Chapter Eleven
“Are ye ready?”Finlay asked as he stood in the foyer of Buckwood Manor.
Willamina had just descended the stairs in a beautiful rose-colored gown that made her skin glow. Tonight, he was taking her to the opera. It had been years since he had attended one himself, but he thought she might enjoy it.
With only two days left until they were married, they were spending nearly all of their days together. And the opera he had chosen to see this eve was one of love and longing. Would Willamina sense the hidden message?
He doubted that very much. She had been very businesslike about their whole situation. Sticking to their ruse and calling it naught but that.
For someone who had not wanted to get married, meeting Willamina changed his mind about that quickly, and now it just was not something hehadto do, it was something hewantedto do.
“Ye look beautiful. I fear all eyes may be on ye at the playhouse instead of on the show.”
She smiled and put her hand on his arm. Heat seared his skin where her palm rested. “Ye are much too kind.”
“I am being honest. Shall we? I dinna want to be late.”
He followed her out the door and helped her into the carriage. Gil had decided since they were to be married, theycould attend the opera alone. Lord knew there would be plenty of witnesses if things were to go awry.
At the playhouse, they found their way to the box that he held in long reserve. Lots of eyes were on them as they sat and waited for the opera to start.
A few men came over and greeted them. A few women as well, but they mostly let them be to enjoy the show.
The curtains opened andOrfeo ed Euridicebegan. Finlay had seen it before, so he spent the majority of the opera watching Willamina’s reactions. Her smiles and her tears. The way she clutched at her necklace when Orfeo once again lost his wife, for what was presumed to be eternity until the God of Love could no longer take Orfeo’s mourning, and reunited the pair once again.
Finlay handed Willamina his handkerchief and she gave him a thankful smile as she dabbed at the tears pooling in her eyes.
He loved the way she immersed herself in the show. Her pleasure in watching tugged at his heart.
Two days.
In two days she would be his.
What would happen when everyone left after the ceremony only time would tell. He would not force anything upon her, but he could try to sway her into seeing what he saw.
And that was that they were meant to be.
“This was lovely. Thank ye for bringing me.”
“If I had known ye enjoyed the opera so much, I would have taken ye sooner.”
She shook her head. “I didna know I did. I have ne’er been,” she confessed, her cheeks tinging pink.
Finlay had to hold his tongue from a biting remark about what a louse her late husband was. He did not like to speak ill of the dead, but if anyone deserved to be spoken ill of, he was definitely the one. Seeing how enthralled she was by theperformance. Seeing her face light up. Her tears well. How could someone not want his beloved to experience such pleasure?
But she was not his beloved. She had mentioned that before.
“I am sorry your late husband didna treat ye to the theater. ’Tis something ye deserve.”
“Ye are verra kind. He wasna one to,” she paused as if searching for the right words. “He wasna one to take my feelings into consideration when it came to the arts.”
Taking her hand into his, he stroked her gloved hand. Her eyes rounded and darted to the people surrounding them.
“Dinna fash, no one can see. And we are to be married in two days’ time. No one will say a word.”
She relaxed a little, her shoulders dropping just a bit and she gave him a warm smile.
“And in regards to the theater. I will take ye e’ery night if that is your wish.”
