Page 59 of A Duke's Christmas Carol
I wish I had a big enough rock to chase awaymyghosts,she mused, thinking back to last night and the secret she had almost revealed to the one man who must never know. How would he look at her if he knew the truth? It would change everything, her fragile hope of avoiding her fate dashed like a snowflake underfoot.
Do not think about it now,she scolded herself.
With a steadying breath, holding onto Adrian’s arm, she proceeded up the steps and into the town hall.
It was the most glorious night of Valerie’s life, bar none. The party that had begun as a little seed of possibility in her head had blossomed into something beyond her wildest dreams.
The entire town had come to celebrate the season and the orphans, a large table in the corner of the ‘ballroom’ now laden with gifts. Itwassupposed to be a refreshment table, but some ladies from Blackwall had made the necessary decision to clear it for the presents that seemingly everyone had brought with them. Gifts that Valerie had neither asked for nor expected, for the orphans.
“Do we get to keep them?”David had whispered to her a while ago, staring in wide-eyed awe at the mountain of generosity.
“Yes, I daresay you do,”Valerie had whispered back, laughing.
She had never known happiness like it, her heart so full that it puffed her chest. Of course, she cherished the festivities at Gramfield with her siblings, but this was… astounding. Best of all, the townsfolk seemed equally elated, coming forward in pairs and groups and clusters to gush about the party to Valerie and—when they could corner him—Adrian.
“I never thought I’d see another party like this,” an old woman said, approaching with the help of a younger woman and a cane. “I truly thought we’d seen the last of any celebrations like this in Blackwall. Thank you, Miss Wightman. Thank you with all my heart. You don’t know how much it has cheered us all, especially to see His Grace here again.”
Valerie blushed, bowing her head to the woman. “It is His Grace who should receive most of the praise. None of this would have been possible without his generosity and his willingness.”
She glanced across the room to where Adrian stood by the refreshment table, deep in conversation with David, Isaac, and two other boys. It appeared to be an animated discussion, though Valerie was not close enough to overhear.
“Ah, but it’s obvious that it’s your influence that has made this happen,” the old woman insisted with a clumsy wink. “We hadn’t seen hide nor hair of him in a decade, and then we hear that this young lady has appeared at the castle and, all of a sudden, there is to be a Christmas party again at Blackwall. Indeed, it’s my hope that there’ll be many more to come, if you were, say, to become the Duchess.”
“Grandmother!” the younger woman at her side scolded, though there was a twinkle in her eyes. “I told you, you can’t say that to Miss Wightman!”
“Whyever not?” the old woman replied with a shrug. “His Grace clearly admires her. He hasn’t ceased looking at her since they entered together and he has beentalkingto anyone and everyone. Quite changed, I should say. It’s an uncommon woman who can coax a hermit out of his hermitage—he’d be a fool not to wed her at once. And I, for one, hope I receive an invitation to the wedding.”
Valerie blinked, tongue-tied. What was she supposed to say to that? She would have been lying if she had said she had not daydreamed a little, particularly after what had happened in Adrian’s study; how close they had been to crossing a line. And after the talk of marriage last night in his chambers,of courseshe had thought about what it might be like to be his duchess.
It would save me, there is no doubt about that.
But she was a baron’s daughter, and someone he had once accused of being a schemer: he would not consider marrying her… would he? He had not mentionedhisopinions of marriage last night, though she doubted he held the institution in very high esteem.
Then again, he had offered to help her find her sister. If he was eager to be rid of her, and no longer wished to have her in his presence, why would he have volunteered? Surely, his assistance would mean that they continued to see one another.
“She’s blushing,” the old woman remarked with a grin. “I’ve a feeling you’re as fond of His Grace as he is of you. You should let him know, so we can have us a wedding to look forward to in the new year.”
“Grandmother!” her companion sighed, rolling her eyes. “I apologize, Miss Wightman. She’s of an age where she says exactly what she pleases, and there’s nothing to be done about it.”
Valerie mustered a stiff chuckle. “I am just glad that you are enjoying the party. Truly, it is a delight to see everyone having such fun.”
At that moment, the town hall was a hive of activity: a small group had decided to begin dancing on the far side, the musicians playing a merry tune for them; a gaggle of orphans and town children were playing some manner of game that involved throwing rings over a post in the nearside corner, closest to the gifts; little pockets of ladies and gentlemen, respectively, were chattering in a lively fashion, laughing and drinking and savoring the feast that Mrs. Leggat had expended so much effort for. Another group were singing a festive song that Valerie did not know, a little cluster of girls were making wreaths, and all around, wherever she looked, there were smiling, cheery faces.
Just then, she met Adrian’s eye.
Like a true Christmas miracle, a smile curved his beautiful lips. A small smile, but a smile nonetheless. All for her.
He must have had too much of the punch,she mused, smiling back.
All of a sudden, he was moving toward her through the throng of merrymakers, and the room seemed to fall silent, time slowing. Of course, neither of those things were true, but the guestsdidquieten somewhat as they stared at their duke, watching to see what he intended to do.
“He is going to ask her to dance!” someone hissed excitedly.
“She would make a fine duchess,” another said in a loud whisper.
“They make a fine pair indeed,” agreed a third, not bothering to quieten their voice at all.
Valerie stood frozen, in awe of that smile upon his face and the gleam in his eyes.
