Mercedes nodded to Lady Burwell as they stood inside the ballroom. The other woman lifted a glass of wine to her lips and sipped. Due to her pregnancy, Mercedes didn’t want to drink any wine. Although she had just barely discovered she was pregnant a week ago, she didn’t want to harm the child in any way.
The past six weeks had seemed a dream. A wonderful dream where only William and his children resided. After Gabriel’s rescue, she and William remained on their best behavior so as not to draw suspicion. It must have worked, because everyone treated them like royalty after that. They’d even gone to the Burwell’s on a few occasions for dinner parties. After all, the name William Braxton was popular in the community since he’d broken away from his business partners and started doing business on his own.
Mercedes glanced around the crowded room and smiled. The women now treated her as their equal instead of the loathsome creature who’d attended the Burwell’s weekend party. Mercedes had impressed them all. Mainly her own husband.
And speaking of William...
She spotted him with a group of men. The smile he wore was fixed upon his face as if he struggled to keep it there. The poor man still had to endure the talk about high taxes and of course, Napoleon.
Within minutes, William lifted his gaze to hers. Even from across the room his eyes sparkled with love. He motioned his head toward the side doors and she nodded.
“Excuse me, Lady Burwell,” Mercedes cut the older woman off in mid-sentence, “but I need to step outside for a moment. The heat in the room is smothering me and I feel I might have the vapors.”
Lady Burwell gasped and touched Mercedes’ arm. “Oh dear. Will you need help?”
“No need to fear. My kind husband will attend me.”
The other women in the circle nodded and smiled. Mercedes tried to walk with a calm reserve, but her heartbeat pounded a fast rhythm and she quickened her step. She narrowed her eyes and looked through the shadows. A few couples stood along the white picket fence near the shrubbery, but none had ventured further into the yard since it wasn’t lit properly.
Then she saw him. The moonlight outlined his masculine shoulders and the curves of his face as he peeked around a section of shrubbery. She grinned and casually strolled toward him. As she neared, he reached out and grabbed her waist, quickly pulling her inside a darkened cove.
“I missed you, my love.”
She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his waiting lips. She met his demanding kiss with an urgency of her own, until he pulled away and smiled down at her.
“Why, you scandalous devil.” She chuckled. “If we are caught, our names will be ruined.”
“No. The men will be jealous, and the ladies will wish they were here with a man, too.”
She playfully slapped his shoulder. “You are just horrible.”
He tilted his head. “I’m quite certain I can change your mind, love.”
“And exactly how do you propose to do that, Sir?”
“Marry me. Tomorrow.”
She blinked and her mouth hung open. “Wh...what? Marry you? But we are married.”
“I was told of a minister a couple hours away who will marry us. Since our first marriage was done without the woman I love being present, I want us to be married again before our baby is born.” He rubbed her belly not yet large with child. “God led you to me, Mercedes, and God will continue to bless us in our life.”
“Yes, He has.”
“So? Will you marry me in a church so that God will be with us always?”
If she hadn’t loved this man before, she definitely loved him now. Her heart burst and tears gathered in her eyes.
“Oh, William.” Her voice broke. She swiped her hand across his cheek before weaving her fingers through his hair. “You continue to surprise me at every turn. There is no way I can say no to you.”
“Good. Because I will have plenty of surprises throughout our marriage. I cannot stop loving you, my beautiful woman.”
He kissed her lips again, and she clung to him, answering back with all the emotion built inside her. It was hard to believe, but she’d found happiness. Finally.
She need not pretend any longer. In William’s arms was where she wanted to be.
The End
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