Page 72 of Sweetwater and the Witch

He wrapped her fingers in his and led her through the maze of tables to the dance floor. The band was playing a slow, romantic ballad. Ethan took her into his arms, and she discovered she had been right when she had speculated about his dancing prowess. Of course he danced with controlled, masculine grace. She, on the other hand, moved like a clockwork toy.

“Relax,” he said. “Everything is going just as you planned.”

“No, it’s not,” she whispered. “Everyone in my family loves you.”

“I like your relatives, too. Is that a bad thing?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know. It’s going to make everything harder in themorning. Bringing you here was a huge mistake. I don’t know what made me believe it was a good idea.”

“You’re overthinking this, Ravenna. Everything is going to be fine—”

Ethan broke off because the band abruptly stopped playing. The dancers halted and turned toward the dais. Ravenna saw that the master of ceremonies, Uncle Hampton, was rapping a spoon sharply against a large crystal goblet.

“Family and friends, we are here tonight to celebrate the marriage of Adelaide and Mark Chastain,” he intoned.

Another round of applause rolled across the crowd.

“But I have been asked to announce a very special toast to two people who are about to take the most important step of their lives together. Mark? Will you do the honors?”

Ravenna froze.

Her grandfather rose to deliver the toast. He searched the dance floor and smiled when he spotted Ravenna and Ethan.

“Ethan Sweetwater,” he said, the words reverberating around the room. “Adelaide and I understand there has not yet been a formal announcement. We realize this is because you and Ravenna did not want to steal the show tonight. But secrets like this have a way of getting out. I had a call from your grandfather last night.”

“Oh, shit,” Ravenna whispered.

Ethan squeezed her hand. “We can do this.”

“After that conversation, Adelaide and I decided to take the initiative and let you know that we are looking forward to welcoming you into the family.”

The crowd cheered. Ethan clamped an arm around Ravenna’s shoulder and pulled her close against him.

“It will be okay,” he whispered.

“No. No it won’t be okay. It’s a disaster.”

“I hate to have to say this, but I feel I must. It’s for your own good. Do. Not. Panic.”

“Too late.” She stepped out from the protection of his arm and raised her voice to a shout. “Stop it. Stop it right now. Everyone, listen to me.”

A stunned hush fell on the room. From out of nowhere, Harriet appeared. She scurried across the floor, weaving a path through the crowd, and leaped up into Ravenna’s arms.

“There has been a terrible mistake,” Ravenna said. “And it’s all my fault. I’m sorry. I never meant to make everyone think Ethan and I are on the verge of getting engaged. Okay, maybe I did. In a way. But it’s gone too far. The truth is, Ethan is here tonight, pretending to be my date, because he is doing me a favor.”

There was a collective gasp from the crowd. It was followed by more stunned silence.

“Not exactly a favor,” Ethan said into the stillness.

“Right,” Ravenna said. Her throat was getting raw. “Not exactly a favor. I pressured him to come with me to this event because I didn’t want to show up alone. But it was his fault, because he was threatening to sue if he didn’t get another date, and then some people chased Ethan and me into the tunnels because Ethan was doing a favor for the local Guild. But it was okay, because he took care of everything. Made it all go away. Damn, it’s so complicated. He’s a client, so I shouldn’t be dating him at all. And I’m not, not really.”

She burst into tears. Horrified, she whirled around. Clutching Harriet under one arm, she grabbed a fistful of the long blue skirts of her gown and tried to run toward the door. The high heels betrayed her after two steps. She stumbled and would have gone down, but Ethan, moving with startling speed, deftly caught her and steadied her.

In full panic mode now, she kicked off the heels. The crowd parted before her. She freed herself from Ethan’s grasp and fled the ballroom. She ran out through the open doors, into the luminous gardens. Into the night.

Chapter Thirty-Six

She stopped running when she reached the gazebo overlooking the lake. She stepped inside and sank down onto one of the padded benches. Harriet wriggled out from under her arm, perched on the railing, and made soothing dust bunny sounds.

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