Chapter Four
When the night of the party arrived, Rose dressed to dazzle — the first time she could recall worrying about her appearance in a very long time. She strode up and down her front hall impatiently, waiting for her little group to pick her up, and she couldn’t deny the anticipatory excitement fluttering inside her. How unexpected!
When she entered the Lowell’s spacious foyer, she noted that Reed and Charlotte were already speaking with William Woodsom. Coincidence? Or had he sought out her family?
Approaching at her brother’s beckoning, she let Charlotte enfold her warmly in an embrace.
“So glad to see you,” her sister-in-law said.
“And you,” she answered. “Having a break from all the little ones?” Rose teased.
Her brother and his wife had four at present, two of their own and two adopted, and who knew if more were on the way.
Charlotte beamed. “You know I adore them all, the way a hummingbird adores nectar, but it’s nice to be out with only adults.” She let Reed take her hand and pull her to his side. It was apparent the only adults they were truly interested in were one another.
Rose watched with something akin to awe as her brother and his wife gazed into each other’s eyes for a moment, Charlotte’s hand still clasped in Reed’s, as if no one else in the world existed. They were so in love that Rose found it difficult not to bask in their affection when she was around them. In her heart, she knew she and Finn would have had a similar relationship.
Of course, it was only a guess, and a nostalgic, sentimental, futile one at that. Yet her immediate attraction to Finn and her subsequent lingering affection made her believe it was true.
“Do you know Mr. Woodsom?” Reed asked, bringing her out of her reverie.
Rose focused her gaze on William’s handsome face.
He gave her a brief smile, his eyes questioning, even cautious.
“Yes, we’re acquainted. However, I didn’t know you knew each other.” Her glance went back to her brother.
“Mr. Woodsom’s father was a client of mine,” Reed explained. “As long as you two are already acquainted, I’m not remiss in leaving you to talk. I’m going to dance with my lovely wife.”
They strolled off toward the Lowell’s well-lit ballroom where a waltz had given way to a lively two-step with Sousa’s music emitting joyfully from a small group of musicians.
“Shall we dance, too?” William asked.
She took a step backward.
“I’m quite safe,” he added. “I won’t bite.”
“I know that,” she said snappily. “It’s just that I only arrived a minute ago.”
“And that precludes you from dancing? Or only precludes you from dancing with me?” He crossed his arms. “Are you looking around for someone better to your liking? Here, let me see your card, and I’ll point you in the direction of the best dancers.”
She knew he was speaking in jest as the Lowells had forsaken the use of dance cards at their parties, letting people organize themselves more haphazardly or keep the same partner all evening long if they wished. It made for slightly more chaotic dancing but often a more relaxed evening.
In any case, Rose was looking for Claire but spied her already dancing with Franklin.
She sighed. As long as she wasn’t alone with William and giving him leave to make advances, what was the harm?
“Fine. Let us dance,” she said quickly and not very graciously. “It seems that’s been on your mind for weeks.”
He chuckled as he took her proffered hand. “Why wouldn’t I want to have a lovely lady in my arms?”
“I suppose any one will do,” she said tartly.
He stopped laughing as they entered the ballroom. Standing still, he looked down into her eyes.
“That’s not the case at all, Miss Malloy. I’ve been wanting to dance particularly with you, and you only, or I wouldn’t keep putting myself in the potentially humiliating position of asking.”
Feeling chagrined and happy at the same time, she gave him a slight nod of acceptance, and he led her onto the dance floor.
