Page 81 of A Lovely White Christmastide
He slipped a hand into hers and led her toward the end of the dancers but instead of stopping, he carried on and out the doors of the ballroom.
“Where are we going?”
He grinned. “You will see.”
They passed the card room and several retiring rooms. “Are you not worried about the stir this will make, the two of us leaving alone?”
“What does it matter? We have already caused a scandal, might as well make it worth it.”
Julianna laughed. At the door she donned her cloak and they exited into the frozen garden. In the spring the area would be splashed with an array of beautiful colors of flowers in full bloom, but for now brown dominated the landscape. Julianna blinked.
Perhaps not all brown. Several white flakes slowly wafted their way down from the heavens dusting the barren ground in snow.
“I love newly fallen snow,” she said reverently.
“And I love you.”
Julianna turned to face Daniel, caught off guard by his forthright confession. His green eyes searched hers. A breeze danced through his dark locks and kissed his sharp cheekbones, brightening their color.
He lifted his hand to her cheek, the warmth of it lighting the spark in her heart that burned only for him. “And I love you, Daniel.”
A sly smile curved his lips. “I know, or you would have run off with that other me.”
Julianna giggled, the sound echoing in the winter air. Daniel leaned in to kiss her.
Another laugh tickled her ears and she leaned back. “That was not an echo.”
Daniel peered around the space. Several lines of evergreen bushes created a nice barrier between them and the assembly hall. When a deep laugh joined the soft laugh, Julianna realized she recognized both sounds.
Grabbing Daniel’s hand, she pulled him through the maze until they rounded a bush. Julianna stumbled to a halt; her eyes wide.
“Beth?”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Lightheaded from Beth’s kisses, Carswell did not register the sound until his gaze landed on Kaye—a crooked grin splashed across his gloating face.
Beth pulled away, her face and neck blotching red. “Jule, I…” She glanced at him for help.
Carswell cleared his throat. “Kaye,” he said in his most authoritative tone. “What are you doing dragging Miss Julianna out in this cold? Should you not be dancing?”
Kaye smirked. “I could ask you the same,Captain.”
Miss Julianna giggled and a begrudging smile emerged on Carswell’s face.
“Touché.”
Nervous laughter filled the small clearing.
“Might I assume you have mended your differences?” Miss Julianna asked.
“You may.” Beth beamed. “Carswell has asked me to be his wife.”
Tears glistened in Miss Julianna’s eyes and matching tears filled Beth’s as they rushed to hug one another. Carswell shifted from one foot to the other, watching the women talk faster than his ears could keep up.
Kaye came to stand beside him. “I suppose if we are to be brothers-in-law, this means you will have to put up with me for the rest of your life. Do you think you can endure it?”
A little smile slipped past Carswell’s defenses. “I suppose I can tolerate you a bit longer.”
