“I have nothing suitable for balls and dinner parties.” Alice thought it as good an excuse as any to remain at home. What’s more, she would rather keep her simple governess clothing. He couldn’t take her around Town in those plain cotton gowns.
However, to her husband, this was no deterrent.
“That’s easy to remedy, and I think you’ll find it enjoyable, too,” he said.
The earl’s coach came to collect Alice the following day, and Adam was correct. She enjoyed an outing with all the Diamond females, except Brilliance who was visiting a friend in Richmond. They took her to their favorite dressmaker on Oxford Street. Luckily, the establishment was not one which Alice had patronized in the past and to which she still owed money.
Soon, she had gowns befitting her new station. Regardless, she accepted none of the invitations that came to their home.
“You have a dress for every occasion,” he said over dinner two weeks later, “and some for events I cannot even imagine.”
She gasped. “Did I spend too much? When your mother or one of your sisters said I should buy something they thought looked good on me, I did as they suggested. I admit I was rather like a sheep under their tutelage, but I wouldn’t gainsay them for all the world. However, I didn’t intend to put a strain on our finances.”
He only laughed. “You did nothing of the sort. But I noticed they helped you to choose some dresses in which I would very much like to see you. Before I remove them, of course.”
She chuckled. They swived with enthusiasm nearly every night, and she couldn’t imagine having missed out on her passionate, talented husband and having gone the rest of her life without knowing such pleasure.
She shivered even thinking of his touch, his tongue, his firm buttocks...
“Your cheeks are becoming all rosy.”
“Because I love you, and I am happiest staying home alone with you.”
“Every evening?” he asked.
“Yes,everyevening,” she insisted.
“Didn’t you enjoy the dinner with my family?”
She sighed. “Of course I did. They were kind and fun, and they love you so much that some of it spilled over to how they treated me.”
“Then I cannot understand your reticence. No one will care that you are the former Lady Fairclough. Two years have gone by, so you are well out of mourning.”
She would be recognized, and Adam would learn the truth about her. Alice had known it would happen, yet she had married him, anyway.Selfishly, thoughtlessly, but how could she go against her heart’s fondest desire to be with him?
She could only try to postpone the inevitable a little longer.
“We have barely exhausted the card games we know. Then we can fill our evenings with chess and charades and cribbage and—”
“I haven’t grown tired of doing any of those things with you,” Adam said. “But I want to show you off. I want everyone to know how proud I am that you accepted my proposal. Mostly, I want to dance with you. I love the happiness in your eyes when we waltz.”
“We can waltz right here,” she said, knowing she was running out of time. Adam wasn’t like Richard. He wanted to take her outbecause he loved being with her and truly wished to share their happiness with his friends and acquaintances.
Thus, she finally accepted an invitation. Dressed in her favorite new gown of sapphire-blue silk, she made her first public appearance as the new Lady Diamond.
Adam had chosen the event, a large party at his parents’ oldest friends’ home on Belgrave Square. Alice had never met Lord and Lady Fenwick, but most people in London knew of the elderly couple and had at least one kind word to say about the enchanting and enchanted pair.
“Good evening, young Diamond,” Lord Fenwick said, shaking Adam’s hand. “I hear you have been captured quite completely and no wonder.” His bushy white eyebrows rose. “Look at this lovely lady who did the catching. I suppose you walked into her net with a large smile.”
Lady Fenwick let her husband have his fun, and then she addressed Alice.
“Welcome to our home, Lady Diamond. We are so happy for both of you. I know your life hasn’t always been easy,” she added.
Alice stiffened, but their hostess continued, “But now you are in a good place with an excellent family and the finest of men. We’ve known your husband all his life, haven’t we dear?” She turned to Lord Fenwick.
His eyes were merry. “Indeed we have. Seen young Diamond swaddled and diapered and in leading strings, bawling like a brat. Helped him learn to fish and shoot, didn’t I?”
Adam happily agreed that he had. “Lord Fenwick has been a constant presence of advice and instruction.”
