Page 37 of The Duke of Ruin
"I wish," he said softly, and she glanced up at him again, her eyes full of questions. "I wish that I had courted you properly the first time Olive," he continued, feeling relief as he divested himself of the guilt he felt. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry that I went about everything the wrong way."
He watched his wife frown as she considered his apology.
"I wish you had too, your Grace," she finally replied in a light, teasing tone. "Now the future of our marriage rests on your ability to Waltz..."
It would be the best waltz of her life, Ruan thought with determination. Then once it was done, he would take her by the hand and lead her to the nearest bedroom - scandal be damned!
"Gemini, you look beautiful!"
Poppy and Alexandra both danced around Olive as she descended the stairs of the boarding house. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and Olive reluctantly had to admit that the dress that Jane had loaned her, was most becoming. It was a dark, emerald green, which suited her colouring perfectly. The empire line dress flared beneath the bust into a light, frothy skirt of silk. She had initially protested to Polly that it was too small around the bust, for Jane had a far slighter frame than she, but the Northern woman had given a ribald laugh at the suggestion that it looked improper.
"Sure isn't that what every woman wants?" Polly had laughed, "A dress that emphasises rather than restricts one's assets?"
Polly had flushed then, and murmured an apology; their relationship had recovered from the initial lies they had both told each other at the start of it. Though Polly now regularly faltered when she addressed her, not knowing whether to call Olive by her name, or address her as "Your Grace".
"You both look beautiful as well," Olive offered the twins, for they were a sight to behold. They were dressed in identical gowns of soft lilac, their blonde curls tied high on their heads --it was almost impossible to tell them apart. A fact not lost on their Aunt, who frowned as she exited the drawing room and saw their attire.
"No funny business," she said, wagging a finger at the pair when she saw them, and in response the twins tried to look wide-eyed and innocent. "I will not have a repeat of what happened at Lady Amberley's ball."
"What happened at Lady Amberley's ball?" Olive asked, her interest piqued.
"Oh a ghastly, ancient, decrepit, old man thought to court me," Poppy scowled at the memory.
"So the twins decided to play a trick on the poor soul," her Aunt interrupted, a frown on her face. She would not encourage their hi-jinx, despite how infectious their exuberance was.
"We didn't tell Sir Boras that there were two of us," Alexandra continued, "And so he got an awful fright when one of us exited one door, only to appear a few seconds later on the other side of the ballroom."
"And when he danced with Poppy, I kept popping up at the side of the ballroom and waving at him. He thought he was having an apoplectic fit!"
"He nearly did have a fit," Augusta admonished and cast Olive a pleading look; "I pray my dear, that you'll keep an eye on these two and keep them out of mischief."
"I'll try," Olive promised the older woman, though secretly she doubted anyone's ability to keep the twins from doing what they wanted. The only other lady that had decided to accompany them to the ball was Petronella Devoy, who was resplendent in a gown of dark red, which complimented her dark, lustrous locks perfectly. Olive had almost forgotten that Petronella was the daughter of a Viscount, but the exquisite material of her dress, coupled with the diamonds around her neck, promptly reminded her.
There was no carriage to take them to Jarvis House, so the women walked, arms linked, in high spirits. The sun was beginning to set, and the sea at the bottom of the steep hill was deep purple, streaked with flashes of orange and gold. The house was all lit up, and as they hurried up the sweeping driveway they could hear the sounds of voices and music coming from within.
Jane stood at the door to greet them. She wore a very becoming gown of taupe and her hair was dressed high on her head.
"Oh wonderful, I was hoping that was you," she once the ladies had reached the front door. Her glasses were absent, and she squinted at each member of the entourage, trying to discern who was who.
"Where are your spectacles Jane?" Poppy queried, as their hostess blindly led them through the entrance hall, to the ballroom.
"Oh, Julian says they're too hideous to wear to a ball," Jane said plainly, "And that the guests would run off if they caught sight of me in them."
"What nonsense," Poppy frowned, her face a picture of the annoyance the Liv felt. Lord Deveraux was seriously beginning to grate on her nerves.
"Yes, you're beautiful with your glasses," Alexandra interjected, "They magnify your eyes, so that it's like looking at some mythical nymph when one is speaking with you!"
Jane flushed, and laughed at Alexandra's statement, though she did look rather pleased.
"I'm afraid it's just a small affair," she confided, as she led the ladies into the magnificent ballroom. "Nothing like the parties one attends in London."
As Olive took in the scene before her, she felt she had to disagree. The ballroom of Jarvis House was huge, with double height ceilings and chandeliers shedding twinkling light on the guests below. There was at least a hundred people present, many that Liv did not recognise, though one did catch her eye - Lord Keyford, who stood some distance from the crowd, surveying all the guests with dislike. She shivered, hoping that he would not spot her, not after their nasty encounter in the inn. Luckily her view of him was blocked by a rather large man who stepped into her path.
"Ruan," she said happily, as her husband gave a low, courteous bow.
"My lady," his eyes twinkled as he stood, "Might I request the pleasure of the first waltz?"
"You may."
