Cottenham Manor,seat of the Earl of Hopstead, was almost as grand and large as Swindon Palace. Lord and Lady Hopstead were famous for their entertainments, and Sunny had spent a long and happy weekend at Cottenham the previous summer. It was a pleasure to return, and as her maid fastened a sapphire and diamond necklace around her neck, she hummed softly toherself.
“Madam is happy tonight,” Antoinette observed as she handed Sunny the matchingeardrops.
Sunny put on the eardrops, then turned her head so she could see the play of light in the sapphire pendants. “I’ve been looking forward to this ball for weeks. What a silly custom it is for a bride to rusticate for months after thewedding!”
“But think how much more you will appreciate society after wintering in the depths of the Englishcountryside.”
“That’s true.” Sunny rose with a rich whisper of taffeta petticoats. She was wearing a sumptuous blue brocade gown, one of Worth’s finest, and she was ready to beadmired.
“You must sit until I have put on your tiara,” Antoinette saidreprovingly.
Obediently Sunny sat again and braced herself for the weight of the Thornborough tiara. The massive, diamond-studded coronet would give her a headache, but it wouldn’t be proper for a duchess to attend a ball without one, particularly since the Prince of Wales would bepresent.
Just as the maid was finishing, a hesitant knock sounded at the door. Antoinette crossed the room and admitted Alexandra. Dressed in a white silk gown that shimmered with every movement, the younger girl had a fairylike grace. Her dark hair had been swept up to show the delicate line of her throat, and her complexion glowed with youth and goodhealth.
“You look marvelous,” Sunny said warmly. “Turn around so I can see allofyou.”
Her sister-in-law colored prettily as she obeyed. “You were right about the gown. Even though this one wasn’t made for me, it’s so lovely that one can’t help but feelbeautiful.”
“It looks better on you than it ever did on me. You’ll be the belle oftheball.”
“No, you will.” Alexandra chuckled. “But at least I don’t think that I’ll be a wallflower.” Another knock sounded on the door. This time it was Justin, come to take his wife and sister down to the dinner that would precede the ball. Sunny had hoped that there would be so many people at Cottenham that they would be put in the same room, but such intimacy was unthinkable in the fashionable set. The previous night, she had slept alone. Perhapstonight...
Hastily she suppressed the improper thought. After he examined them both, Justin said gravely, “You will be the two most beautiful women at the ball. Alex, I shall have a dozen men clamoring for your hand before the eveningisover.”
As Alexandra beamed delightedly, he offered one arm to his wife and one to his sister, then led them into the hall. As they descended the broad stairs, Sunny asked, “Will you dance with metonight?”
He gave her a quizzical glance. “You would dance with a merehusband?”
“Please.” Afraid that she might sound pathetic, she added lightly, “I know that it’s not fashionable to dance with one’s spouse, but it isn’t actuallyscandalous.”
He gave her one of the rare smiles that took her breath away. “Then it will be my very greatpleasure.”
As they entered the salon where the other guests had gathered, Sunny’s heart was alreadydancing.
* * *
The Hopsteads’ball was an excellent place to rejoin society, and Sunny enjoyed greeting people she had met the year before. During a break after the fourth dance, she came across her godmother, who was resplendent in coral-and-silver silk. “Aunt Katie!” Sunny gave her a hug. “I hoped you would be here. You’re not staying at Cottenham,areyou?”
“No, I’m at the Howards’. Every great house in the district is full of guests who have come for this ball.” Katie affectionately tucked a tendril of Sunny’s flyaway hair in place. “You’re in fine looks. By any chanceareyou...?”
“Please, don’t ask me if I’m expecting a blessed event! I swear, every female at the ball has inquired. I’m beginning to feel like a dreadfulfailure.”
“Nonsense. You’ve only been married a few months.” Katie chuckled. “It’s just that we’re all such gossips, and like it or not, you’re a subject of greatinterest.”
Sunny made a face. “Luckily there will soon be other heiresses to capture society’s attention.” The two women chatted for a few minutes and made an engagement for the nextmorning.
Then Sunny glanced beyond Katie, and her heart froze in her breast. On the far side of the room was Paul Curzon, tall and distinguished and heart-stoppinglyhandsome.
As if feeling her gaze, he looked up, and for a paralyzing instant their eyes met. Shocked by the way her knees weakened, Sunny turned to Katie and stammered, “I must go now. I’ll see youtomorrow.”
Then she caught her train up with one hand and headed for the nearest door, scarcely noticing when she bumped into other guests. Sometimes escape was more important thanmanners.
* * *
One of thedrawbacks of socializing was the number of people who hoped to enlist ducal support for some cause or other. This time, it was a junior government minister talking about an upcoming bill. Justin listened patiently, half of his attention on the minister, the other half anticipating the next dance, which would be withSunny.
Then from the comer of his eye, he saw his wife leave the ballroom, her face pale. He frowned, wondering if she wasfeelingill.
