Luminous violet eyes gazed into the mirror, and Aidan wondered if the woman she saw there was indeed herself.
“Oooh,” Penny gushed, looking over her mistress’s shoulder and into the silver glass. “I’ve never seen you look so lovely.” She pulled the puffy satin sleeves upward, covering ther crests of Aidan’s shoulders; instantly they were pulled down.
“Madame Bouchard said it is to be worn thus,” Aidan stated, fluffing the sleeves, which now lay below the crowns of her shoulders.
Penny frowned at her mistress. “A mite daring, to be sure. Since you already got yourself a husband, whose attention are you tryin’ to catch?”
Aidan noted her maid’s censuring look, and her laughter bubbled forth. Although most would say, as a servant, the girl was far too outspoken, Aidan thought Penny’s honesty refreshing. “I’m hoping to capture the eye of the most handsome man at the ball, Penny. You don’t approve?”
The young maid sniffed disdainfully. “With the duke bein’ the best-lookin’ man for a long ways around, I’d think you’d … Oh! You mean it’s his eye you’re hopin’ to snare.”
“Yes, it’s his eye, Penny, and his alone. Do you think I shall succeed?”
“Unless he’s suddenly gone blind, you’ve nothin’ to fear.”
Panic surged upward in Aidan. What if Penny were wrong? What if Justin thought her the ugliest creature he’d ever seen? Then all would be lost!
Over the past week, Aidan had found herself in a constant battle. Her head kept denying that she loved Justin, while at the same time, her heart protested just the opposite. Yet how could she explain the wild excitement she felt whenever he was near, or the monumental emptiness which seemed to overtake her whenever he was away. The thought occurred to Aidan that what she felt was simply physical attraction, a magnetic pull, drawing her body to his. But the explanation left her unconvinced. There was more to it; something that ran much, much deeper. To her it felt like a joining of the souls, for she knew if she were never to lie with him, she would still desire his company, wanting always to be near him.
Once she’d finally admitted her true feelings for Justin, and had considered Aunt Patti’s words, forcefully suggesting she seduce her own husband, Aidan planned to do just that. And tonight was the night! She no longer wanted a divorce. On the contrary, she wished to become his wife in every way possible. Yet she realized Justin might feel otherwise. Sadly, she knew she could offer herself and he’d take her willingly, then still seek the divorce. Virginity was not a prerequisite in obtaining a legal dissolution of one’s marriage. Ultimately, she could end up making a fool of herself, and Aidan feared it was precisely what she was about to do.
“Is there a special necklace or brooch you want to wear?” Penny asked, examining Aidan’s jewel case. “The gown is beautiful, but it needs—I don’t know—an added somethin’.”
“I’ve tried everything … nothing seems to look right. Perhaps it’s best we leave it plain. Understating the gown may be far better than my looking like a peacock.”
After inspecting her coppery hair, a sprig of violets woven into the intricate style, Aidan smoothed the skirt of the shimmering orchid gown, drew a deep breath, released it, and smiled weakly at her maid. “Wish me good fortune, Penny.”
“You shall have it, Your Grace.”
Noting the time, Aidan turned to leave the room. She glimpsed the open jewel case on the table beside her. An empty space caught her eye. Strangely, the missing ring haunted her, and she suddenly wished that the heavy gold circlet, its large ruby always mocking her, was still nestled atop the velvet where it once sat. Why, she was unable to say, for she knew that she would never wear it—not unless her husband vowed his love to her. In itself, the probability of his doing so seemed extremely remote. Yet, from experience, Aidan knew all things were possible. Justin’s love as well? she wondered.
Sighing, she closed the lid to her jewel case. Her first payment was due in a little over a week, and Aidan decided to take several expensive pieces of her own, thus trading the jeweler outright. Her loan paid, Justin’s ring would soon be back where it belonged. Or almost, she thought, gazing at her unadorned finger. Realizing she might never wear it again, she left the room and headed toward the stairs.
Two red-coated servants, looking dashing in their new livery, climbed the steps toward Aidan. One suddenly stopped his ascent to elbow the other. Awestruck, they stared at her. Then, remembering their social stations, they quickly moved to the rail, lowered their eyes, and bowed. “Your Grace,” they said in unison.
Realizing the two young men at first had viewed her strictly as a woman, Aidan smiled, inclined her head, then moved past them and down the stairs, anxious to discover what Justin’s reaction would be.
The Duke of Westover stood just outside the ballroom, growing impatient. With a quick flick of his wrist, he adjusted his cuff, then smoothed his hand along his taut stomach, over the white satin waistcoat he wore. His emotions in a turmoil, he wondered where Aidan could be, then scoffed at himself, for he realized he was acting like an untried schoolboy. Since the day he’d taken her to Madame Bouchard’s, he’d been avidly awaiting the sight of her in her new gown. Hearing the rustle of skirts, She turned toward the sound. An electrical charge shot through him as his hungry eyes settled on his wife.
Aidan felt her husband’s burning gaze sweep the length of her. Excitement riddled through her, and her breath caught as her heart skipped erratically. Their eyes locked, Justin’s silvery gaze drawing her like a magnet, and she continued toward him, her step never faltering. Then she stopped before him.
“The anticipation of seeing you has been most taxing, madam,” he said huskily, his heavy-lidded gaze sweeping over her once more; Aidan nearly swooned from the effects of it. “I was certain my heart could not take another moment of waiting.” He smiled down at her lazily. “But you were wrong, love. The actual event has almost been more than I can endure. You are even more beautiful than I had ever imagined.”
“And you, sir, are more handsome than I had envisioned,” she countered, flirtatiously tapping his arm with her fan. “As you have said, the actual event is almost beyond endurance. I must admit, I feel overwhelmed.”
No more had the words left Aidan’s mouth than she realized how utterly ridiculous she’d sounded. Never had she been so bold with a man, and she wondered if she were being overly coy.
“You are tempting fate, sweet,” he said, chuckling. “Perhaps our guests will not miss us if we were to sneak off and discuss this more thoroughly.”
“They haven’t even arrived as yet,” she blurted.
“All the better for us,” Justin countered, his tone teasing.
Confused, Aidan frowned. “How so?”
“Because they couldn’t possibly forget such a stunning image as you are tonight.” Then he took her arm and propelled her toward the alcove several yards down the corridor. Once inside, he withdrew a velvet-covered box from his inside coat pocket. “This is for you.”
Her questioning eyes measured his as Aidan took the box; its top crested to reveal a necklace. Wide violet eyes gazed at the three large teardrop amethysts set in gold and surrounded by diamonds. They were suspended on a narrow collar of gold studded with amethysts and diamonds as well. “Oh, Justin, it’s beautiful! Is it really mine?” she asked, not understanding why he’d given her such a lovely gift.
Moist eyes climbed to his face; seeing their soft luminescence, Justin felt a sudden jolt near his heart. “It was my grandmother’s, and now it is yours. I thought it would go nicely with your gown.” And your alluring eyes, he thought, feeling as though he were drowning in them. He plucked the necklace from its satin bed. “Turn around, love,” he said, then fastened the necklace after she’d done so. “It’s beautiful on you.”
Aidan saw hers and Justin’s reflection in the alcove’s darkened windowpanes. After a long moment, her gaze finally dropped to the necklace. Penny had said the gown needed an added touch; the effect was now complete. “Thank you,” she said, turning, and Justin captured her hands.
Silver eyes delved deeply into violet ones, and for an endless moment they gazed at one another. Aidan saw Justin’s head move. Fear mingled with excitement as she waited in breathless anticipation. Her lips parted ever so slightly as his face slowly lowered toward hers. Then, just when she thought she could not bear the expectancy a second longer, Justin suddenly lifted her hand; his lips touched her fingers.
“You’re welcome, sweet,” he said huskily, lowering her hand; still dizzy with want, Aidan thought she would drop to her knees. He smiled gently. “I believe I hear our guests arriving.”
Suddenly Aidan realized the buzzing sound, which seemed to fill her entire head, was that of voices. Disappointed, she smiled weakly. “I suppose we must go.”
Justin’s hand climbed to her face. “Yes, we must.” His thumb brushed lightly over her soft lips; the urgent need to master them with his own was overwhelming, but he quickly tamed his cravings. “When we have a quiet moment, we shall sneak away. Then you can thank me properly.”
His hand fell away, and he guided her from the security of the alcove, along the corridor, and into the receiving line, where Aunt Patti was greeting the first of the arrivals.
Unknown to Aidan, high color marked her cheeks; her eyes retained a look of womanly fascination about them. As she greeted Justin’s aunt, the dowager marchioness’s small but regal frame draped in black satin, Aidan espied Aunt Patti’s knowing smile. “We could always chase the lot off,” Lady Falvey whispered to her, and Aidan’s face seemed to flame a brighter red.
A light chortle trickled through the older woman’s lips; then she turned her attention to a stately-looking earl, a widower, a half-dozen years younger than herself, and commenced to bedazzle him. Within moments, she excused herself and strolled off, her hand on the man’s arm.
“She’s right, you know,” Justin whispered close to Aidan’s ear, drawing her immediate attention. “We could try yelling fire. I’d estimate thirty seconds and they’d all be gone.”
“Or we could be trampled in the rush.” Aidan gestured to their position in the doorway. “I would say it might be safer to wait it out.”
As he took in her lovely face, his gaze slowly descending to the exposed tops of her full breasts, lingering pleasurably, an audible groan escaped Justin’s throat. “And I say to hell with them all!”
A guest appeared before them, and Aidan quickly masked her startled look, then smiled, greeting the person warmly. Despite his agitation, Justin did the same. The crush became nearly unbearable, voices rising loudly in the great hall outside the ballroom. Several times the Duke of Westover thought to escape the press by sweeping his lovely duchess into his arms and striding up the stairs to his room. But he tamped down the erratic feelings and pretended to play the perfect host. Later! he told himself, convinced that if all went well, she’d soon be lying next to him in his bed, her silken skin replacing her satin gown.
Lord and Lady Manley suddenly appeared.
“Oh, Aidan,” Eugenia bubbled excitedly, “you’re simply stunning in that gown. And your necklace, is it new?”
“It was my husband’s grandmother’s,” Aidan rejoined, gentle fingers lightly caressing the amethysts lying at the base of her throat. “Justin gave it to me tonight—I shall treasure it always.”
Eugenia looked from Aidan to the duke; a knowing light entered her eyes as she smiled inwardly. “Well, David, the duchess has outdone herself, don’t you agree?”
“I do,” her husband replied, his eyes examining the perfection they beheld. “My compliments to the hostess.”
Aidan’s gaze had followed the sweep of Eugenia’s arm, indicating the sparkling ballroom. Giltwood chairs, their gold-and-white-striped silk covers newly refurbished, lined the freshly cleaned walls. A light breeze flowed from the balcony to brush the three enormous chandeliers, hundreds of candles lit and glowing. Teardrop prisms chimed musically while they shimmered with a profusion of color, reflecting the beauty of the ballroom and the gaily dressed people within. Huge baskets of blood-red roses stood on marble pedestals near the open French doors, as well as in every corner, while a matching centerpiece, of enormous proportions, graced the lengthy serving table along the far wall, its pristine white tablecloth touching the highly polished floor. The Westover china and gleaming crystal goblets stood ready for the large quantity of food and champagne that would be served later. Roasted ducklings, capons, and pheasant, and boiled lobster and baked salmon were being heaped onto huge silver platters this very moment in the kitchen. Fruits and vegetables were being arranged in the most intricate of designs, while French pastries waited on the sideboards for their grand entrance. Still Aidan worried that there would not be enough to satisfy their guests’ appetites.
“Thank you, Eugenia, David,” she said, smiling. She turned her attention to Justin. “But none of this would have been possible without His Grace’s help. He’s been most cooperative—in every way possible.”
“And I shall remain so,” Justin replied, keeping his wife under his rapt regard. “I want nothing more, Aidan, than to please you—in every way.”
Aidan understood his meaning all too clearly. Blushing, she quickly renewed her conversation with Eugenia and David. While Aidan spoke with them, Justin’s eyes lingered on his wife. She excited him as no woman ever had, for she possessed the power to rouse not only his body but also his inner passions. His jealousy would flame inside him unexpectedly; his laughter would burst forth with ease. His tenderness would well up, filling every space within him, while just as quickly his temper would rise to its limits.
At first, he’d thought to seduce her in order to control her. But now he realized the feelings that had evolved within him were far more than physical. On no account was he willing to call it love, for he still thought the emotion for fools—his parents’ marriage had proved that—yet he recognized the quickening sensation as something very much akin to the feeling which he’d always scoffed at so cynically. Dammit all! Like it or not, he was trapped. And he had no desire to be freed.
Aidan felt Justin’s eyes upon her; she smiled up at him. “I think we are a success,” she said of the party.
“Indeed, madam, we are,” he said of themselves.
The intensity of his gaze caused a delicious warmth to spread through Aidan’s body. The line of guests was dwindling, and as she continued to greet the few who remained, Aidan discovered she longed to be in Justin’s arms, leading off the first dance. Equally as thrilling to her was the thought of them finding that special moment when they could slip away and she could thank him properly for his lovely gift. Her hand moved to the amethyst-and-diamond necklace, which had received as many compliments as had her gown. She caressed it lightly, reverently.
Seeing the motion, Justin smiled down at her. “The first chance we get, sweet, I promise we shall secret ourselves away from them all.” He winked. “The anticipation, of course, will make the event far more exciting.”
The expectation of such was already making Aidan’s heart skip in nervous delight, and she blushed responsively. Then she heard Justin’s chuckle.
“At least I know now I do not repulse you.”
“Did you ever?” she asked without thought.
He grinned widely, knowingly. “That, love, is for you to decide—soon.”
The challenging look in his eyes almost toppled Aidan. Her heart had already succumbed to him, which now left her body. She was lost, she knew. No woman could ever resist his masculine charms. Not even herself. Nor did she want to. But she wanted much more than a physical relationship with him. Their hearts must join as well. Yet the teasing light in Justin’s eyes told her nothing of what he felt inside, only that he desired her. Undoubtedly many women had seen that same look. The thought depressed her, and she wondered if he were capable of loving any woman, especially herself.
She felt a presence and turned her attention to the next guest; instantly she stiffened.
“You look lovely, daughter,” Alastair Prescott said, smiling down at her. “I see he is taking good care of you.”
Her gaze ran over her father’s familiar features to lock with his blue eyes. Strangely she discovered she was glad to see him, yet her latent anger, which had suddenly swirled to life inside her, refused to let her say so. In truth, she was unable to admit that her father’s final selection of a mate for her was the most marvelous of all. “So far we have managed not to kill the other off,” she snapped finally, then wished she hadn’t been so abrupt.
Undaunted by her brusqueness, Alastair chuckled. “Someday you shall forgive me, daughter. Most likely it will come once he’s finally bedded you.”
Aidan’s eyes widened comically. Having heard the exchange, Justin bit the inside of his lip to keep from laughing aloud. “Your Grace,” he greeted his father-in-law, inclining his head. “We are pleased you could come.”
“I am most pleased to have been invited,” Alastair replied, bowing, then moved off into the ballroom.
“I thought we agreed not to invite him,” Aidan accused in a hot whisper, knowing they had purposely deleted four names from the list.
One had been her father’s, which she’d crossed off herself. Next came the Earl of Sedgewinn’s, which they’d both marked out. Justin had struck a line through George Edmonds’s name, while Aidan had nearly broken the pen point when she’d come upon Cynthia Danvers’s, a large blob of ink staining the paper as she did so. Upon seeing the deletion, Justin had raised a brow, then presented her a roguish smile.
“But you sent him an invitation anyway, didn’t you,” she finished.
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s time you pardoned him. Although I’ve not completely excused him, I no longer feel the need for revenge. Perhaps after tonight, you will feel the same way.”
“Tonight? Why tonight?”
Justin chuckled. “You’ll see, madam. You’ll see.”
As they greeted the last of their guests, Aidan wondered what Justin had meant by “after tonight.” Most likely it will come once he’s finally bedded you. Her father’s words bounced through her mind like a rubber ball; Aidan’s head swiveled round. Staring at her husband, who continued speaking with a guest, she wondered if that was his intent. To bed her. Tonight.
Justin felt his wife’s gaze upon him, but he purposely ignored her. The instant the final straggler came through the line, he took her hand, guided her through the teeming crowd, and out into the dance area. As they stood in the center of the floor, their guests holding to the perimeter, his hand settled at her waist. His free hand captured hers, lifting it into position. “After tonight, love, I hope your forgiveness will extend itself,” he said, thinking of her reaction once she’d learned there would be no divorce.
Confused by his words, Aidan gazed up at him, but nothing in his eyes gave her the slightest clue as to their meaning. His head inclined and the orchestra came to life, the strains of a waltz flowing through the room. As they whirled around the floor, others finally joining in, Aidan again considered his statement. At first she’d thought he’d been referring to her father. But now, as she reviewed his words a second time, she was positive he spoke of himself. Had he done something that would require her forgiveness? Did it perhaps pertain to his mistress? Surely, besides her father, he hadn’t invited Cynthia Danvers as well!
Aidan would have asked if it hadn’t been for the fact that an elderly earl and his countess had found themselves in Justin’s and Aidan’s path. Justin instantly pulled them up short, avoiding a collision. After profuse apologies were extended, they all discovered the music had stopped. When it started up again, Aidan found herself in the shaky arms of the earl, while Justin slowly glided the aged countess across the dance floor.
From that moment on, the duties of playing host and hostess claimed Justin’s and Aidan’s attention. It seemed that everything conspired to keep the young duke and duchess apart. Yet Aidan realized she’d been the one who’d wanted to give this ball, so it was up to her to make it a success. And as the night wore on, she knew, if her mother had been here with her, she would have seen great pride in the eyes which had matched her own.
Several times during the evening, Aidan felt a pair of eyes upon her. While engaged in conversation, pretending interest, she would search out their owner to find they were her husband’s. A thrill of delight would shiver through her, and she found herself wishing they could somehow slip away. But he, too, was caught in the press of their guests. Propriety simply didn’t allow one to stalk away in the middle of a conversation, especially when each guest expected to feel equally important to the next. Yet Aidan found herself wishing a magician would suddenly appear, and with a stroke of his wand, everyone would be gone, leaving only Justin and herself in the glittering enchantment of the golden ballroom.
Her anticipation of being alone with Justin grew to the point where Aidan thought she would surely explode, but she maintained the facade of the ideal hostess, dancing whenever asked, conversing whenever approached, smiling until her jaws ached.
Finally, when her feet had been trodden upon one too many times, she found she simply had to escape. Her gaze skipping around the ballroom, searching for Justin and not finding him anywhere, she routed herself toward the open French doors and out onto the balcony for a breath of fresh air. Suddenly a hand snaked out of the darkness, catching her own, drawing her to a secluded corner, behind a potted plant.
“I thought you’d never give it up,” Justin said, his strong arms going round her, his silvery gaze raking over her upturned features. “You’ve done well by them all. Now do the same for me.”
Justin’s head suddenly sank and his lips opened fully over hers, taking them in an eagerly persuasive kiss. The joy of being near him once more flooded through her body, and Aidan responded to him with a fervor which startled them both. Boldly she pressed herself to the length of his hard frame while her tongue traced his lips, then touched his own.
With a groan Justin drew it into his mouth to wildly mate and play. Sweet Lord! How he wanted her! A great shiver of longing racked through his body, emphasizing his need; blazing desire erupted from his core.
Realizing how powerful his passions were, Justin tore his mouth away; his lips sliced across Aidan’s cheek to her ear. “If we don’t stop this madness, sweet, I shall lay you upon the cold stone and take you here and now.”
His harshly grated words startled Aidan; she pulled back as frightened eyes searched his.
Seeing her confusion, Justin let loose a derisive laugh. “You have no idea, madam, what you do to a man’s body,” he said, releasing her and stepping back, hoping his arousal would quickly fade. “Especially mine.”
“Is that good or bad?” Aidan asked, knowing he made her feel strangely wonderful, but naively unsure of how she affected him.
A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Let’s just say, sweet, that what I feel cannot be described in words alone. To explain, I must show you, and this is not the time or place to do it.” Then suddenly he felt the need to tell her how he felt about her—that he wanted her to remain his wife. Not because his hopes of a divorce had been quashed, but because he desired that she stay near him. Again he denied love had anything to do with it. Companionship, friendship, and respect were his motives, and to fill those needs, he could never find a better wife. Besides, he desired her soft virginal body, wanted her in his bed. “Aidan, we need to have a serious talk. I think you should know—”
“Oh, excuse me,” a feminine voice declared, its tone filled with mock surprise. “I had no idea you were out here, Your Grace.”
Justin’s towering form hid Aidan from the woman, and conversely, the woman from Aidan. Poking her head around Justin’s arm, Aidan noted it was one of Justin’s admirers. She remembered her as being the one who, on the night of the Rothschilds’ ball, had bluntly informed Aidan she had thought Justin preferred true redheads.
Anger boiled up inside her, for the brazen hussy had been chasing her husband around the ballroom all evening. From all appearances, Justin had tried valiantly to escape her, but it was obvious to Aidan that the girl had thought to trap him on the balcony in hopes of soliciting … What? A kiss? Or perhaps the presumptuous little twit had thought to receive far more for her dogged pursuit.
Aidan offered the girl a superior smile. “My husband and I were just leaving.” She look Justin’s arm. “You may have this area to yourself. I hope you enjoy the night air alone,” she stated in a sickeningly sweet tone. Nudging him forward, Aidan whisked Justin away, back into the ballroom, leaving the redhead staring after them, her mouth agape.
“I’m forever in your debt, madam,” Justin said, smiling down at his wife, his hand squeezing her fingers, which lay along his arm. “Her persistence this night has been like that of a bawling cow in heat. If she had found me first, I fear my only recourse would have been to jump the rail. The fall, no doubt, would have killed me.”
Aidan’s laughter erupted like a crystal bell, filling Justin’s head with its perfect sound. “Next time, sir, don’t escape into the night without first making certain you aren’t being followed. It will save you the worry of having to choose life over death.”
Throughout the rest of the evening and into the early hours of the morning, Justin kept Aidan by his side. Doing so not only bridled the duke’s simpering admirers, but also thwarted any attempt on the part of an overzealous suitor, of which Justin noted there were many, to make an urgent confession of eternal heartbreak to his duchess. As Westover and his bride traversed the dance floor, the duke’s laughter flying freely, his earth-shattering smiles bestowed themselves solely on his duchess, while she directed hers exclusively to him. The couple, it was said by all who had noticed, were wildly and madly in love.
“Well, Alastair,” Lady Falvey stated as the pair watched the couple from the periphery of the dance floor, “I may not agree with how you went about snagging my nephew for your daughter, but I’m certainly pleased with the end result.”
“Thank you, Pattina,” the duke said, smiling. “I thought it rather a stroke of luck to find him in the coach with her. Only a fool would have passed up the opportunity that was given me.”
“No one ever said you were a fool, sir. Devious, perhaps, but never a fool.”
“Thank you, madam. But it remains to be seen if anything shall come of my maneuvering. I’ve planted a seed in his mind, telling him the only way he’ll be able to control her is to impregnate her. Now its up to him to bring it to fruition and issue the bud.”
“By the looks of it, sir, I predict the next invitation to bear the Westover crest shall be that of a christening.”
“Then, madam, perhaps it would be wise if we were to discuss some names. Maybe they shall decide on one we’ve suggested.”
“Excellent idea, Atwood,” the dowager marchioness said as they moved toward a quiet corner, a lengthy list already forming in her head.
Feeling impish, Aidan smiled up at Justin as he waltzed her around the floor. “Do you think it’s too late?”
“Too late for what, sweet?” he asked, returning her smile.
“To yell fire?”
Justin threw back his head and laughed. “Indeed, it is, madam.” He noted her look of mock disappointment. “My body and soul are already ablaze for you, sweet. And I fear nothing could ever reduce the intensity of the flame.”
The passionate fire which burned in Justin’s silvery gaze seemed to ignite the fetters that held Aidan’s inhibitions intact, instantly turning them to ash; she melted in his arms.
A wicked smile claimed his face. “Love,” he whispered huskily into her ear as he held her close. “We seem to be drawing an inquisitive eye or two.”
Aidan blinked. Noting that she was pressed to her husband’s long body, she quickly drew back. As she looked around, to see the lot staring at her, she berated herself angrily. Another faux pas to add to her list!
Thankfully the music stopped, and Justin guided her toward the door leading into the great hall. “I suppose my one mistake of the night will be the only dialogue that anyone shall hear for weeks to come of this whole affair,” she said pettishly. “After all my attempts to make this the grandest ball London has ever seen, I’ve managed to botch it.”
“Since it is I who was the recipient of your affectionate display, I doubt they will have too much to quibble over. At least they seem to have taken the hint. Let’s tell our guests good night, shall we?”
Indeed the crowd had started a voluminous exodus toward the doorway, and Aidan blushed anew. As she said her farewells, she espied the knowing smiles and comprehending looks and fervently wished the floor would somehow open beneath her feet and swallow her completely. Had it not been for Justin’s restrictive hand, which held fast at her waist, she’d have fled the room and all who remained inside. To Aidan’s relief, within a quarter hour Westover House had emptied of its guests.
“Well, my dears, you two were quite the talk of the evening,” Aunt Patti said, chuckling. “I believe the festivities can be considered a grand success. I shall bid you both a pleasant good night.” The dowager marchioness strode up the hall to the stairs, then up to her room.
With Aunt Patti gone off to bed, Aidan suddenly felt extremely apprehensive. Save for the few servants, who were busily carting tray after tray of soiled glasses, plates, and silverware down to the kitchen area, she was now alone with her husband. The flirtatious game they had played the evening long was now at its most crucial point, and she feared that he’d actually ask her to join him in his bed. Why not? She loved him. Or did she? Well, she wanted him, then. No, she did not. Unable to make up her mind, she bit her lower lip while she fretted over her indecisiveness.
Attuned to Aidan’s wavering emotions, Justin realized the turn of her thoughts. “Sweet,” he said, his tender smile upon her, “I think we should find a quiet place where we might talk.”
“Yes, we need to talk,” she agreed in a small voice, then allowed herself to be led down the hall to the sitting room, all the while wondering what else this night might bring her way.