by Rose Gordon
The musicians struck up the opening country dance, and Anthony did not appear. She waited, squinting around the ballroom. Such a tall, powerful man would stand out, even in a crowd as big as this. Frances and Helen were claimed by their partners, and made their way to the floor. Rosamond waited, her back pressed against the wall, as the musicians continued and all the couples lined up on the floor. Then the dance began in earnest, and she was still without a partner.
Her eyes filled with tears, and she blinked fiercely. She would not cry. She had a corset that cut her breath at every turn, and a million hairpins grazing her scalp. She would focus on the physical pain she was enduring, rather than on the humiliation and pain of being summarily forgotten by Anthony.
“My dear.” The dowager Marchioness of Westchester drifted over to her, fanning herself with a large ostrich-plumed fan. “You look lovely, but so pale. Are you quite all right?”
“I don’t feel well,” she confessed. Somehow, she could not bring herself to tell the lady a lie, even a polite one.
“I think you should go home,” her ladyship replied, patting her arm. “Go to the stables, and see what you can find.”
“Yes, of course.” She should go to Graveleon Head. The sisters wouldn’t miss her. Anthony certainly did not. Richard would come, but then again, she could try to charm him at home, once she felt more natural. If she still felt like trying to captivate him, which was becoming more unlikely by the moment.
She wasn’t being rude, for she had the dowager marchioness’ blessing. So she took her leave. As she pushed her way through the milling throng, her head throbbed but relief coursed through her. She was done with being a charity project. She was done with Anthony and Richard Carew. She was done with everything, including this corset and this ridiculous hair style.
She was done with being someone she wasn’t.
“How long has the mare been like this?” Anthony asked the duke’s head groom, Carson. “This is colic, I’m sure.”
“She just started about half an hour ago,” the groom replied. “When I saw her, well, I knew I had to get your opinion, your lordship. She’s one of His Grace’s favorite mares. I do apologize for taking you away from the festivities.”
“Don’t apologize about that,” Anthony ordered roughly. It was a bit of a relief to not have to dance with Rosamond. If he held her, he would propose to her in front of the entire ballroom. He had almost no self-control when it came to that woman.
He had his family’s support in the matter. Of course, they didn’t know the bit about Richard.
On the other hand, Richard didn’t know the bit about Richard.
There was nothing he could do now, though. The mare was in distress and Carson trusted his judgment to help heal her. He removed his jacket and cravat, and rolled up his sleeves. “We can’t let her lie down,” he informed the head groom. “We need to keep her walking. I’ll start the first bit. When I get tired, you can relieve me. Go have some supper. I’m sure the stable lads are being kept hopping with the carriages and coaches for the ball.”
Carson nodded. “Indeed. We’re a bit short-handed, to tell the truth. Lucky for me that you’re here.” The old man gave him a respectful glance, and then left the barn for the Danby kitchens, where he would be assured of some supper.
Anthony led the mare out into the main room of the barn, where he could walk her freely without exposing her to the icy weather. The mare’s flanks heaved, and she was sweating profusely. “There, there,” he soothed, walking her slowly. “Let’s not roll, shall we? I don’t think I can keep up with you if you decide to roll about on the barn floor.”
There was a flurry of movement in the doorway. “Hello?” It was a familiar feminine voice, one he would recognize anywhere. “Is anyone here? I need a carriage.”
He walked the mare close by the doorway. “Rosamond?” She was utterly lovely, standing in the dim light from the barn lanterns. Her diamonds caught the light, making prisms sparkle all over the room. “Why do you need a carriage?”
“I was going to leave.” She was pale, and her large brown eyes held a sad, resigned expression. “We didn’t get to have our dance.”
“Were you sorry?” A glimmer of hope dawned within him. If she missed their dance so badly that she was prepared to go home, then perhaps he had a chance. He knew that she was the only woman for him; in fact, he had told his grandmother as much. Perhaps Richard was now a mere shadow. He could only know for certain by pressing forward.
“Yes, I was.” She turned away, not allowing him to see her expression.
“I hated not having the chance to dance with you, given how hard it is for me to resist touching you,” he admitted. It was cheeky, yes, but also completely honest and direct. He wanted to shock her. He wanted to see the expression in her eyes.
She spun around. “What?” Her voice was sharp and her eyes bright.
“I find you irresistible,” he continued. “I thought you already knew that.”
“Then why are you here?” She folded her arms over her chest with a defiant air.
“I was called to help in the stables as soon as we arrived.” He shrugged toward the horse. “Colic. A mild case, but they’re short on hands tonight due to the ball. So I promised Carson I’d help.”
“Keep her walking. Don’t mind me.” Rosamond stripped off her cloak and gloves. “I’ll take over when you are tired.”
He smiled. She was the only woman in the world for him. The only woman who would care more about the health of a horse than about a ball. Here she was, covered in diamonds, wearing a delicate dress and slippers, and she was ready to help him nurse a colicky horse through the night.
Richard could find another woman. Rosamond was his.
She spread her cloak out on a bale of hay and settled atop it, glancing at the mare through narrowed eyes. “You’re right. It’s a mild case. I think walking her out will take care of it, don’t you?”
“I do.” He continued making circles around the barn floor. “I’m sorry I ducked out of the ball. I meant to dance with you. You know I would have, even if my sisters hadn’t made such a fuss.”
“I wanted to dance with you more than anything in the world,” she admitted.
He grinned to himself again. “Then we need to put a stop to this madness,” he declared. “I love you. You are the only woman in the world I want to marry, Rosamond. I know you had feelings for Richard, but if you marry me, I promise to make you happier than he ever could.” He continued his relentless pacing, trying to sneak a glance at her as they rounded the corner of the barn floor. “Rosamond, if you’ll say yes, you will make me the happiest man in Yorkshire.”
His heart hammered unevenly in his chest. He thought he had detected love in her eyes. But what if he had been wrong? What would she say then? Fortunately, he could stay busy while walking the horse. If he had to propose without any distraction, he’d made a sorry mess indeed. As it was, it wasn’t exactly a romantic proposal.
“Do you mean it?” Her dark eyes shone, and an unbelieving smile curled the corners of her lips. “Really and truly?”
“Really and truly, darling. If I could, I would gather you in my arms right now. As it is…” he nodded towards the mare.
Rosamond rushed over to his side, and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Her lips burned into his skin. “I don’t want Richard,” she whispered. “I’ve only wanted you, Anthony.”
He put his arm around her waist and snuck a quick kiss. There would be time for more romance later. In fact, he would spend the rest of his life making sure that Rosamond Hughes knew exactly how he felt about her, every moment of every day.
“Good morning. Happy Christmas, my darling.”
Rosamond’s eyelids fluttered open and she pushed herself to a sitting position on the hay bale. She must have fallen asleep after her last turn walking Andromeda. Before her stood her beloved, smiling down at her. He extended his hand, and she took it. Anthony’s hands were rough and calloused, as one would expect f
rom a man who worked with his hands. She curled her fingers around his. His strength gave her the feeling of being loved and cherished, and of being safe.
“Happy Christmas,” she murmured. It was, in fact, the best Christmas ever.
“Andromeda made it through the night,” he said softly. “She’s back in her stall. That last turn around the floor seemed to do the trick.”
“Oh, what a relief.” She gave him a smile that reflected all the radiance she felt within. “I knew you could save her, Anthony.”
“I could not have done it without your help, and Carson’s,” he replied. “Taking turns like that kept us going.” He paused and then looked deeply into her eyes. “Rosamond, if you marry me, you’ll likely spend many nights like this. I take the farming of my family’s estate very seriously. I don’t leave it to others to do for me. I know you appreciate the work I do, but until now it’s just been a theory to you. Now that you have lived through one night of it, do you think you can do this all the time?”
“Of course.” She reached up and brushed the unruly lock of black hair back from his forehead. “Why do you ask?”
“Because I want you to be sure,” he responded evenly. “We were both so caught up in the moment last night—I understand if you said yes too hastily—I want to give you an out in case you regret what you said.”
“I don’t regret a thing,” she promised. She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him with all of the pent-up fervor she had been hiding for these past few days. “Do you?”
“No indeed.” He put his arms around her and spun her around. She laughed as her feet touched the floor of the barn once more. “Come with me, then. I want to introduce you to my great-uncle, the Duke of Danby.”
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly.” She glanced down at her fine gown, now covered with bits of straw. There was no telling what her hair looked like. “I must look a sight.”
“You are beautiful.” He picked bits of straw from her hair. “Don’t be frightened. He’s a good fellow, even if he’s a bit crotchety. Besides, he will want to thank you for saving Andromeda.”
There was nothing to do but follow Anthony to the castle. As they mounted the front steps, people drifted out, clad in finery. Apparently the ball had continued well into the wee small hours of the morning.
She hurried along beside Anthony. Heavens, he had such a long stride. It took about three of her steps to match just one of his. By the time they made it to the Duke’s wing of the castle, she was quite winded.
Anthony led the way to a small breakfast room. As he pushed open the door, Rosamond caught a glimpse of the dowager marchioness. She gave her ladyship a small smile as they crossed the threshold. The older lady grinned and watched them pass.
The Duke of Danby sat opposite Anthony’s grandmother, sipping a steaming cup of tea. Despite her nervousness, her mouth watered at the sight of the tea. It had been ages since supper, and she hadn’t even stayed at the ball long enough to taste a lemonade.
“Your Grace, and Grandmother,” Anthony announced, looking from one to the other, “I have found my heart’s desire. Rosamond Hughes has agreed to be my wife.”
“Rosamond Hughes.” His Grace looked at her over the rims of his glasses. He was not smiling.
She did her best to hold her own, giving him a polite smile. Anthony squeezed her hand. She glanced up at him. He was looking down at her with so much love in his blue eyes that it quite took her breath away.
“Yes, Rosamond Hughes. You remember, Jonathan. The girl I told you would be perfect for Anthony.” The dowager marchioness gave her brother an exasperated look, and then turned to the pair of them. “Of course, Anthony already had my blessing. I knew at once that you two would make an ideal match.”
Rosamond glowed with gratitude. If her ladyship felt she was the right one for Anthony, then surely His Grace would feel the same way. Wouldn’t he?
“Moreover, Your Grace, you will be interested to know that Rosamond helped me to save Andromeda’s life last night.” Anthony drew her protectively to his side.
“What’s this? Andromeda was ill?” His Grace looked sharply at Anthony and put his teacup aside.
“Yes. She had a mild case of colic. Carson sent for me the moment I arrived, as his stable lads were busy with the ball. So I helped. Rosamond helped, too. We took turns walking her all night long. The colic eased and now Andromeda is back in her stall.” Anthony faced the duke squarely. “You wanted me to find someone to wed, and soon. I am so fortunate that I found the right woman this time. Have I your blessing, Your Grace?”
The Duke of Danby sat back in his seat, folding his hands in a contemplative manner over his stomach. “Indeed, you have my blessing. Not that you need it. Though I am the head of this family, it’s your father’s business. However, I will say that any girl who would leave a ball to care for a horse shows that she knows her priorities and has a great deal of sense to boot. Welcome to the family, my dear.”
“Thank you, sir.” Rosamond curtsied. “And thank you, ma’am,” she added, turning to the dowager Lady Westchester.
Her ladyship smiled and gave a quick wink, so quick that Rosamond wasn’t entirely sure she had seen it.
“Happy Christmas to the pair of you,” His Grace added. “Now go home. It’s far too early to be canoodling or courting or thinking of anything except breakfast.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Anthony bowed and Rosamond curtsied once more. Then he led her out of the room, closing the door behind them.
“What will your parents say?” Rosamond asked as Anthony strode through the castle, and she scurried to keep pace. “Will they want me as a daughter-in-law?”
“Of course they will. You’re already friends with my sisters. You’ve grown up with us. I’m sure they adore you.” Anthony led the way down the hall. “Ah, here is what I was looking for.”
Rosamond glanced up. They were at the ballroom. She hung back, suddenly shy. The ballroom was the place of her supposed humiliation last night. In truth, she felt more comfortable in the barn. “Why are we here?”
He smiled down at her. “I believe I owe you one dance.”
Anthony drew her into the ballroom, which was littered with the detritus of the party that had just recently concluded. Servants entered the room and left, giving them quizzical looks as they passed.
No matter. He was here with his beloved. This dance was all that mattered.
He guided her into a waltz and she quickly responded, rising and falling with his cues in the absence of any music. He steered her around the room, neatly sidestepping overturned cups on the floor. Crumpled bits of paper crackled under their feet. The servants extinguished the candles, and the smoke created a fragrant haze that hung over the room, wrapping them in mystery as though they were dancing through fog.
“Rosamond, you have made me the happiest man alive,” he breathed. “What an incredible Christmas gift you are.”
She rested her head on his chest. “I fell in love with you the moment I bumped into you at Thursan Grange. I’ve been sick with love, to be honest. I never dared to think you could love me back.”
“There they are!” A familiar feminine voice screeched from the doorway. “What on earth?”
The sudden change from Rosamond’s declaration of love to Helen’s accusatory shriek was disconcerting. He stopped dancing and turned to behold his father, mother, and two sisters standing in the doorway of the ballroom.
Rosamond gasped and pressed herself closer to him. “They sound angry,” she murmured.
He placed a protective arm around her. “Helen, do be quiet,” he commanded his sister. “You intruded on a private moment with my betrothed.” He turned to his parents. “Excuse me for being so plain-spoken. It’s just that it will be easier to tell the truth to all of you at once. It will save my sisters the need to listen behind closed doors.”
Helen stuck out her tongue at him.
“Betrothed?” Mother gave his a gentle smile. “What a lovely Christmas pres
ent.” She held out her arms, beckoning Rosamond for an embrace.
Anthony let her go, reluctantly, for he never really wanted Rosamond to leave his side now that he was sure she was his. But he had to smile when the two women hugged.
Helen and Frances looked at him dubiously. “I don’t understand why she is engaged to you,” Helen demanded. “She was supposed to marry Richard.”
Frances dug her elbow into Helen’s ribs. “Richard didn’t come after all. So it’s of no consequence.”
He had forgotten Richard in all of the romantic chaos of last night. “Richard didn’t come? Where is he?”
Frances shrugged. “A runner came last night with a message from him. He said ‘Happy Christmas’ to us all and then informed us that he had decided to take a trip to Majorca instead of coming home for the holidays. So he went.”
Anthony suppressed a grin. Something interesting must have come up in Spain—a chance at fortune, or a lady. Or, likely, both.
Rosamond stepped away from Mother, placing herself before the entire family. “I had nurtured a tendre for Richard over the years, it’s true. Helen and Frances very graciously tried to help me secure his affection.” She cast a glance over at Anthony that made his heart beat heavily in his chest. “However, over this wonderful Christmas holiday, which all of you so generously shared with me, I found the true object of my affection is Anthony. We have secured His Grace’s blessing, but I shan’t marry Anthony unless I have your blessing, too.” She looked at each of them in turn.
“Of course you do,” Father replied heartily.
“You have my blessing.” Mother gave them both a gentle smile.
Frances nodded. “We only ever wanted you to be happy, Rosie. I’m so glad you found love with Anthony.”
Helen alone stood, quiet and still. “Are you certain, Rosie?”
Rosamond nodded. “I am.”
Helen sighed. “All that hard work for nothing. Look at your hair! Why, there are bits of straw all over you. What have you two been doing?”
“Danby’s prized mare took sick,” Anthony hastened to explain. Many dubious conclusions could be drawn by the mussed-up way they both looked. “Rosamond helped me nurse her back to health. I knew, once she left the ball to be my help mate, that I had found the only woman for me.”