Page 34 of Unmask Me My Love

Gabriella’s heart sank. Would her father agree to such demands? “Has Papa discussed this with you, Maman? Will he agree to provide me with a generous enough dowry, do you think?”

“Do not fret, ma petite.” Maman’s smile eased Gabriella’s fears. “Your papa has said he will agree to almost any amount in order to give you what your heart desires.”

“Oh, Maman.” Tears pricking her eyes, Gabriella hugged her mother, uncaring if everyone saw. “He is truly the best Papa, n’est-ce pas?”

“He is, ma cherie. He truly is.” Maman stepped away from her and lifted her head until she looked into her eyes. “But now you must pay attention to your betrothed. You do not wish him to feel neglected, do you.”

“Of course not.” Wiping her eyes with her handkerchief, Gabriella turned back to Hal with a broad smile. “I would never do that.” She held out her hand to Hal. “Shall we dance, mon amour? I wish to fly all around the room to proclaim my utter joy.”

“Your wish is my command, sweetheart.” Hal smiled broadly and took her arm once more. “Do you think the next dance might be a waltz?”

“You love the waltz, n’est-ce pas? I think you would dance every dance if they would play all waltzes.” Gabriella giggled as he led her to the dance floor.

“If it meant I could hold you in my arms like this all night, I absolutely would.” He grinned and grasped her hand and waist just before the orchestra commenced with a lilting tune. Hal started them off briskly, and Gabriella had to concentrate to keep up with his eccentric pace.

“Mon cher, you do understand the beginning of the waltz is performed in three-quarter time?” she managed to say as they swooped across the floor.

“Of course I do, my dear.” Hal continued to turn them as their hands came up to form an arch over top of them. “I am merely getting my ‘waltzing legs,’ much as one has to get their sea legs, don’t you know. I don’t believe I’ve danced enough recently.” He gazed at her with hungry eyes. “I’ve been waiting for the perfect partner all my life. And now I have found her, thank God.” Hal dropped his voice. “I may not be able to let you go after tonight. Can your father be persuaded, do you think, to our marriage taking place sooner than three weeks?”

Sighing, Gabriella kept a careful watch on where they were going, as her beloved currently had eyes only for her. “I fear not, mon amour. Papa is adamant that I remain in his house until the day he has appointed.” She cast her gaze down, not wanting him to see the distress in her face. “And although I, too, am impatient to be your wife, I also wish to be his daughter for just a little while longer.”

“I suspected as much, my love.” Hal’s voice had taken on a tender note. “And I do understand the duke wishing to make up for the lost years. Regrettably, I’ve never been the most patient of men, although I suppose I will have to acquire that virtue with the speed of a Derby champion.”

The music came to an end, for which Gabriella was rather glad. Waltzing with Hal was a challenge, to be sure. “Shall we return to Maman?” She peered around the room, searching for her mother. “I don’t wish for her to be alone so long if Papa had not returned to her. She knows no one in English society yet.”

“Of course, my dear.” Hal started them back toward the front of the ballroom, when they were stopped dead by a shrill shriek behind them.

“Gabriella! Gabriella, is that you? What on earth are you doing here?”

The sound of that sickening voice sent a shiver of dread coursing down Gabriella’s back. She looked up at Hal to find his face pinched as if he had heard the jarring notes of an instrument dreadfully out of tune. As one, they turned to find Lady Chalgrove standing there, her eyes wide and wild, her lips in a snarl.

“Lady Chalgrove, how lovely to see you again.” Hal’s smile threatened to turn into outright laughter. “It has been much too long.”

Wanting to sink through the floor to hide herself, Gabriella held onto Hal’s arm as though it were her only lifeline in a maelstrom.

“Indeed, my lord.” She cut her gaze to Hal, her eyes snapping. “I would say it was not long enough given the circumstances of our last meeting.” Then she shifted her attention back to Gabriella, outright hatred in her face. “I see you are still enamored of my maid, although how you managed to smuggle her into this assembly I do not know. Lady Ulley will feel herself ill-used when she finds her guest is consorting with one of the servants.”

“Miss d’Aventure has not been a servant since she left your service, Lady Chalgrove. A day that will forever be celebrated as her day of independence.” Hal still spoke jovially, although Gabriella detected an undertone of contempt. “And I believe if you ask Lady Ulley, you will find that Miss d’Aventure is a most welcome guest this evening.”

“I sincerely doubt that, my lord.” Lady Chalgrove continued to glare at Gabriella, as if willing her to flee the ballroom.

If Hal hadn’t had her arm anchored firmly in his, she might have done so. Of all the people she could have seen tonight, Lady Chalgrove was absolutely the last one she would have chosen.

“Lady Ulley would scarcely allow a lady’s maid to enter her house and pretend to be a person of quality,” Lady Chalgrove continued, her lips pursed in disgust.

“I assure you, my lady, that Miss d’Aventure is a person of quality.” Hal beamed down at her and squeezed her hand. “In fact, I will make you privy to a secret,” he leaned toward the odious woman, “that shortly Miss d’Aventure will become my wife and the Marchioness of Halford.”

Lady Chalgrove’s face drained of color, her hand going to her throat as if she might be choking. “That cannot be true! Your father would never allow such a mesalliance, Lord Halford.”

“Oh, but I assure you he will, Lady Chalgrove.”

Gabriella jumped at the voice of her father. Papa and Maman had come upon them on silent feet.

“My lord.” Lady Chalgrove smiled at her father, a simper in her voice. “Do you have knowledge of this scandalous marriage Lord Halford is proposing between himself and a lady’s maid?”

“Indeed, madame, I have intimate knowledge of it.” Papa’s face had changed until he reminded Gabriella of the gargoyles on the cathedral of Notre Dame.

“Why would that be, Duke?” Taken aback, Lady Chalgrove frowned. “I do not recall that you are related to Lord Halford or the Duke of Brixham.”