Page 114 of A Duke Changes Everything
“As I said, too long.”
“Just let me hold on to you,” Mina said as she slid her arm around his.
“Always.”
As they descended, Mina noticed how busy the staff had been in the minutes since she’d gone up to dress. Candles were lit throughout the main hall, and rich red poinsettias and glossy holly leaves had been strategically placed on every flat surface. A few pots of flowers even lined the floor on the way to the ballroom.
“Welcome, everyone,” she said to those assembled. “Let us be merry and make excellent memories this Christmas season.”
“The blessings of the season to you, Your Grace.” Wilder spoke in his deep, unwavering voice and offered her a gentle grin before stepping back and taking his place near the threshold to oversee the festivities.
Mina tightened her hold on Nick’s arm, but her apprehension melted away.
“There’ve been a few changes in the ballroom,” Nick said as they reached the bottom of the stairs. He’d taken over the project of overseeing the ballroom repairs and cagily kept her out of the room as they finished. “Would you like to see before the rest of the guests arrive?”
“Yes, show me.”
Mina felt Nick’s muscles tense as they reached the threshold, but he needn’t have feared. The changes were spectacular. Her mouth fell open as she gaped at every inch of the glowing room.
“It’s extraordinary.”
He let out a trapped breath. “You like it?”
“I love every detail.” She stepped forward and he let her go. “Thank you.”
Not only had the leak been repaired, every wall had been repainted. Not in the original dove gray, but a warm gold. The frescoes had been cleaned, the floor polished until it glittered, and the wall sconces had been regilded so that they shone as bright as the candles flickering inside them.
“The gold reminds me of your eyes,” Nick said. He’d come up behind her and placed his hand at the small of her back.
“My eyes are brown.”
“Not when you look at me.”
Mina looked up to find him smiling. He came around to face her.
“Those gilded sparks in your eyes. They captured me the first time you looked down from the oak tree. Little shards that lodged right here.” He pressed a hand over his heart.
“Sounds painful,” Mina teased.
“Agonizing.” He bent forward and kissed her cheek. “Until you put me out of my misery.”
Mina pulled Nick toward the center of the ballroom.
A few guests were milling near the refreshments, some stood taking in the frescoes, and others had drifted off to the drawing rooms to chat and await the start of the dance. When the musicians saw Mina and Nick step to the center of the ballroom, one violinist began to play.
Nick spun with her, and Mina’s heart felt as if it might burst in her chest. The joy was almost too much.
As fairy tale endings went, she couldn’t have asked for a better one.
“You don’t mind dancing with me?” she asked him. “I know you’re not fond of balls.”
“I told you, Duchess. I’m prepared to give you anything you want.”
“And you?” Mina held him closer than was proper, needing to feel his strength and warmth flush against her body. “What have I given you?”
“More than I deserve.” He swallowed hard. “A kind of peace I didn’t expect to come my way. Ever.”
“Even here?” Mina traced the edge of his jaw with her fingers. “At Enderley?” She was still prepared to leave and not return, if that’s what he wanted.
