Especially since he was shockingly not uncomfortable, either in the sharing or the knowing. In fact, he felt…closerto her. He had that night after she confessed when he simply held her while she fitfully slept. He had the night they’d returned when he made love to her in the hopes that pleasure would ease some of the pain.
He did now as he sat across from her watching her pour tea and peruse the sidebar of breakfast pastries awaiting them this morning. “I received an invitation,” he said, forcing away his more troubling thoughts about the case and about her, and breaking the quiet at last. “To a ball at the Duke and Duchess of Abernathe’s.”
She slowly turned, her hand shaking so much that the plate she held trembled. “I see.”
“It is tonight,” he said. “And there was also a message for you from Meg. My assumption is she might wish to meet with you this afternoon to share her gowns.”
“The only reason I’d do so is if I would attend the ball as your companion,” Diana said, setting her plate down and taking a seat beside him. “I don’t think that is wise.”
He frowned. She was so certain she didn’t belong in his world. That she would be seen as less by his friends and peers. “I would like you to come,” he said softly.
“And draw negative attention to yourself?” She shook her head. “It isn’t just going to be your friends there, is it?”
He pursed his lips. “No, that would not serve the purpose of the ball, of course. There will be many of rank there.”
“Then I don’t belong,” she said, and pushed the uneaten food away. “That’s the end of the discussion.”
He leaned over and caught her hands. Slowly, he drew them up to his lips and pressed a kiss against her knuckles. He felt her shudder, shift, soften. He smiled. “Please attend.”
“You think you can seduce me into it?” she asked.
He arched a brow. “I know I can. But I don’t want to. I want you to be there because you’ll meet my friends as a group. Because I’d like to dance with you. Because I’d like to discuss any information that might be gleaned from our going. And because I’d like to see you as the shining, glorious star of the evening and know that I get to take you back to my bed at the end of the night.”
She sighed, but it was obvious he’d won even before she said, “Very well, though I think you might be disappointed. Give me Meg’s letter and I will write to tell her I’ll come to her this afternoon to accept her offer.”
“Good,” he said, handing the letter over with a grin. “You’ll be of great help to me, I’m certain.”
She gave him a look and he saw her anxiety.“I’ll remind you of that after, when you are sorry you took me.”
She pushed to her feet and went to refresh his tea from the sideboard. When she turned her back, his smile fell. Once more he was plagued with troubling thoughts that had nothing to do with the ball. Thoughts of how hurt she might be by the investigation he was bound to do.
And how hurthewould be once he lost her.
As Meg entered her parlor, Diana turned and was surprised to see a wide grin on her new friend’s face.
“I’m so glad you came!” Meg said, and folded her into an embrace that was only made awkward by the pregnant belly that came between them. Diana found herself settling her hand on the swell and remembering her own months of confinement.
Meg tilted her head. “Are you well?”
“Yes,” Diana said, jerking the hand away. “I’m sorry, just woolgathering. You were so kind to invite me and to renew your offer of loaning me some clothes for tonight. I admit I have no idea what to do or say or think when it comes to such an event. I fear I shall muck it up entirely.”
“Well, we’ll help you,” Meg said as she took her arm. “Now come up to my chamber and we’ll start. The others are very excited to meet you.”
“The others?” Diana repeated as she followed the lead of the duchess.
“Yes. Emma is busy as a goose preparing for the ball, with Charlotte’s help, but Adelaide is here and so is Helena.”
Diana stopped in the middle of the hallway and forced Meg to do the same. “The other duchesses?” she asked.
Meg tilted her head. “You needn’t look so frightened. Have I bitten you yet?”
Diana couldn’t quite muster a laugh at the gentle teasing. “No, not yet. But it’s just…”
She couldn’t complete the sentence and Meg put her arm around her. “I recognize you’re nervous. I even understand why. But I assure you, Adelaide and Helena are the sweetest and kindest women you could ever hope to encounter. You will feel nothing but welcome from them and friendship. They’re incapable of anything else.”
Diana nodded slowly. Meg was so earnest in her praise that it was hard not to find some faith that she might be right. They walked up the stairs together and Meg took her to an open door. She could hear female voices from inside, quiet laughter, and she drew a cleansing breath to ready herself. They entered and two ladies turned from an open wardrobe in the dressing room.
One was blonde, with loosely done locks that framed a very pretty face. She also had a pregnant belly of her own, though not as large as Meg’s. The other was slender, willowy, with a shock of auburn locks done in a simple chignon. As Diana and Meg entered, both the ladies’ faces lit up with happy, friendly smiles that could not help but put Diana at ease.
