I wonder what is on her mind that makes her appear to serious. No matter, it almost makes her more beautiful. Truly, she is as breathtaking in person as she was in the painting.
He felt his heart beat faster as he observed. And then, when she suddenly turned into his direction and their eyes met for a moment, his heart skipped a beat.
He felt his mouth open slightly, as if he was readying himself to call out to her, when he caught himself and remembered where he was.
He closed his mouth and nodded into her direction, making sure to never break eye contact. To his delight, she broke into a smile which lit up her entire face. The serious expression seemed to disappear, save for in her eyes, which remained haunted.
“Ah, Your Grace,” the Earl of Hazelshire said, drawing him out of his mesmerized state. “What a pleasure.” He beckoned them over and Christopher felt himself move across the marbled floor as if in a dream. “I am ever so glad you could make it,” the older lord said as he motioned toward the lovely woman beside him. “This is my daughter, Lady Rowena. Rowena, this is His Grace, the Duke of Westmond, who so graciously recovered your necklace.”
The young woman’s dark eyes flashed with recognition and one gloved hand traveled up to her slender neck. Around it rested the pendant that was now so familiar to him.
She was shorter than him by half a head. She extended her hand as she curtsied. He wrapped his fingers around her gloved hand, feeling how delicate it was in his.
When she looked up, their eyes met once more and they stood for a moment, smiling at one another.
“I thank you for ensuring this treasure was returned to me,” she said, wrapping her gloved hand around it as they spoke.
“I am only happy to see it returned to its rightful owner. And dare I say, My Lady, it looks charming on you.”
She blushed and looked away, but the smile remained on her lips.
“I do not know how to thank you, Your Grace. I know it must have been difficult to locate us, without an address or letter..”
“It was by luck and determination that we were able to return it.” Suddenly emboldened, he cleared his throat. “As for the thank you, perhaps the lady might consider giving me the honor of a dance?”
She blinked at him and nodded.
“Of course, Your Grace.” She turned and glanced at her dance card. “The cotillion, perhaps? It is the very first dance after the minuet.”
Suddenly she looked at her father, as if asking his permission. The older man nodded, and she wrote his name next to the dance.
Christopher squinted to see whose name was written next to the first dance but could not make it out. A ping of jealousy at the lucky man overcame him, but he pushed it away.
“I look forward to it,” she said quietly almost as if she did not want anyone else to hear.
“As do I, My Lady,” he bowed before her, not wanting to leave her side but knowing that lingering any longer would be inappropriate. He stepped back, breaking their link and forced himself to face Lord Hazelshire instead.
“Perhaps you might ask Catherine for a dance as well. I am sure she will make room on her dance card for the man who will assist her dear Papa in getting a handle on the vineyard business,” he chuckled, though Christopher knew he was serious.
“I will gladly request a dance from both of your daughters,” he said with a sight bow. As he straightened up, he caught a glance at Lady Rowena. To his delight, he found that she had continued to observe him with interest.
“Now, perhaps you would like to see about some refreshments?” Lord Hazelshire suggested, pointing at an adjacent room.
“What a glorious idea, I am famished. Come on, Topher. Let us explore.” With that, his brother grabbed him by the elbow and pulled him away toward the refreshment room.
Christopher had no choice but the separate himself from the lovely young lady, who had enraptured his attention so.
He looked back once more but found that the crush of people had swallowed the view of the young lady. With a heavy sigh, he followed Henry into the next room, wishing that time moved faster so he could find himself by her side once more.
Chapter 8
Rowena found herself looking after the Duke as he disappeared into the crowd. She placed her hand on her chest and felt her heart beating faster. The moment she’d laid eyes on him, a warmth had spread all throughout her body in a way she’d never experienced before. She’d broken into a smile quite involuntarily and hadn’t wanted to stop.
She could not wait for the cotillion, which was the second dance of the night. At the request of her father, she’d saved the minuet for Lord Thornmouth. He was to have arrived almost an hour ago and it had been deemed proper to dance together after introductions.
Of course, Lord Thornmouth had yet to show his face. Not that she minded. The closer she came to meeting him, the further away she wished to be. It was not the man himself she dreaded, she didn’t know him after all, but it was the thought of change. For the moment she was introduced to him, the changes in her life would be set into motion.
Curiously, she no longer found herself occupied with her future husband’s failure to appear. No, the meeting with Lord Westmond was now foremost on her mind. Thinking of him made her feel woozy at once. She took a deep breath to steady herself. She was utterly vexed by these strange feelings that suddenly washed over her.
