towards me . “Nice to meet you too, Mr M iddleton ,” he added towards Henry, who returned the bow and said something polite.
    I felt nervous in his presence and did not quite know what to say, so I said more or less the first thing which appeared to me:
    “Have you been to England before, Mr Cosanni?” I said, trying to pronounce his family name correctly.
    “No, this is my first time,” he answered and smiled a little.
    “Do you like it?” I asked.
    “I think so, yes. How ever, I find most of the English people a little... ah, what is the word? Distant.”
    “How so?” Henry said .
    “Well, most people seem to be distant... U navailable some how ,” he said and I frowned. What a strange thing to say. But perhaps his English was not so fluent so that he could express himself properly.
    “Did you know that Mr C osanni told me that in Italy they celebrate ‘ All Saints’ Day ’ tomorrow ?” Cousin Anne intermitted .
    “Oh, do you? What is the name of that old Celtic tradition associated with the 3 1st of October?” Henry wondered .
    “I believe i t is called ‘Samhain’, unless my memory is deceiving me ,” I said. “It was some sort of pagan festival.”
    “So perhaps this night is enchanted then , magical even! ” Cousin Anne said with a small giggle and gazed up at Mr Cosanni.
    “Yes, I believe it is.” he said seriously, sparing her a quick glance and then looked directly at me. “Anything may happen.”
    “Do you hunt?” I asked to change the topic and I thought I heard Cousin Anne stifle a sigh before engaging Henry in another conversation.
    “I do,” he said and looked at me intently with dark brown eyes . I suddenly got the strange feeling that he had answered an entirely different question.
    “And d o you like it? ” I asked and cleared my throat a little.
    “Very much,” he said slowly and smiled a little as if he had just said something clever. He had unnoticeably stepped closer towards me and I felt rather tense d to stand so near him as I continued to ask random questions:
    “ I suppose Italy has more game than England