Page 79 of Miss Devon’s Choice

“It will be an honor to wear it, Christian. Thank you.” She held it out to him. “Will you help me?”

His dark eyes fairly glowed with happiness. “You will wear it tonight?” His hand covered hers, then gently took the cross.

“I will. Even if my dress had been blue, or green, or silver, I would wear it tonight. I wish I could’ve known your mother.” She stayed still while he stepped around her and fastened the chain at the back of her neck. The elegant cross settled just below the hollow of her throat. “Thank you,” she whispered, touching the pendent and turning to face him. “How does it look?”

Christian’s hands went from her wrists up to her forearms, holding her carefully. “Sei la donna più bella per camminare sulla terra.” He bent enough to place a kiss upon her brow.

Warmth spread from his kiss and her heart simultaneously, filling her completely. Rebecca leaned into him, overcome with gratitude. Everything about Christian had been unexpected from the first, and she had hoped to win his love with her own, but Rebecca never could’ve expected everything to turn out this well.

“I think that must’ve been a lovely compliment. Will you teach me Italian, Christian?” she asked, stepping back enough to look into his eyes. “Please? Then when we go to Italy to visit your family, I can speak with them.”

A look of awe stole over his face. “You wish to meet my mother’s family?” She nodded and a full smile appears on his face. He took up her hand and kissed it. “Then your lessons begin tonight. I have told you that you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. And now, to dance, ballare.”

“Ballare,” she repeated, then bit her bottom lip to try and keep back a smile. “Will you dance with me tonight, my lord?”

“And every night you wish it, Rebecca.” He took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. “But if we are not in the ballroom soon, people may come looking for us.”

She went with him, her heart light and full of joy.

The ballroom, filling with guests, was actually two very large downstairs rooms with all the furniture removed and doors thrown open between them. They went through the reception line with the guests coming from outside the house. Virginia clasped Rebecca’s hands, her eyes glittering merrily.

“You are a vision of beauty, cousin,” she said. “That dress is breathtaking.”

Lucas bowed over her hand and then bowed deeply to Christian. “Everything is arranged as you requested,” the earl said to her betrothed.

“Arranged?” Rebecca asked when they stepped away from the earl and his wife. She looked back over her shoulder and Lucas winked at her.

“You will see,” Christian said, two spots of pink appearing high on his cheeks. “Come. I see your family.”

Her sisters and their husbands stood in the ballroom, with something very near to a reception line appearing near them as old friends from the neighborhood and the surrounding area had come to speak to Julia. It had been a very long time since Julia had attended an event in the area, due to her father’s displeasure. But here they were, at Christian’s request, and her father was nowhere in sight. Aunt Jacqueline didn’t appear to be in attendance either.

When Rebecca came to her sisters, the crowd around them parted, and an instant later she was in Julia’s arms.

“Oh, Rebecca. Sweet girl, you are so beautiful,” Julia whispered, clasping her tightly. “I hope all is well.”

Rebecca returned the embrace, happy tears pricking at her eyes. She would never be kept from Julia again. “He loves me, Julia,” she whispered back.

Julia chuckled and stepped away. Nathaniel produced a handkerchief for her and grinned when Rebecca raised her eyebrows at him. “I had a feeling we would need more than a few clean handkerchiefs tonight,” the physician said with a shrug.

Turning to look at Christian, Rebecca gave him an expectant look.

His smile turned rueful. “I haven’t learned all those tricks yet, carina. But I will carry an extra handkerchief for you from now on if you like.”

Christine laughed beside them. “Thomas carries one for me, too, though I’ve had little occasion to need it. Rebecca, do you like the gown?”

“It is everything I could’ve wished for.”

The sisters spoke while their husbands, and Christian, stood with them and only ventured the occasional comment. Rebecca’s heart was full, surrounded by people she loved, all of them happy; and the only thing that could possibly make it better would’ve been to have Harry with them. He was too young for balls, but someday, their circle would be complete with him in it.

The crowd hushed when Lucas and Virginia swept into the room, at last ready for the dancing to begin. The musicians had finished tuning their instruments, and all eyes turned to the earl and his countess.

“Welcome, friends and neighbors,” Lucas said, his voice ringing through the crowded room. “Tonight, we would like our cousin, Miss Devon, to open the ball for us, with her husband-to-be, Lord Easton.”

“But first,” Virginia said, her smile bright upon her lovely face. “Lord Easton has a special request.”

Rebecca raised her eyes to Christian, startled by this.

He gave her a smile tinged with nervousness, then disappeared from her side.