Page 90 of The Duke Who Loved a Widow
She laughed, all feelings of unease disappeared as she relaxed.
“I heard about your gown. I don’t think Mama has had that much excitement or fun for many years. Let me look at you.”
She felt his eyes on her. ‘You look radiant,” he said, taking her hand and raising it to her lips. Arabella felt on fire, every nerve firing sparks throughout her body.
“You should wear that dress when we marry. It’s the first time I’ve had a good look at you wearing the pendant, and I knew it would match your eyes,” he added.
“I can’t,” she laughed. “Green is the colour of the fairies and not used for wedding gowns.”
“Our honeymoon then,” he said with a note of mischief.
“Perhaps,” she said, continuing to laugh.
“Well, the first dance is claimed as mine, and I hear the orchestra getting ready for a cotillion. Let’s take to the dance floor.”
She sighed as he swept her into his arms to the rhythm of the music, forgetting eyes were on her as they lost themselves in the music.
Chapter 25
Robert felt calm and confident as he held his betrothed in his arms to begin the first dance at the Midsummer Ball. The sight of Arabella in her sparkling gown in a multitude of shades of green had taken his breath away.
The invisible barrier between them seemed to have disappeared. He’d taken his sister’s advice and had taken to wooing and trying to think romantically. He was conscious that his desire to announce their engagement to protect Henry and reduce Arabella’s stress had been rather brisk and business-like.
He loved how her peridot necklace glistened in the candlelight and looked down into her eyes, seeing the same colour there. She smiled up at him as they worked through the steps of the cotillion.
He felt such warmth towards his mama for organizing the working party to make her a gown in record time and what a gown they had created. The tiara looked made for her, and fairies or not, he hoped she would wear it at their wedding.
He didn’t dance every dance with his betrothed, but he claimed the majority. He did not ask Rosalind to dance, and hehad his suspicions that she had been responsible for destroying Arabella’s gown.
He asked the orchestra to play a waltz and rushed back to claim Arabella for the mad, bad, high-speed experience. It may be still banned in some assemblies, but he longed to waltz with Arabella. He noticed some of the older couples deciding to sit this out, but smiled when he saw Sir Joseph, Lady Thraxton, and his mama and Sir Benjamin Hanslope ready to twirl and whirl.
He knew the moment was special as their feet found the rhythm of the music, and as they reached the final crashing notes of the jeté, he lifted her off her feet and spun her around in a circle, feet far above the ground.
Later, they walked outside, looking at the lanterns hung around the terrace. The effect was magical, and he held her hand under his as they began to walk down into the garden.
Robert stopped suddenly.
“What is it?” she asked in surprise.
“I think we should turn back. All I can say is that I expect an announcement of an engagement between your cousin Emma and Nathaniel in the very near future,” he told her.
“Ah,” she said softly. “Let’s stay on the terrace. I shall find a glass of cook’s lemonade. My throat is parched after that waltz.”
“My poor Arabella,” he teased, “would you rather we had sat it out? Many did.”
“Oh no, far from it. I believe the waltz should be compulsory at every ball,” she replied and looked up towards him, eyes bright in the moonlight.
He couldn’t resist lowering his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. The immediate response of desire still surprised him each time it happened. He tightened his hold on her hand, and she squeezed his in return. He felt at one with this brave, beautiful, feisty lady. He’d never expected to be engaged at the Midsummer Ball, but he delighted in every moment he spent in her company.
***
The ball had continued till dawn, so it was well into the afternoon the following day when he walked into the village with Colonel Lloyd and his brother Simon. He’d been reluctant to invite Simon along, but it was impossible not to extend the invitation as Simon had been playing billiards with the colonel.
The Midsummer Ball had been a triumph for his mama and sister in their organizational skills and creativity. As thecarriages had driven away into the breaking dawn, he had felt proud of his family. He knew he’d made the right decision in offering Arabella marriage. Every moment they’d spent together at the ball had been magical.
Robert had been apprehensive about spending time with Simon, as he hadn’t spoken with him since the altercation about Rosalind. His brother seemed more relaxed now, though, perhaps because Robert had announced his own engagement to Arabella.
They settled in a corner table at the Beehive Tavern with a jug of ale, and Robert went to thank the landlord for the drinks he’d supplied for the ball.
