“Your Grace.” Maddie fell into her deepest curtsy.
The kindly, elderly gentleman bowed to her. “My pleasure, Miss Atwood.”
She straightened and nodded, hoping she’d made a good impression on Justin’s grandfather before Justin turned her to meet the other duke in the room.
“Edgefield, this is the Honorable Miss Madeline Atwood,” Justin said. “Madeline, this is His Grace, the Duke of Edgefield, Veronica’s husband.”
Another deep curtsy. “Your Grace.”
“No need to be formal with me, Miss Atwood,” the green-eyed duke replied. He took her hand and bowed over it. “My name is Sebastian.”
After Madeline insisted the duke call her by her Christian name as well, Justin escorted her over to the settee where he introduced her to his adorable white-haired Grandmama. Then, he presented her to his mother as if the marchioness had never met her as Madeline, the lady’s maid, which had to be the most endearing thing ever. Both women were nothing but welcoming and kind.
Once all the introductions had taken place, Justin turned to her as if she were the only person in the room and said, “Shall we go?”
When the carriages pulled up to the Shillinghams’ town house, the five-story home was brightly lit and filled with partygoers.
Maddie allowed Justin to help her from the carriage they’d shared with his mother and the twins. She threaded her arm through his as their little group made its way up to the front door.
The Whitmorelands were perfectly right. The Shillinghams’ butler didn’t blink when they gave him Maddie’s name. As they made their way toward the ballroom doors, somehow Justin produced a bouquet of lilacs. She suspected Veronica must have had them in her carriage. He handed them to Maddie, whispering, “These are for you. To make your dreams come true.”
Lilacs. He’d remembered the lilacs. She clutched the fragrant flowers to her side as she descended the grand staircase into the ballroom on Justin’s arm.
Time slowed.
Justin was right. Her wildest dream was coming true. Pure happiness shot through her as she allowed her gaze to scan the enormous room filled with beautiful women wearing gorgeous gowns and handsome gentlemen with their snowy-white cravats. There was laughter and candlelight and music and dancing.
And hors d'oeuvres.
Lots and lots of hors d'oeuvres.
It was all precisely how she’d always pictured it. And tonight, she wasn’t a lady’s maid pretending. She was a guest on the arm of the most handsome man in the room. She closed her eyes and breathed in the simply magical air. She would remember this moment for the rest of her life.
When they reached the dance floor Justin turned to her and bowed. “May I have this dance, Miss Atwood?”
The hint of a smile curled her lips. “Isn’t dancing for married men, lovesick fools, and fops?”
He took the bouquet of lilacs from her arm and handed them to Eliza, who appeared to have been waiting purposely to take them.
“Guilty,” he said, offering his arm again. “You are looking at a lovesick fool.”
Maddie had to swallow and shake her head to dispel the tears from her eyes. A waltz began to play. The same waltz they’d danced to in the drawing room at the Hazeltons’.
“The waltz?” She breathed, her chest going tight. “It’s not a coincidence, is it?”
“Not a chance,” he said, delivering his most roguish grin.
Maddie placed her hand on his arm again, and he escorted her to the middle of the dance floor. Her head was filled with clouds, and her heart was filled with light as Justin took her into his arms.
One. Two. Three.
One. Two. Three.
They spun around and around under the glowing chandeliers while the familiar waltz filled the air, and pure joy filled Maddie’s heart. And for the first time in many, many years, the voice in her head telling her how selfish she was melted away. She relished every single moment of the dance.
When the music finally came to an end, Justin escorted Maddie to the refreshment table where he selected two flutes of champagne. Then he nodded toward the French doors that led out to the balcony.
“Would you care for some air, Miss Atwood?”
