Untamed.
Full of possibility.
And that possibility was what Arabella saw now when she looked at herself in the mirror. Even though the changes she’d made were small—choosing what dress to wear and how to style her hair—they were a start. A few steps forward in discovering who she was and what she wanted. And she felt braver for having taken them.
Grandmother was waiting for her downstairs. “Are ye ready? The carriage is waiting.”
Arabella’s stomach fluttered with nerves. Even though she’d agreed to this dinner at the Wallaces’, she instinctively knew it would be nothing like an event in London. And she knew her parents would not approve. No doubt they imagined her sequestered at Grandmother’s house, passing the summer in isolation. And for the most part, shehadstayed secluded.
Until now. The summer stretched before her, full of possibility.
And so, in a moment that felt very much like crossing the Rubicon, she nodded. “Yes, Grandmother. I’m ready.”
ESTATE BUSINESS HAD kept Gavin occupied well past six that evening, so by the time he arrived at the Wallaces’, he was half an hour late. But as he was ushered inside, he was gratified to see Nan and Arabella being enthusiastically greeted. He hadn’t been certain they’d come.
Gavin suddenly found himself looking forward to the evening. At gatherings like this, he was often pestered by all the old women about why he wasn’t married. In truth, Gavin adored all the grannies, many of them Nan’s friends. He’d flirt with them until they laughed and shooed him off, urging him to use his wiles on one of the young women who’d caught his eye.
And tonight, there happened to be one who had.
Arabella stood behind Nan, lovely as always. But from where he stood, angled toward her profile, he could see there was something different about her. Something softer.
Mrs. Wallace pulled Nan into an embrace, then curtseyed to Arabella. “We are so honored tae have ye.” Smiling, she lowered her voice. “I feel I must warn ye, however, that there will be plenty of young men vying for your attention.”
“I am happy tae shoo them away if need be,” the vicar said.
Arabella laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Mrs. Wallace turned and caught sight of Gavin. “Mr. McKenzie, come in, come in. I’m sure ye’ve met Miss Hughes.”
He found Arabella’s eyes. “I have, in fact.”
“No doubt Mr. McKenzie has been charming ye,” Mrs. Wallace chirped.
“Oh, most certainly.” Arabella gave him a meaningful look. “Mr. McKenzie knows how to make one feel right at home.”
Before any more could be said, Mrs. Wallace’s older daughters approached and began peppering Arabella with questions about finishing schools, London, and what it was like being presented to the Queen. Gavin chuckled, watching a wide-eyed Arabella be whisked away and swallowed by the crowd.
Dinner began briefly thereafter, an informal affair with a large buffet, and Gavin saw Nan settled before being pulled into a conversation with several of his father’s old friends.
Gavin scolded himself for continually searching for Arabella, who was always at the center of attention, surrounded by a circle of admirers. But it brought him a great deal of satisfaction to note how often Arabella looked inhisdirection. At one point, when he caught her gaze, he speared a piece of meat with his knife and put it to his mouth.
She coughed, stifling her laugh.
It was nearly ten o’clock when one of the younger Wallace girls asked if they could move the furniture and have some dancing.
Mr. Wallace smiled and nodded. “I dinnae see why not.”
Soon everyone was helping, scooting chairs across the floor and rolling back the rugs to make space. Someone pulled out a fiddle and Arabella’s hand was immediately claimed.
Gavin waited on the periphery, watching as the dancing began. As he’d expected, Arabella was unparalleled. Her posture perfect, her movements graceful, every step flawlessly executed. Next came a quadrille. Then a waltz.
The room grew noisy and warm as people talked and danced and laughed, while those watching called out teasingly when someone made a misstep. Several windows were propped open to help cool the room.
As soon as the fiddler began a Scotch reel, Gavin made his move toward Arabella. He edged through the crowd and came up behind her, bending to speak in her ear. “May I have the next dance, Arabella?”
She turned and suddenly they were face-to-face, her blue eyes sparkling, her rosebud mouth just inches away from his. “You should not use my name in so public a setting,” she breathed, her shoulder brushing against his chest as they were jostled by the crowd.
“Shall I take ye somewhere more private?” he teased.
