Page 68 of A Lady's Beastly Duke
Sidney beamed. “A waltz. That would be grand.”
Anastasia went pink. “If you wish,” she said, a little flustered. She loved dancing with Sidney more than anything, but it would feel strange to dance in front of all their guests.
“Grand! Grand,” Henry beamed as Amy joined him and Anastasia felt a little relieved. The other guests would almost certainly join in.
She stood with Sidney, and soon she forgot all else as she stared into his eyes. A group of village musicians had been brought up to play for the servants and the townsfolk who celebrated with them on the lawn outside. The musicians were summoned, and they tuned up hastily. Anastasia gazed at Sidney, the soaring sound of the violins like the joy that lifted her heart.
The musicians played the introductory bars and then they stepped seamlessly together, their dancing as effortless and smooth as ever, feeling—as it always did—as though they were made to dance together, as though they were thinking with one mind, moving with one body. She breathed in, shutting her eyes as she often did when they danced. Then beauty of it, the poetry and rhythm, was something that moved her to tears sometimes, it was so intense.
“Look,” Sidney whispered as she opened her eyes again.
Anastasia glanced sideways. The music was slowing, moving to the concluding section, and she was just in time to noticeGiles, dancing with a lady in a pink dress. It was Camilla.
She beamed up at Sidney. Her heart glowed with warmth and joy. The two of them were smiling at one another, the rest of the room clearly empty to them, as it was for Sidney and herself.
“They look happy.”
“They do,” Sidney agreed.
The dance concluded and they bowed and curtseyed, then moved their way silently to the table. The older guests were still seated there, and Anastasia could hear her father discussing what had happened to Lord Ridley. He had fled London following the scandal and she shut her eyes, wishing she could shut her ears too. She did not want to hear about it. All that mattered to her was that she would never see the fellow again; that she had no tie to him and that he could cease to matter altogether. That was all she wished.
“Shall we go outdoors?” Sidney asked, sensing her unease.
She nodded. “Yes, let’s go outside.”
Sidney stood and went over to the doors that led out onto the terrace. He opened them and cleared his throat. She watched him, enjoying the lithe, easy way he moved. They had gone riding a few times in the forest, with Amy and Henry to accompany them, and she appreciated his skill and strength. He was as fine a rider as he was a dancer, and she looked forward to escaping on horseback with him up to the woods around the estate in the future.
“Should anyone feel overly warm, you are invited to the gardens to partake of the cool shade there.” Sidney smiled at the guests as he announced his suggestion.
Several people laughed and smiled, agreeing that it was too hot. Anastasia waited for Sidney to join her, and then, along with some of their other guests, they went out into the garden.
“It’s lovely out here,” Sidney murmured as they made their way down a shaded path towards the bench that they had come to love. It was near the rose-arbor and screened from view of the house by hedges and trees. Anastasia walked with him, their steps keeping pace and headed in the same direction though neither had discussed where they wished to go. They clearly both wanted to go there, and they headed that way, the cool afternoon breeze that blew over the pond ruffling Anastasia’s hair and cooling her.
“It is beautiful,” she agreed, joining him as he paused. She settled on the bench, and he sat down beside her, gallantly waiting until she had arranged her white silk skirt before he settled down beside her.
“I always wanted to show you this part of the garden,” Sidney murmured as they sat side by side, staring out over the brightly colored blooms and smelling the sweet, intense smell of the roses.
“You did?” Anastasia beamed. “That makes me very happy, since it is so beautiful.” She squeezed his hand gently.
“I have something else I would like to show you. In the drawing room. Later, if we can sneak off after our guests havedeparted.” He grinned, a shy grin.
Anastasia nodded, her heartbeat a little hastened with her curiosity. She could not imagine what it might be that he wanted to show her.
They sat in the garden, the other guests wandering peacefully about the flowerbeds, and Anastasia smiled to herself as a snatch of conversation drifted across to them now and again. It seemed that their guests were as happy as they themselves, though they were content to sit and enjoy one another’s company in companionable quietude.
“Lord and Lady Anselm are departing,” Henry told them, appearing on the pathway unexpectedly. “I think most of the guests will likewise do so.”
“We will come directly.” Sidney stood and Anastasia followed him. They made their way to the entrance, where, as Henry said, most of the guests were getting ready to depart. Anastasia hugged Lily tight against her chest.
“I will see you tomorrow,” she said with a grin as Lily stepped back.
“See you tomorrow!” Lily said, her smile bright and joyful. “I will bring that book I mentioned. The fifth passage in the song is so hard—I need help with the phrasing.”
“We can sing it tomorrow,” Anastasia promised.
She gazed lovingly at her sister as she went down to the coach. It was wonderful that they could see one another as oftenas they wished to, and she could not wait to see her and practice the song together.
“Shall we go up...?” Sidney asked hesitantly. The entrance-way was silent, the guests departed to their homes. It was late afternoon, the shadows long and the sunshine that fell through the windows was the color of clover honey.
