Page 58 of His Bluestocking Bride

A waltz.

Though the dancing forms called for them to occasionally be paired with others, Marcus would be her primary partner, spending most of the time holding her in his arms.

They came to the floor, bowing and curtsying to those opposite them, and then began.

Ellen lost count of the number of times her hands clasped his. She went through the steps but could have missed nearly every one without knowing it. Marcus’s eyes remained on hers, regardless of which lady he partnered, guiding Ellen through the movements with no more than a smile in her direction.

They stood still at last, facing one another, waiting for their turn to step forward once more.

“Is that the new Calvert woman?” someone said from behind her, loud enough that she couldn’t help but hear.

“It is, but I’ve never seen her about before. Odd sort of creature, isn’t she?” another voice answered.

Ellen’s face caught fire.

Marcus’s expression changed to a frown and she wondered if he hadn’t been able to hear. He was farther from the speakers than she.

“I heard she was a spinster. No one wanted her. Wonder why Calvert picked her up?”

It didn’t matter who stood behind her. Ellen knew no one in town. How did they know her? How did they know the bitter truths of her story?

Marcus moved forward and she realized, a half-step too late, that she should do the same. He caught her hand up anyway and drew her closer to him than the dance called for, his deep brown eyes pulling her in.

“Ellen, don’t listen to them,” he whispered.

They stepped apart again and her mortification was complete. Marcus had heard. She looked down at the floor, uncertainty replacing her earlier enjoyment of the dance.

“You are a Calvert now,” he whispered when they stepped together once more, and he gently squeezed her hand. “More importantly, you are my wife.”

Her eyes filled with tears, but she tipped her chin up. Ellen would not disappoint him. As a Calvert, and his wife, she was meant to uphold the family pride and position. But when her eyes met his again, Marcus’s gaze was filled with tenderness. Not pride, or even reassurance.

Marcus looked as though he wished to hold her, protect her, and Ellen’s heart responded in a quick, fluttering moment.

Together, they moved down the line, holding each other’s hands. Marcus did not take his eyes from her and she did not look away again.

“We are in this together, Ellen. Forever.” And then he smiled, as though being joined to her was the greatest possible fate. They stood apart again, and as the waltz ended he bowed, his eyes never leaving hers.

Lady Annesbury appeared the moment Marcus and Ellen stepped away from the floor, her smile perfectly in place as she embraced Ellen and kissed her on the cheek. Ellen, confused by the gesture, tried not to show it.

When her mother-in-law spoke, loudly enough for several nearby to hear, Ellen realized what Lady Annesbury was doing.

“My darling children, I had hoped your first dance would be at your wedding ball. But seeing the two of you together, it positively made my heart burst for happiness. You are truly meant for each other.” She released Ellen to put her arm through Marcus’s.

“I couldn’t help it, Mother,” her husband said, also loud enough for those nearest to hear. “It’s cruel to keep husbands and wives apart when they prefer one another’s company to all else.” He took Ellen’s hand and she saw the flash of defiance in his eye.

The family was sending a message, which meant the comments Ellen overheard could not be all that was said that night. Not if Lady Annesbury had come forward to publicly approve of their dancing together.

Lucas appeared next, Collin and Marianne with him, forming a tight circle around Ellen.

Ellen’s immediate gratitude for her family, for their obvious support and defense, nearly made up for her disappointment. If something so simple as dancing with her husband could cause a need for this show of strength, and if the gossiping cats of the ton already knew their story, how could she ever fit here?

Bath society had not been so strict, though it had its rules. She had never been important enough to be of any notice. She had no wish to be important now. Ellen wanted to do her new family credit, uphold their image, and make them proud.

Instead, they were coming forward to save her.

“Now, you gentlemen had best be off,” Lady Annesbury said. “Go dance with a few young ladies to smooth ruffled feathers. We will look after Ellen.”

Ellen’s heart fell. At least before marriage she had not been a burden. It was one thing to be ignored and another to have to be looked after.