Page 75 of Their Brazen Countess
But it seemed the threat was over. Lord Downs understood Jo was no longer without protection. She nor her son would be easy prey.
Could this be the happily ever after they’d hoped for?
Chapter Thirty-Five
July 1867
JostoodbetweenArthurand Linc as they greeted their guests. It had been blissfully quiet with no further attempts on her person, or against Matthew. His arm was even out of the cast now. She had gone shopping, run errands, taken tea with the ladies, and anything else that struck her fancy.
She felt gloriously and wonderfully free. No father controlling her movements or pestering her about where she’d been. No unwanted husband to answer too. No brother-in-law spending her money and controlling her staff.
Instead, she had two men in her life who loved her, protected her, and supported her. It had taken years to achieve this state, but here she was. Happy.
Arthur leaned in close so she could hear him over the din of voices in the ballroom. “You look lovely, if I haven’t already told you tonight.”
She laughed, delighted. “Only about ten times, husband.”
She felt lovely. Her gown had been specially designed by Madame Le Fleur, a modiste Theo had recommended. The bodice was fitted with two layers of ruffles which came down into a vee over her decolletage in emerald green silk. An overskirt of the same emerald green silk wrapped around to each of her hipbones and created a train behind her which had a matching set of two ruffles around the hem. The underskirt was a pale green skirt with the same ruffle detail as the train and bodice. There were also little gathers of fabric that looked like three rows of bunting across the skirt and above the ruffled hem. Her matching pale green fan was embroidered with leaves and vines in emerald green. She wore a simple emerald headband in her hair which had been gathered to the back of her head, where it dangled in perfect coils.
“But can a wife as lovely as you hear such things from either of her husbands too often?” Linc asked as he also leaned in. He’d clearly heard some part of their exchange.
Jo smiled coyly, bring her fan up to her face to hide her grin. “Perhaps not.”
Linc laughed, as did Arthur, and her toes curled in her satin slippers as she thought about how they’d spent the morning together in bed. By the end, they’d been entwined and laying in each other’s arms with her sandwiched between the two handsome men.
Theo and Stone approached in the receiving line, the rest of their friends trailing behind as though they’d all arrived together.
Theo smiled and gasped as she saw Jo’s gown. “Oh, you look gorgeous, Jo.” They kissed each other’s cheeks and then she moved along after Stone greeted Linc and Arthur. Emily and Cooper were just behind, followed by Ros, Julia, Wolf, and Flint. They all hugged and kissed and moved along to keep the line flowing. Then came Amelia and Lucifer, Marie and Hartfield, and finally Lizzy and Carlisle. Jo was delighted they had all come. Along with Linc, Arthur, and Becca, they were her family now.
Before long all their guests had arrived, and they were free to move out into the ball. Arthur and Jo opened the festivities by leading the first dance. They’d decided it would be a waltz in lieu of a more traditional option, such as a quadrille or a march. After all, they were bucking the norms in so many ways. Why not the order of the dances?
As Arthur swept her into the opening waltz, he smiled down at her. The people on the edges of the ballroom swirled by, a kaleidoscope of colors that melded together then fractured apart.
Jo laughed, happiness bubbling up from deep inside her. “Thank you, Arthur. This is a lovely evening.”
“You are most welcome. I would do anything to put that smile on your face, even get all dressed up and smile at a great deal of people I neither know nor care about.” His low baritone rumbled through her since she was pressed so close to him. Scandalously close—even for a husband and wife.
“You do say the most outrageous things at times.” Jo allowed her lashes to lower slightly. “But it’s the outrageous things you do to me that I truly enjoy. Both of you.”
Arthur threw his head back and laughed as he continued to spin her around. By the time the waltz ended, she needed a moment to set herself back to rights. He led her over to where Linc and the other Lustful Lords stood.
Jo exhaled with a grin. “Gentlemen, I need to visit the retiring room and then I am going to visit the nursery to check on Matthew.”
Linc pressed a hand to her lower back. “I just checked on the boy. He and Nancy are doing well upstairs and a footman is standing guard in the hall as well. Stay down here, enjoy your evening.”
Jo smiled up at him, tipping up on her toes to plant a chaste kiss on his cheek. “You are a wonderful husband. You know that, don’t you?”
“I do try, my dear.” He smiled smugly and winked at Arthur. “Though I believe I have more competition than most.”
She laughed and stepped away from the group.
“Are you going to the retiring room?” Amelia asked.
“I am. Would you care to join me?”
“Absolutely. It’s a bit warm in here for me.” She smiled, looking a little green about the gills.
They walked toward their destination at a sedate stroll, arm in arm, as Jo asked, “Forgive my directness, but are you feeling well?”
