Page 44 of ?n Arranged Betrothal with a Blind Duke
“We are the fortunate ones,” she said softly.
Marjorie offered Annabelle her arm, as though they were old friends.
“Are we ready to be off?” she asked.
Annabelle smiled, relishing the affection she felt from Marjorie and the warmth she felt from her betrothed.
“We certainly are,” she said.
With a heart fluttering like butterfly wings, she braved the challenge ahead. Annabelle linked her arm with first Marjorie and then Adrian, their fingers brushing against each other, sending thrills of anticipation coursing through her veins. Patches, their amiable dog, trotted faithfully at their side.
As they walked towards the village fair, the air thickened with the sweet, heady aroma of freshly baked pies, roasted chestnuts, and sugared apples. The symphony of laughter, cheerful chatter, and the lively fiddle filled the air, adding to the allure of the grand village fair.
Marjorie, ever sociable, was soon pulled away by a group of giggling friends, leaving Annabelle and Adrian to explore the stalls. Her heart pounding in her chest, Annabelle guided Adrian through the rows of stalls, describing each vibrant scene to him with loving detail.
“The Johnson's stall is adorned with the reddest apples, and the Millers have outdone themselves with ribbons and trinkets,” she narrated, her words painting a vivid picture for him.
Adrian grinned at her, inhaling deeply.
“And I don’t need to see the food and treats to know it will all be wonderful,” he said.
Annabelle’s heart skipped again. She was finding his smile more charming each time he showed it to her.
“I’m looking forward to some of the delightful treats, as well,” she said.
Every now and then, Adrian would stop and ask her to describe something in more detail. The softness of a plush toy, the weight of a finely crafted pocket watch, the smell of a leather-bound book. It was their world, their shared experience. Despite the bustling crowd, it felt as if they were in their own intimate cocoon, a special connection blooming between them with each shared moment. Each giggle, each stolen glance, each brush of their fingers was an affirmation of their love.
Today, they were not merely two individuals lost in a crowd, but a couple bound by love, exploring the wonders of the fair together. Annabelle couldn't have wished for a more perfect day, a more perfect companion. As they strolled through the fair, arm in arm, each new discovery only served to deepen their bond, carving out a special place in their hearts for this day, this fair, this beautiful memory.
They came upon a gypsy tent, bathed in an exotic allure that seemed out of place in the typically quaint English village fair. Piles of intricate fripperies, a riot of colors, and glistening trinkets drew Annabelle in like a moth to a flame. Her heart pounded as her fingers delicately brushed over a small silver pendant, its craftsmanship exceptional, the cool metal winking in the sun.
Adrian, attuned to her movements, sensed her interest.
“Have you found something special?” he asked, his voice was a warm caress, a balm to the residual sting of Oswald's words.
“It's a beautiful pendant, Adrian,” Annabelle replied, her voice betraying her admiration. “A delicate silver piece with a sapphire at its heart.”
Adrian gave her another of his handsome smiles, holding out his hand toward the pendant she held.
“May I see it?” he said with a hearty chuckle.
Annabelle giggled at his little carefree joke about his sight.
“Certainly,” she said, placing the necklace in his outstretched hands.
He felt of it, closing his eyes and, she guessed, imagining its shapes and setting from his sense of touch. But then, instead of handing it back to her, he tugged her toward the merchant with an impish grin.
“It is far too lovely to not purchase,” he said. “Come, then. I shall buy it for you.”
Annabelle looked at her fiancé with wide eyes.
“Are you sure?” she asked. “I brought my coin purse, and I do not mind buying it myself.”
But Adrian shook his head, giving her another grin.
“Consider it an engagement present,” he said.
Without further ado, Adrian purchased it. The pendant had now become a testament of Adrian's love, the weight of it causing her heart to flutter in her chest.
