Page 65 of The Matchmaker Meets her Duke
"I was so blind," she said. "I did care for Ashton, you know. A childish sort of care, but it was real."
"Of course it was," said Pandora.
"But I pined after him for so long, terribly aloof in my infatuation that when real affection came by, I was too foolishly occupied to see it."
"That's not true."
"What part? Real affection, or foolishly occupied?"
"Both of them."
"A lovely sentiment, but we both know it's not true. I ruined it, Pandora. Before it even had a starting chance. I ruined everything."
The guests had started to flood in. The sound of merry laughter, of clinking glasses and eager greetings and exclaimed pleasantries rose in the air, carrying in through the windows, filling up the room.
Rose extricated herself from the bed. "I should go."
"Have a dance or two," Pandora called encouragingly after her.
"I would," she shot back. "But the only man I want to dance with won't even look at me. And just as well."
She had to say the words. She had to. Rose was a young woman. She had the whole world sprawled ahead of her, if only she would tilt her head and look. "Rose, I love you. You know that I do. But you're right. Ithasbeen eight months. And I don't mean to be discouraging the slightest bit, but you can't wait forever."
"I can," said Rose fiercely. "I will."
Pandora watched her run her hands over her hips, smoothing the sides of her dress, but she couldn't think what to say to that. Her baby kicked, or perhaps it was a nudge. A greeting. She clasped both her hands over her belly, her warm hands greeting her baby back.
Rose turned the handle of the door.
"I'll be down in a moment," she called after her.
"Take your time," she said back.
Pandora did not plan to take her time or to be late to her own party. But the next time she opened her eyes, she caught a glint of the sun from the parted curtains, coming down and sinking low over the horizon.
She climbed from the bed as graciously as her swollen belly would allow… which wasn't graciously at all… and patted around the sheets for her gloves, searched the carpets for her shoes.
The music grew louder as Pandora clutched the banister and descended down the stairs. On the dance floor, ladies and gentlemen held each other and swayed, brightly-colored satins and lavishly trimmed silks swirling in her sight. The lights were glimmering so bright they nearly blinded her. Pandora shut her eyes, feeling nauseous all over again. She clutched the banister tighter, steadying herself.
The sound of conversation and laughter drowned her ears, but Pandora did not turn away. These were her guests. These were the people she had joined together, paired, and fought for. And this was the Manor her husband had lovingly put together for her. There was no place she'd rather be but here.
The chatter rose to an excited pitch as Pandora neared the ballroom. On the last rise of stairs, she knew who it was: Edward. Her own brother, with a woman in his arms, dancing.
Pandora scoffed to herself. Her brother was a famously self-proclaimed bachelor who even more famously steered clear of the bloodthirsty mamas and the opportunistic debutantes ever on the hungry lookout for the most favorable of matches. So, of course, a fine number of eyes would be thrilled to see him dance with a woman at one of these matchmaking parties.
But who was he dancing with?
Pandora had a poor view from her corner of the ballroom. But she took a few light steps forward and craned her neck and there Rose was, her hands clasped lightly on Edward's shoulders, her head rested perfectly against his chest as they swirled around the ballroom.
"Took him long enough." She did not know when her husband had come up beside her but there he was, resplendent in his dashing suit and winning smile.
"One more moment and I might have clapped my hands around his head and wrung it myself." Needless to say, she had started to feel bothered on her sister-in-law's behalf. Really a woman could only wait for so long.
Emmett made a show of assessing her from the crown of her head to the sole of her feet. "I'm not sure that you would manage that in your state."
"I'm pregnant. Not boneless."
"Well. Thank heavens it didn't come to that then." He turned fully to her and took her gloved hands in his. "You look absolutely lovely."
