He grinned, winked, and turned back to his father.
Lady Seymour, Laura, Eva, and Brenna were already tidying their hair and smoothing their gowns when Sarah and Noelle arrived. Resplendent in varied shades of pink, the ladies made a lovely picture. Sarah’s heart warmed to be part of such a wonderful group of women.
“I have to find out where Martha Clairwood has her gowns made,” the countess was saying. She tugged the puffed sleeve of her gown in place. “Although her pink confection offends the eyes, her seamstress is superb. I am filled with envy.”
Noelle splayed her hand over her stomach. “Soon I will need to have my gowns made by a tentmaker.” Despite her frown, her eyes were alight with happiness.
“Posh,” the duchess said, smiling. “You’ll have months before you’ll waddle.”
Sarah, Eva, and Laura laughed. Noelle sent them a quelling glare. This made them laugh harder. Noelle turned to Eva.
“Laugh all you will, Eva, for I remember when you carried Catherine, your stomach made an entrance a full half hour before the rest of you. You were the empress of the waddle.”
Eva nodded. “I thought I was having twins.” She took Noelle’s hands, her face filled with joy over her sister’s condition. “As my sister, you will likely be just as large as I was, if not larger,” she teased.
A gasp brought the private conversation to an end. Mrs. Dubury, obviously eavesdropping, stepped from behind a screen, her eyes wide as she stared at Noelle and Eva.
“You are sisters?” Her tone was pitched high, as if she’d been given the world’s greatest Christmas gift. She did not wait for an answer. Their faces must have confirmed her suspicion. She snickered with uncontrolled glee and hurried off as fast as her stubby legs could carry her.
Eva’s shoulders drooped. “Our secret is no more.”
“By the time we return to the ballroom, the entire assembly will know the truth,” Noelle agreed. “We knew it would come out eventually. Just not this way.”
“I can ring her thick neck for you,” Sarah offered. “She is a horrid woman. It would please me to do so.”
Lady Seymour stepped forward. “No neck-wringing tonight, dearest.” She peered one last time in the mirror then crossed to Eva and Brenna, took them each by an arm, and escorted them to the open door. “Come, darlings. We Harrington women will face the gossips together, and with dignity.”
Brenna shot Sarah a glance over her shoulder. They both knew that despite the calm displayed by the countess, Mrs. Dubury would not end this evening unscathed dare she do anything to hurt Eva or Noelle.
Sarah smiled wickedly, hooked her arm through Noelle’s, and followed their regal mother back to the ballroom. If there was blood to be shed, she’d be aggrieved to miss the moment. Once there, Sarah paused to scan the room. It was easy to find Gabriel in the crush. Her heart fluttered when his beautiful green eyes searched for and found her, too. She forgot all about Mrs. Dubury and gossip. He grinned and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. She knew her heart would never stop fluttering for him, no matter how long they lived.
“Who’d ever have suspected you two would be this ridiculously happy?” Noelle said as they walked across the room. “Even I envy the way he looks at you.”
“I envy myself,” Sarah teased, and they shared a smile.
Noelle released Sarah’s arm. “Now where have Eva and Aunt Kathleen gone off to? I need to watch Eva’s back lest she find a blade buried in it.”
“What about you?” Sarah asked. “You are also at risk.”
Noelle’s eyes went dark and she covered her belly protectively. “Posh. No one would dare accost me or risk a slow and painful demise.”
Sarah laughed as Noelle grinned evilly and went off to find her sister. Sarah turned back to Gabriel.
Gabriel excused himself from his father and took her hand. A shiver went up her arm. He lifted her gloved knuckles to his lips. The shiver spread through her body like a flame to dry tinder. Lud, she loved him so!
“Dance with me, Wife.”
“Yes, my love.” He led her to the floor and swept her into the waltz. Despite the whirl around them, his eyes never left hers. Sarah decided to keep Noelle and Eva’s news until the dance was over. She wanted to dance without anything ruining the moment.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are tonight?” Gabriel said and pulled her closer. His scent teased through her senses as his hand tightened on her waist. Propriety kept her from demanding a kiss.
“I do not think you have,” Sarah countered tartly. “You, my darling, are remiss in your husbandly compliments.”
“Indeed?” He cocked a brow. “Then I shall have to correct the matter immediately.” He glanced over her. “You are breathtaking in both face and form. The most beautiful butterfly weeps in despair when you are near, and flowers wilt as you steal from them the sun.”
Sarah’s laughter spilled free. “Truly?”
“I have heard and seen weeping and wilting,” he assured her. His face was serious. “You are perfection in all things. A goddess, truly. Aphrodite is a dried-up old crone by comparison.”
Her laughter deepened. “You are clearly a man besotted. No woman can live up to such a standard.”
Gabriel slowed their steps and leaned to her ear. “I love you madly, Sarah. You will never be anything less than perfect in my eyes.”
“I love you, too.” She brushed her face against his. “Forever.”
With that, he swept her across the floor. And as if to prove that his conclusion of her attributes came from love and not truth, Sarah’s feet faltered and she stepped on his toes. He screwed up his face as he recovered the steps.
“Perfection? Me? I think not,” she said laughing as the strains of the waltz slowly faded away.
The Wife He Always Wanted Page 33