Page 17 of The Baron’s Halo

Sandy cringed inwardly. “Thank you.”

Lady Emily disappeared into the retiring room and Sandy sighed in relief.

“Don’t mind Emily, my lord.” Lady Elizabeth shook her head. “She’s determined to have as much fun as possible at every entertainment and therefore doesn’t care what she says or does. Her mother has tried to curb her high spirits, but her methods do not seem to be working.”

“She does seem in particularly good spirits tonight.” Sandy’s gaze dropped to Lady Elizabeth’s hand, where her dance card dangled. “I believe I will add to them. May I repay your kindness by asking for a dance, my lady? If you have one left, that is.”

The young lady beamed at him and held out her card. “I have just one left, my lord. It is as though it was waiting for you.”

With a smile, Sandy added his name for the fourth dance and gave the card back.

“Thank you.” She glanced at him, a slight smile on her lips. “I have done very little to deserve your kind request, my lord. I wonder how you plan to repay my cousin who actually assisted you?”

“With a similar request for a dance, my lady.” Sandy grinned at her. “Will that not be enough?”

“Oh, I daresay she will make something more of a dance than you expect.” Lady Elizabeth grinned back at him.

Sandy sighed. This night was turning into much more than he’d planned for. Still, one must pay one’s debts, no matter the cost.

The ladies emerged from the retiring room at last, Isabelle looking at him expectantly. She looked a bit calmer than before. Perhaps the short rest away from the crowds had done her good. “Thank you, Lady Emily.”

“You are very welcome, my lord.” The lady batted her eyes at him once more.

“May I ask if you…have a dance open, Lady Emily?” The question came out more halting than he would have liked, but he had done his duty.

“I do my lord.” She bounded over to him, her card extended. “I have two, in fact.”

Sandy grasped the pencil and scribbled his name in the slot for the fifth dance. “I will take this one, as I am engaged to Miss Devereaux for the other one.”

“Very well, my lord.” Giggles burst from Lady Emily once more as she grasped Lady Elizabeth’s arm. “I will see you shortly.”

The two cousins hurried away, their heads together, peals of their laughter lingering even after they had emerged into the ballroom.

“Your dance card now seems to be full, my lord.” Isabelle gave him a keen look.

“A good thing, as otherwise I will have to stand by and watch as you dance in the arms of many different gentlemen this evening. Here you are, my dear.” He handed her dance card over. “Filled to the brim with bachelors eager to dance with you all evening long.”

Staring at the little card in his hand, Isabelle plucked it from his fingers as if mesmerized. “You really did it, Sandy?”

“I would do anything for you, Isabelle.”

Her gaze met his, then her cheeks grew rosy pink and she looked away. “I suppose I should have asked if you wish me to call you Sandy. Or would you prefer Saunders?”

He shook his head and snorted. “Sandy, please. Saunders is what my mother called me when I was a bad little boy. It was often followed by several stinging smacks of a ruler to my backside, so by all means, Sandy is more preferable.”

Isabelle laughed for the first time that evening, a joyously sweet sound that Sandy knew he’d want to hear in every room of his house for the rest of his life. Her smiling face was the one he wanted to kiss every day too. In this moment, he knew exactly what he wanted.

The area around the ladies’ retiring room, however, was hardly the place for a declaration. Well, he could remedy that. He grasped her arm and pulled her to him. “Come with me. We haven’t much time. Yule will be here any minute to claim his dance.”

Wide-eyed, she nodded and followed him willingly back toward the ballroom. Before they reached it however, he pulled her into a small receiving room, deserted save for a friendly fire.

He carefully positioned them until they stood face to face, her head slightly cocked, brows furrowed over two brilliant sapphire eyes. Which immediately widened to enormous circles as Sandy went down on one knee.

“Miss Devereaux, although we have not known one another very long, I am absolutely certain that I wish to be the only gentleman in your life. The only one who will be allowed to cherish you, to love and protect you until eternity claims us both.” He clasped her hand, the chill in it making him chafe it just a bit to warm it. “Isabelle, will you please make me the happiest of men and consent to be my wife?”

*

Tears streaming down her face, Isabelle trembled inside, unable to make herself believe this was really and truly happening. Until recently, she’d never even dreamed this would happen to her. Only after meeting Sandy, the kindest, most gentle of men had she dared to think she could trust a man after the horror she’d experienced with her stepfather. But Sandy was different. At least, she’d almost persuaded herself he was different. He still didn’t know all of her story. Could she trust that he would understand when he did find out? That was the sole reason she now hesitated, when she yearned to accept him at once. Was she willing to risk everything in order to gain her heart’s desire? Considering the alternative—continuing to live under the same roof as her stepfather—there simply was no other option. She must embrace this future—with its tempting chance for happiness—and pray Sandy was the man she believed him to be in her heart.