“Grandmother, you look beautiful,” Eva said, slipping into a curtsy, then kissing her cheek.
“As do you, child,” the Dowager Duchess said, examining her granddaughter.
“The Countess of Braithwaite!”
Daniel tucked Eva in between himself and his grandmother so she was flanked on both sides. Then, squeezing her hand, he turned to greet their first guests.
“My cheeks hurt,” Eva whispered some time later.
“Scowl for a while, then,” Daniel said out the side of his mouth.
“Oh, look, Daniel, it is Simon. Surely he will not mind if I do not offer him a brilliant smile.”
“I heard that,” Simon said, hugging Eva, which was totally inappropriate but made her laugh. “How are your cheeks?”
“Sore.”
“Dear God, must I shake your grandmother’s hand? I fear she’ll bite me,” Simon whispered.
“I do not bite, Kelkirk!”
“Be nice to him, Grandmother, he is very dear to Daniel and I,” Eva admonished as the Dowager Duchess lowered her brows.
“If you insist,” the elderly lady said with ill grace. Offering Simon a smile through her clenched teeth, she then sank into a curtsy.
Daniel coughed a couple of times to stop himself from laughing at his friend’s surprised look. “Come, Duchess, I believe we may now join our guests.”
“Really, Daniel?” Eva looked relieved.
“Really,” he added, taking her hand and placing it on his arm.
They circled the ballroom, talking along the way, and then as the music started, Daniel led Eva onto the dance floor.
Everything around her stopped as she moved into Daniel’s arms. Eva knew other couples were taking the floor for the first waltz, but all she could see or feel was her husband.
“If you keep looking at me like that, love, I will disgrace us both,” Daniel growled.
Eva just smiled and blew him a kiss. When the waltz finished, he reluctantly handed her into Simon’s care.
Daniel had looked everywhere for Huxley but the man had vanished. He and Simon had chased every lead and run down everyone associated with him but still they had not found him. Simon believed he had left London but Daniel didn’t. Huxley had tried to kill him to get at Eva. Those were not the actions of a man who would simply walk away from what he wanted. Eva was not safe until Lord Gilbert Huxley resurfaced.
He had advised her to stay near people she knew when possible this evening, and his grandmother’s staff had been given strict instructions to watch over her. Huxley was not to be allowed into the house under any circumstances; however even with these precautions in place, Daniel was still going to be vigilant.
Walking through the crush of bodies, Daniel took the time to study the room. Eva and his grandmother had done a wonderful job - the room was exquisitely decorated. Huge wreaths of fabric decorated the walls and fresh flowers stood in large vases, sending a sweet scent to mingle in the air with the perfumed guests. Servants in emerald green and black uniforms were scurrying around with trays of champagne. From the size of the crowd, Daniel gathered everyone had accepted the invitation. It would be a success and Eva would be launched officially in the eyes of society, and he was pleased for her. He knew she would always retain her innocence and enthusiasm for everything new, yet she would soon be one of the powerful ladies of the ton, someone many would try to emulate. Looking over several heads, he located his grandmother seated with her friends and headed that way.
“Will you do me the honor of dancing with me, Grandmother?” By the stunned look on her face, Daniel guessed he had never asked his grandmother to dance before and was instantly ashamed of himself.
“Please,” he added.
“Of course she will,” Lady Dunbar snapped, giving the Dowager Duchess a shove in the back.
“Get up, Beatrice! We were just saying last night that we never get to dance anymore, and here you have an invitation from one of the most handsome men in the room.” Lady Fairlie winked at Daniel.
“You flatter me, Lady Fairlie.” Daniel bowed deeply. Dear God, he couldn’t remember the last time he had blushed in company, yet his grandmother’s cronies could always make him feel like he was wet behind the ears.
“I want to thank you, Grandmother,” Daniel said as he gently steered her around the room seconds later. He wondered if she was nervous, because in truth he had not seen her dance in many years. “For this night, for helping Eva, but most of all for being the one constant in my life, the only person I could truly rely on,” Daniel added, realizing that it was, indeed, the truth. Shaking his head, he wondered if loving Eva was making him soft.
“I am proud of you, Grandson, proud of what you have become.”
