In fact, it seemed as if it only took her mere moments before she slipped into the most peaceful sleep of her life.
Chapter Twenty-One
Christopher woke some time the next morning, well before sunrise. Usually this was a habit of his he found rather irritating, always waking before he was fully rested, but for once that did not seem to be true.
He felt relaxed, rested, and free of the usual restless energy that plagued him first thing in the morning.
Christopher turned to where Veronica was still sound asleep next to him. He couldn’t believe she agreed to this.
He couldn’t believe she was his wife.
And all because he made one selfish choice.
Something he had assumed would be an eternal regret could very well become the best decision he had ever made in his life.
He never wanted to look away. All he wanted was to freeze that moment and live the rest of his life there.
Christopher shook his head. She still wouldn’t want to wake up to him staring at her. Besides, he was sure she had plenty of things she wanted to get up to today. He didn't want to keep her from any of it. Shaking his head, he tore himself from the bed, slipping away from her.
Getting to his feet, he slipped from the room. In the doorway Christopher paused, shooting her one last look.
Veronica looked so peaceful when she was sleeping. Much of her hair had escaped her braid, spilling across her pillow and vailing her face. Her face was relaxed, tranquil, eyes shut, lashes fanned over her cheeks. Her lips were parted in a silent sigh.
After another moment, Christopher tore his gaze away and slipped in to the hall.
He dressed in the other room then made his way downstairs. When he made it to the staircase that led to the restricted section, he paused and frowned.
It was gone. Inaccessible. An ach formed in his chest at the thought of the place he once called his sanctuary being lost to him. For so long it was the place where he felt safe. Where he felt like himself.
But instead, he headed out to the garden. He wasn’t ready, yet, to rejoin the world. But maybe… maybe he could retreat to a sanctuary made out of greenery and growth rather than unyielding stone.
It felt like no more than the blink of an eye before the night of the ball arrived.
Christopher stood in the hall, pacing the space. The carriage was already waiting out front, he was dressed in his new suit, so all that was left was to wait for Veronica.
He couldn’t help but wonder what was taking her so long.
Christopher was just starting to wonder if he should go check on her when he heard her voice call out to him from the top of the stairs.
He turned to see her and his breath caught in his throat.
Veronica descended the stairs with an elegance that befit her station. She was in her new gown, a pale gold thing with embroidery he knew she had to have done herself circling along the hem. It wasn't anything all that ornate on the surface, but Christopher could tell she had really taken her time with it. The detail in the pale green and pink floral vine was incredible. It seemed so real he could almost smell their fragrance—or was that simply her perfume?
The neckline was a deep square with a small, delicate bit of lace trimming the edge, perfectly framing the Ashton family sapphires. Her hair was twisted up in an elegant updo held in place with a few sparkling jeweled pins, a dainty taira finishing it off.
When she reached the landing, he approached her, still trying to find his words.
Veronica hesitated, nerves starting to creep in. “Is it too much? You can tell me if it's too much you know.”
Christopher just shook his head as he stared at her. After a moment, he said, “You look every part the duchess of Ashton.”
She smiled. “Do you really think so?”
“I do. This in particular,” he reached out, running a fingre along the sapphire necklace. “It suits you perfectly.”
Veronica flushed, looking away. “Thank you. I’m glad you think so. Daisy put a lot of time and effort into it.”
“I can tell, but that isn’t what I was talking about.”
