The guest list for the ball the following evening doubled when it became known that it was not only to be a celebration of the growth and success of the villages but also an engagement party for the Baron Whitefall and his bride to be.
Peggy wore the green and silver dress as promised but had found herself draped with jewels and spritzed with expensive perfumes by her future sister and mother-in-law.
“For someone so resolutely against marriage, you certainly have a way of showing it,” Peggy had teased when Miss Nora had squealed with delight at the announcement and promised to help in any way necessary for the planning of the nuptials. Her first task had been to send out word for a new shopkeeper. Peggy, Nash, and Adam would still monitor the business dealings, but the new lady of the house would not have time to man the counter for endless hours each day.
“I am not against the institution,” Miss Nora retorted. “I am against the concept for my own person.”
For someone so determined to avoid love and trappings, Peggy thought, her future sister certainly seemed to be a romantic at heart. It had been largely a result of Nora’s forceful manner of throwing the pair together that Peggy and the man that she loved had overcome every obstacle to find one another. A true cynic would not have put quite so much effort into interfering, but Peggy kept that tidbit to herself, for Miss Nora would not find it amusing.
Although Adam would not be attending the ball, since he was too young, Peggy could not help but smile at the thought of her son as she descended the sprawling stair that led down into the ballroom.
The boy had been elated when she had told him that it was her intention to remain at Riversbend. His reaction to that news had been nothing when compared to the pure joy and shock he had exhibited when he learned that his mother and the gentleman that he admired most would soon be wed. When he learned that they would be moving into the manor after the wedding, he had been left speechless.
“Into the servant’s quarters?” he had wondered, unable to consider that in one fell swoop his life would change so fully.
Peggy had shaken her head.
“No,” Lord Belton had leaned down to whisper to the boy. “You’ll take the room across from Miss Nora. But only if you promise to tell her that there are spiders in her bed now and then.”
Adam had grinned and taken the task to heart. “Jemmy has a wooden snake that I can borrow that is sure to give her a fright!” With that he had raced off to find the older boy and make plans for their mischief.
Martha, on the other hand, had been despondent. Having hoped that the confection that she had given to Lord Belton would have resulted in him falling madly in love with her, she had been shocked to learn that he had chosen to take another—much older, she lamented—woman as his bride.
Peggy and Nash had tried not to laugh at the girl’s plight, but her belief had been so true that Nash had been forced to admit that he had given the cake to the stablemaster’s son and had never eaten it for himself. Martha seemed to accept that as an explanation for the failed potion, and in no time at all she had gone off toward the stables to see if her prospects were better there.
“Little George admitted to me last week that he finds her fair,” Nash revealed when Peggy had been shocked that he had sent the determined girl after the boy. “I honestly have no recollection of what happened to the cake.” He laughed. “But he eats enough of the sweets about the manor that I am sure even he would not know if he had or not.”
They chucked with the thought, and Peggy said it seemed that Nora was not the only matchmaker in this family.
“Apparently not,” Nash agreed.
When Peggy reached the bottom of the staircase, her betrothed broke free from the crowd and offered his arm. Her expectation that Lord Belton’s reaction to her gown would be worthwhile did not disappoint. He could not take his eyes off of her. Peggy had accepted the escort with a shy smile, unused to so many people staring at her. She had better get used to it, Miss Nora scolded her before they had made their way down to the throng, for she was soon to be a baroness, and one day, many years in the future they all hoped, a viscountess.
Peggy allowed herself to be led from the hall into the ballroom, which had been bedecked from floor to ceiling with ribbons and candles that made the room sparkle and dance.
The musicians had been waiting for the entrance of the celebrated couple to strike up their first chords. As they did so, Nash swung Peggy into his arms.
This time, she did not go rigid. This time, she had no reason to pull back or hide the love that threatened to overflow. She gazed up at the man that she loved and melted into his arms as he twirled them about the floor. Others joined them, and soon the room was a crush of dancing couples.
Peggy saw out of the corner of her eye Miss Nora decline a proffered hand that had been extended by Lord Abernathy. Miss Nora had turned her back and walked away without a backward glance. Rather than look irritated by the clear snub, the gentleman had grinned.
“You know,” Peggy mused after Lord Abernathy had simply settled upon another partner, “I don’t know why Nora makes such a fuss. Lord Abernathy seems fine enough. Besides, he came to my aide, and for that he will always have my favor.”
Lord Belton held his betrothed in his arms and pulled her closer than was perhaps appropriate. It was their engagement celebration, however, and so he knew that no one would dare tell them that they must not dance so close.
“She only dislikes him because he knows her so well,” Nash chuckled. “She does not like a man that she cannot trick with her ploys or who calls her on her mischief. They both play the game of hating one another, but I suspect that deep down they both enjoy the game.”
“Seems to me that would be just the sort of man that she needs.” Peggy laughed and wondered what Miss Nora would do if someone else were to plot against her as she had them. Then, she changed her mind. She could not fault Nora her meddling when Peggy herself was so pleased with the result.
“One day my sister will find herself entrapped in one of her own games,” he offered. “When that time comes, we can only hope that she does not balk and ruin her own chance at happiness.”
“Speaking of happiness…” He leaned forward and whispered something truly devilish in her ear. She flushed bright red, and her eyes snapped to his.
“If that is your plan, then Adam will have an army of siblings with him to torment his Auntie Nora.” She could not help the flush that had taken her over at his suggestion.
“Outnumbered by nieces and nephews, I’d say their aunt won’t stand a chance.” He grinned down upon her. Peggy felt his look and its implication all the way to her toes.
“We’ll either have endless entertainments or my dear sister will find her revenge. Either way, I shall enjoy the show.”
“Oh, I think we will have endless entertainments, no matter what Nora decides,” Peggy said with a glint in her eye.
“Tell me again this plan of yours,” Nash said.
“How about I show you,” she whispered. Instead of answering, she pulled Nash’s lips down to hers for a passionate kiss. Nash might be the one who believed in fairy tales, but Peggy was sure she had found her happily ever after in this wonderful man.
The End