The gown looked incredible on her. The silvery material glimmered and shone. The design was tight-fitting, working perfectly to accentuate her curves without exaggerating them. The dress flowed around her legs like a waterfall dancing off the surface of a lake. And while her make-up was simple, while her jewelry was minimal, and while her hair was worn without tiara or crown, it was impossible to deny that she looked like a lady of the ton.
More than that… she looks like a dream come to life. I knew she was beautiful. I knew she would suit the dress, that the dress would make her shine like a diamond found in the rough. But even I could have pictured just how much it does.
“I take it you are looking forward to this evening?” Alistair offered his arm as Miss Norleigh reached the lower landing.
She accepted it without hesitation. “And what makes you say that?”
“The smile on your lips,” he noted. “The glimmer in your eyes. The excitement in your –”
“Yes, yes,” she cut him off with laughter. “Tell me, did you have these compliments ready before you saw me? I think that you did.”
“Not at all,” he said seriously. “But that just speaks to how wonderful you look.”
She blushed further and looked away as he led her across the foyer. He could feel her body tremble… or maybe that was him?
Alistair had not known what to expect from this evening. When he suggested that he escort her, it was done on impulse, a means to quiet Carrowell’s blithering and hopefully divert attention away from how darn awkward the situation was – he had not expected Lady Emily to invite her in the first place!
These last three days were spent in a state of utmost confusion. How to approach tonight? How to treat Miss Norleigh? Was she just a friend? Was she an employee only? Did she expect more, or was she anticipating a friendly evening that would amount to little more than time spent together? A chance to further their friendly relationship.
Now that Alistair had laid eyes on her, now that he had time to gather his thoughts, and now that he had seen her own reaction when she appeared at the top of the steps, he was through with wondering, and he was done playing games with himself.
This was more than a night out. And this was more than a friendly happenstance.
It was wrong, he knew.
She and him could not possibly work.
People would talk, they would judge, they would whisper.
While Alistair had his own reasons for spurning romance and loathing commitment, when it came to Miss Norleigh, those objections did not scream nearly so loudly as they should.
“Just remember,” he said as he led her outside to where a carriage waited for them. “Have fun tonight. That’s all I ask.”
She exhaled sharply. “Easier said than done, I think.”
“Oh?”
“I am not… this is all rather new for me, Your Grace. And please, if at any point you feel that I have overstayed my welcome or you want to be alone with –”
“That won’t happen.”
“It might.”
He stopped short and turned on Miss Norleigh. He took her by the hands so that he faced her. The moon was full, it shone upon the two like a spotlight, and her dress sparkled like stars in the sky. “I invited you because I want you to be here tonight. So please, do me a favor and stop doubting yourself. You deserve this.”
“Do I, now…”
“I think we both do,” he said with a smile. “Now…” He cocked his arm again. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I will ever be.” She sighed deeply and linked her arm.
“That will have to do.”
Together, they approached the carriage, he helped her inside, and they made their way to the ball. Alistair would not have had it any other way.
They walked into the ballroom together, arms linked, a shared smile on both of their faces. Alistair could feel Miss Norleigh’s nervous energy as if they were his own, and he reached over and rested a gentle hand on her forearm.
“If it makes you feel any better, whether you were with me or not, they would still be staring.”
