Page 120 of The Girl Out of Time
“Well, Cousin, I have to congratulate you,” he said.
“You already did.”
“Oh, not just for the engagement. For this whole season.” His eyes glinted. “You certainly know how to make it less boring.”
Emmeline fixed the vase of flowers on the dining table for the umpteenth time—half an inch to the right—and ran her hands down her dress, eventhough she knew nothing was amiss. For the engagement dinner, she’d picked a high-waisted gown with puffy sleeves, slashed to show billowing ivory silk underneath, and decorated with rows of pleats along the skirt’s hem. The satin gown was a very pale purple, but the many candles set along the table brought a warmer, cream undertone out of it.
“You look stunning.” Louisa took her hands and twirled her around so she could see the dress. “I bet Theo won’t be able to take his eyes off you. I’ll test it. Perhaps I’ll switch his drink, see if he notices.”
Emmeline laughed.
“I’m so happy for you.”
“Even if we won’t be able to despair over our singleness together anymore?”
“Well …” Louisa glanced at the door, where Sebastian was greeting the first pair of guests. “Sebastianmayhave spoken with Papa regarding apotential probabilitythat he would …” Louisa weighed her head. “Court me.”
So it was true!
Louisa curled her mouth in a barely contained smile. “So, we might become sisters, after all. Well, some sort of—I’m not sure what we would be, cousins-in-law? I’ve never heard the phrase used, but—”
Emmeline smothered her in a hug.
“I suppose it’ll do,” Louisa squeezed out. “Talking about the phrase, of course, not Sebastian. He’ll more than do.”
Emmeline giggled.
“And what are you two conspiring about?” Sebastian said, approaching them.
“Nothing.” Emmeline clasped her hands behind her back. “Are you sure you don’t want to make it a double announcement dinner?”
Sebastian sent a mischievous side glance to Louisa, then looked back at Emmeline. “I wouldn’t wish to take the attention from you, Cousin.”
A few more guests arrived—a couple of Sebastian’s friends, and a few ladies she and Louisa had gotten to know—but the group was small enough to make the event intimate and cozy. Emmeline had been chatting with the ladies in the parlor, accepting congratulations, when Sebastian nudged her. “Your fiancé is here.”
Her fiancé. She’d never get tired of hearing those words.
Well, in three weeks, it would behusband, but she’d never get tired of that, either. She leaned past the group, and her breath caught, straining her dress.
Theo looked like he came straight out of a fairytale—or her best fantasy. He wore a midnight blue cutaway coat and perfectly fitting, cream-colored pantaloons to contrast, disappearing into a pair of polished black boots decorated with a silver tassel.
She glided to him, and he greeted her with a kiss on her inner wrist. “You’re beautiful.”
She smiled. “Look at you! You’re going to make all the ladies jealous of me.”
“Let them be.” His scorching gaze made her feel like the rest of the world didn’t exist. Oh, if only they were alone.
“Theo.” Sebastian came by and clapped his shoulder. “I assume we’re all ready for dinner?” He looked from one to the other. “One minute. I’ll lead the guests in.” He gave Emmeline a conspiratorial wink and walked away, calling the guests to attention.
Theo gestured for Emmeline to get closer and drew a silver chain out of his pocket, revealing the tear-shaped pendant of the Starry Night. “Cass helped me get it back from Wescott. Even if the duke let me take it, it’s theright thing to return it back to him. I knew Lady Louisa was going to be here tonight …”
“We could give it to her. She’ll understand. After dinner?”
He nodded and hid the pendant back.
She gave him a quick kiss and laid a hand on his offered arm. “I hope you’re hungry. Cook has prepared a six-course meal.”
“Six? I thought it was a humble affair.”
