She went into the dressing room to change. Finding her few clothes hanging in the vast wardrobe caused a rueful smile.
As she pulled the gown over her head, she heard the door to the sitting room open. Moments later, Redcliffe walked in. She turned to him in her chemise, stays, and stockings, clutching the apricot sarsnet gown to her chest. “Redcliffe!”
He slipped an arm around her waist and pressed a kiss to her hair. “Am I not Dominic now?”
“Dominic,” she murmured.
He ran his thumb along her bottom lip. “I enjoy hearing my name on your lips.”
“A gentleman would knock.”
He arched a brow. “And wait until you’re dressed before I’m admitted, my lady wife?”
She gazed at him, helplessly drawn. “Our guests will await us in the salon,” she said, her voice weakening.
“Let them wait,” he said, his voice husky, his eyes dark with desire.
Olivia’s body responded as passion like wildfire raged between them. She reached up to coil her hands around his neck.
He hefted her up in his arms and strode to the bed.
Epilogue
Marquess and Marchioness Powis’s ball
Mayfair, August
Olivia’s gloved fingerstrembled on Dominic’s arm as they waited to be announced at the ballroom door.
“You outshine all the ladies here tonight,” Dominic said in an undertone.
Of course, it wasn’t true. “Hush, they’ll hear you.”
He chuckled softly and gave her the look that made her insides melt.
She smoothed down the skirts of the pale blue silk embroidered with silver thread the clever modiste Carrie had introduced her to had fashioned in an amazingly short time. Then put a hand to the diamond tiara. She wished her throat wasn’t so dry. Would they all cut her?
Their regal host and hostess turned from welcoming another couple.
After the formal greetings, the marquess immediately engaged Dominic in conversation about the results of his horse at Ascot.
The marchioness, in gray lace with a magnificent diamond choker at her throat, smiled at Olivia. “You have thetonpuzzled, my dear.”
A spike of fear tightened Olivia’s chest. “Puzzled, my lady?”
“You have tamed the Earl of Redcliffe, where many have tried and failed before you.”
“I doubt I have tamed him.” Olivia cast a smile at her tall handsome husband, who still talked to Powis. “I hope I have not. I rather liked him the way I found him.”
“Indeed.” Lady Powis laughed. “Ah, a love match. And thetonlove nothing more than a romance.”
It seemed to Olivia that the whole room grew hushed as she and Dominic descended the stairs into the beautiful ballroom lit by a thousand candles.
Charles and Nellie, Nicholas and Carrie came to greet them, and those around them followed suit. The moment’s silence ended, and the noise rose to an insistent buzz as guests continued their conversations.
As a quadrille was announced, the exquisitely dressed guests gravitated to the dance floor. “May I have the pleasure of this dance, Lady Redcliffe?” Charles asked.
She smiled and gratefully took his arm while Dominic escorted Nellie.
