I ran a hand through my hair and stalked to the back of the room to grab a refreshment. Henri found me a moment later. “She was pretty.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Are you spying on me now?”
“Hardly.” Henri grinned, taking a sip from a champagne flute. “It’s just when I see you out there dancing, it’s like everyone else ceases to exist.”
“I’m that good, am I? Perhaps I missed my calling.”
“I can’t help but be jealous of everyone you dance with. I want to be the one holding you in my arms, making you smile like that.” His hand briefly grazed mine. “And anyway, that girl seemed like a trollop.”
I laughed. “Well, since you’re the expert on women, I will accept your counsel.”
“As you should.”
“Count Morano!” a girl cried out, approaching. She was very pretty with curly black hair that grazed her shoulders in a seductive way. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“Octavia,” Henri greeted her. “It’s so good to see you.”
“Dance with me, Henri. We simply must catch up.”
“So bold,” Henri waggled his eyebrows. “I like it.” He handed me his barely touched champagne glass and allowed Octavia to pull him out onto the floor.
I watched them go, and I felt my heart squeeze a little as they began to dance together. Henri grinned down at her, clearly enjoying himself. I suddenly understood what he meant. I was jealous as well. I wanted to be out there with him.
I drained the rest of the champagne and went in search of a room to relieve myself. Outside the ballroom, I saw handfuls of people clumped together talking, but no one I recognized. I walked in the direction of a servant standing outside of a discreet room, which I assumed would be where a chamber pot lay in wait.
“Emile,” a voice called, and I looked around, unable to place where it had come from.
I paused in front of a room I hadn’t noticed, the door slightly ajar. I squinted as a figure stuck his head out and gestured me inside. I recoiled, only to blink at the shadowed face. Wait a moment, was that …? “Bram?”
With a quick look around to see if anyone was watching, I ducked into what was clearly a coat closet. As the door closed at my back, I regarded the doctor with surprise and awe. “Bram? What are you doing here?”
“I came to findyou.” He sighed. “I wasn’t sure what became of you when I heard that your aunt arrived.”
I looked him over in the weak light and smiled. “It is good to see you. I didn’t like how we left things.”
“Nor I,” he said, grabbing my hands. “I’m sorry. I’ve been so worried.”
I swallowed hard. “I’m confined to the house. I couldn’t get word to you, or I would have written.”
“I know, I know.” Bram waved my explanations away. “But howareyou? Has your aunt made any reference to her earlier demands?”
“Oh, yes. Why do you think I’m here?”
Bram sighed and nodded. “I figured as much.” He reached up and touched my cheek. “I missed you.”
“I missed you.” My heart was beginning to thud in my chest, and I leaned into him, glad when he finally slipped an arm around my waist. I gazed up into his worried face with a touch of sadness. His eyes still called to me, as did his lips. In that moment, I wondered if the only reason I’d been growing so close to Henri lately was because I missed Bram. Henri was always nearby, a convenience. Yes, Henri was beautiful and I enjoyed his company immensely, but I couldn’t completely forget his past actions toward me. Meanwhile, Bram was dependable and charming, on top of being incredibly attractive. I felt like I could trust him in a way that I couldn’t Henri, even if I had come to see Henri as a sort of protector.
“We’re going to find a way out of this,” Bram murmured into my hair. “I swear it.”
I nodded. “I know. It’s just … I feel hopeless. Sometimes I think I should give in to my aunt’s demands and be miserable.”
“Perhaps you should revisit the circumstances around such an arrangement. You might surprise yourself and find a way to satisfy your aunt and get what you want in the end. It may just take some finessing.” He pulled back and lifted my chin. “Be strong for me, okay?”
I smiled, although he clearly had no clue how obstinate my aunt could be. “Yes. Okay.”
He returned my smile and then leaned in to kiss me. I felt a promise in his kiss. That it wouldn’t be our last. That he would find a way for us to be together.
“I’m sorry I lied to you,” I blurted out.
