“Oh, I’ll do it,” Sophie said, and she marched over to Evelyn Malloy.
“When did she become so bossy?” Elise asked, and then suddenly her own husband appeared at her side, sliding his arm around her waist. Before she could say anything, he bent down and murmured in her ear. Rose watched her oldest sister’s cheeks deepen from pink to scarlet.
“My wife has done a wonderful job,” Michael said. “And at present, she deserves to have some fun. Excuse us.” He dragged her quite willingly onto the dance floor with the countless other couples, all in their finery.
How lucky her sisters were to have found their love matches. Now it was her turn. Just then, she saw a movement out of the corner of her eye and turned. For an instant, she had the impression a man might have been staring at her, but her view of him was blocked immediately by dancers. And then Claire, Robert, and Franklin appeared.
“Where did you three get to?” Rose asked. They each had a drink in hand.
“We were taking it all in,” Claire said. “If I were to ever have an engagement party,” she said, glancing sideways at Franklin, who suddenly seemed to find his collar a size too tight, “then I think I would ask your sister to organize it for me.”
“I’m sure she would do it, too,” Rose said. “She thoroughly enjoyed the planning and implementation.” She looked at Robert, who was smiling affably, still being dragged around by his twin sister. Could she set him up with someone? He seemed so reserved and docile. Why, she couldn’t even imagine him kissing ... and then it struck her.
If any part of what Maeve had said was true, that she didn’t want to be kissed before she was engaged, then Robert was most likely the perfect man for her.
Rose considered how terribly rude she’d been to Maeve months earlier. Perhaps she could make amends by encouraging Robert to turn his attention to the lovely girl. After all, Maeve’s cousin, Franklin, was nearly already part of the Appleton family.
“What is that rather mischievous smile for?” William asked, suddenly at her side.
“You survived my brother,” she said. “Was he harsh with you?”
“No, not at all,” William said. “You were correct as to the nature of the conversation. I’ll tell you about it later.”
“We’re going to dance,” Claire announced. “Can’t let all this lovely music go to waste.” Franklin bowed and they walked away, Robert in their wake.
Rose watched them go. “What do you think of Maeve Norcross and Robert Appleton as a couple?”
William froze then blinked at her. “I don’t think of them at all to tell you the truth. Right now, however, I think Robert is somehow going to try to dancewithhis sister and Franklin.” He laughed a little at his own quip.
In reality, though, Robert merely stood on the edge of the dancing and watched.
“If we see Maeve, we’ll direct Robert toward her or vice versa,” Rose decided. “Meanwhile, shall we join them?” Rose asked William, gesturing toward the dancers. Truthfully, she was eager to feel her dress swish and swirl as they pirouetted and twirled.
“In a few moments,” William said. “Let’s go to where it all began first.” He grinned at her, and she smiled back, feeling a little wicked. Then she nodded.
Together, they slipped from the main ballroom and along the corridor to the far staircase. Rushing up it like children while holding hands, they then ran along the upper hallway before starting down the other stairs.
“You know, we could have simply come to the bottom of these stairs,” he said, breathing hard, as he stopped in front of her precisely as he’d done months before.
“I know,” she agreed, laughter bubbling from her lips until he caught hold of her waist and drew her to him.
His earnest eyes looked loving and serious at the same time. “I am so happy, Rose.”
“As am I,” she assured him.
“May I kiss you?” he asked.
“You didn’t ask me the first time, as I recall. You said I owed you a kiss.”
“I would have said anything,” he confessed. “At present, though, I owe you my heart and my soul, as well as my happiness. I am in debt to how you’ve changed my life.”
She sobered. He had brought happiness to her again, as well. Before she could tell him that, he leaned in to kiss her. As their lips touched, she felt the last icicle of sadness melt from away.
She breathed in the familiar scent of him, allowing him to press her mouth open, to deepen the connection. They kissed much longer than they had the first time. And they might have stayed there all evening if Charlotte hadn’t come to find them.
“Very improper!” she scolded before shooting them a broad smile as they broke apart. “In truth, I’d tell you to carry on except people are starting to wonder where the couple of the evening has got to, including both of your mothers.”
That was enough to break the spell. Rose knew her own mother wouldn’t mind, but she didn’t want to anger her soon to be mother-in-law.
