He turned his attention back to Lady Camellia as they began to move through the steps of the dance. She lifted her eyes, and he felt as if he could sink into their soft brown depths forever.
“Thank you. None of them seem capable of comprehending that I am not interested in them. I dance with them, because politeness decrees that I must, if I then wish to dance with you, but I would avoid it if I could.”
“They are fools – they have had the last year and more to notice you, and have not, and now, because two old ladies notice that you are beautiful, and some gossip writer publishes that fact, they are falling at your feet.”
“Exactly. I… I am only interested in you.”
She blushed charmingly as she said it, and heat filled him. To have someone want him, for himself, not for his title or influence, was entrancing in itself, but knowing how kind and genuine Lady Camellia was made her words carry extra weight. He had spent the past few weeks internally struggling with the fact that he loved her, yet he was still, he had discovered, afraid of taking the final step, afraid of marriage, afraid that, if he took that step, somehow it would all unravel, and they would end up betraying each other.
He was as much of a fool as the young fops who had surrounded her. It was all suddenly crystal clear to him – if he did not overcome his fear, and ask her to marry him, some other man would propose to her – and she might accept. He hoped that she would not, that she truly wanted him, but… it was time for him to release that fear, time to take that step, time to ask her. And if he hesitated, fear might stop him again.
This was the moment when being the host had advantages. As they progressed down the line of the dance, he watched, and planned. At the end, where they should turn out and step to each side, he simply led her onwards instead, past the edge of the small dais where the orchestra played, and into the shadows of the curtains behind it. Shadows which hid a narrow door.
He opened the door, and urged her through it, shutting it behind him. The small room they found themselves in was lit only by moonlight, which shone through the small high window in one wall. Stacked along that wall were chairs, and some small tables. She looked up at him, her eyes almost glowing in the soft light, her face full of curiosity, but with no trace of fear. He lifted a hand, and traced the line of her lips.
She sighed softly, and her lips opened. He bent, bringing his lips to hers, tracing them with his tongue, and exploring further when her mouth opened wider at his touch. He lost himself in the kiss, his arms slipping around her, and pulling her hard against him. Her arms lifted, and encircled his neck as she pressed into the embrace. Minutes passed, and there was no room for thought, only for sensation, for the heady scent of her surrounding him, for the touch of her skin on his.
When they drew apart, her hands dropped back, sliding down his shoulders in a caress. He caught them in his, and lifted her fingers to his lips for a moment. Now was the time. He swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry, then tightened his fingers on hers.
“Lady Camellia… will you… will you marry me? I love you, and I want you by my side, always.”
Her eyes widened, and glittered in the silvery light, and her fingers gripped his tightly.
“Marry you…?”
“Yes. I know that propriety dictates that I should have asked your father first, both if I might court you, and if I might marry you, but… it appears that nothing about my life is following a conventional path. Will you? Please?”
She laughed, a soft sound full of joy, and rose on her toes a little to bring her lips to his.
“Of course I will marry you. I was beginning to wonder if you were not looking to marry… but yes. And unconventional seems to be standard for my family. My parents will cope, Mother will immediately go into ‘wedding planning is everything’ thinking, and we will have no peace until we are wed.”
“I should have asked you weeks ago – but I was still allowing the long shadow of my father’s betrayal and my mother’s manipulation to steal my own happiness. No more of that. I want a life with you, with family, and filled with love, not secrets. If that includes your mother arranging everything about our wedding, so be it. My only stipulation will be that Thomas and Lady Prunella are invited.”
“I agree with that, wholeheartedly. Now, perhaps we should go to find my father, and tell him our news?”
“Definitely, once I have kissed you again, whilst I have the chance.”
He pulled her into his arms, and for long minutes, there was no sound but the thunderous beat of their hearts.
<<<
Thomas stood at the side of the ballroom, with Lady Camellia’s family. He had arrived at much the same time as The Duke of Elbury and his family, and Blackwater had taken the chance to introduce them in the the receiving line. He had felt a moment of utter fear, then, that the Duke might cut him, there and then, for the unfortunate accident of his birth, but the man had surprised him, by offering a cheerful greeting.
Since then, as the various ladies had gone off to dance, or to speak with friends, he had stood there, filled with a sense of unreality, and conversed with the Duke about swordcanes. It seemed that, apart from being a keen horticulturalist, the Duke was also intrigued by devices like the canes, with hidden mechanisms.
This was a place which he had never expected to be – in a ballroom amongst the aristocracy – and yet, oddly, he did not feel as out of place as he had expected to. Certainly, there were whispers about him, and not many chose to speak to him, but they did not give him the cut direct either. It seemed that being the brother of a Duke, even an illegitimate brother, at least commanded a veneer of courtesy.
Perhaps, also, all of the years he had spent in his shop, dealing with men of the ton every day, had provided him a better education in moving amongst them than he had realised. On the other side of the room, Lady Prunella sat with Lady Weatherby, and a group of other women of medium age. She looked, he thought, like a completely different person.
A few weeks of good food, a warm home, and less fear had, in combination with a magnificently crafted ballgown, made her look fifteen years younger. He had been startled to realise, when he did the numbers in his mind, that she was barely older than forty. Now, she was blooming into her true self, and he wondered where those changes might lead her.
Even as he watched, something completely unexpected happened. A woman who seemed a few years older than Lady Prunella moved towards her, and Thomas noted, when he looked, that the woman had the same look about her as Lady Prunella. Near him, he heard Lady Primrose whisper ‘Look, Lady Wells is going to speak to her!’ and realisation dawned. The two women looked so alike because they were sisters, Lady Wells, oddest of thoughts, was his aunt too. He near held his breath as he watched, suddenly full of hope. Lady Prunella rose from her chair as Lady Wells approached, her chin lifted and her gaze steady.
The sisters stood, a moment, face to face, and then Lady Wells took that final step, and gently embraced the sister she had not seen for twenty years. It lasted but a moment, but Thomas knew that the impact of that moment would last a lifetime. Beside him, the Duke of Elbury spoke again.
“I think, Mr Black, that I would like to commission a swordcane from you. Not for me, but as a gift for Canterford, who is husband to my eldest daughter.”
He continued to watch Lady Prunella, even as he responded to the Duke.
“Certainly, Your Grace. I would be delighted to make one to your specifications – if you would grace my shop with your presence, I could show you a wide selection, so that you can see what might suit.”
“Indeed, I will arrange a time with you in this next week. Who knows, we might even spark a fashion for the canes amongst the young fops. Not that they would have a true use for such a thing, but if they buy them, what does that matter – it will certainly be good for your business.”
Across the room, as Lady Wells stepped back from her sister, an older gentleman approached Lady Prunella, was introduced by Lady Weatherby, and shortly led Lady
Prunella out to dance. Perhaps she would not be spending the rest of her life in lonely isolation after all, between her reacquaintance with her sister, and the apparent interest of gentlemen. The thought pleased him – she should not continue to suffer for what his mother had done, so long ago.
Deeply grateful for the changes in his life, he turned completely back to the Duke, smiling.
“An increase in business is always welcome, Your Grace, even if the customers will never have the skill to use what they buy.”
The Duke laughed, and Thomas laughed with him, feeling as if anything was possible, and darkly amused that now, when he no longer desperately needed funds, he was likely to have a surge in business which he might only have dreamt of in the past.
He was diverted from that thought when Blackwater, with Lady Camellia beside him, appeared from amongst the crowd.
Lady Camellia looked rather flushed, and Thomas wondered if that was just from the exercise of dancing, or something more. She smiled at him, but turned to her father.
“Father, might Blackwater and I have a word with you, privately?”
The Duke raised an eyebrow, then nodded to Blackwater.
“It’s your house Blackwater – I assume that you have a quiet spot in mind? If so, certainly – lead the way.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Damien led them out of the ballroom, and down a long hallway into the back part of the house, then into the small parlour which his mother had once used as her private space. It seemed a fitting place to take this step, to free himself from the past which she had been instrumental in creating. The room was chill, as the fire had not been built up, but not so chill as to be unpleasant, especially after the crowded ballroom.
“Please, be seated.”
The Duke settled into the armchair by the fireplace, and Lady Camellia seated herself opposite him on one end of the couch. Damien settled beside her. His heart was pounding, and he had not felt so nervous since the day of his first exam at Eton. The silence stretched. Lady Camellia reached across and took his hand. Her father observed this, but said nothing. Damien swallowed. This was no time to hesitate.
“Your Grace, I want to marry your daughter. I have been precipitous, and already asked her, and been accepted. But… might I ask for your permission?”
The Duke fixed him with a stern gaze, and he felt an unaccountable wish to squirm on his seat. Then, after a moment, the Duke burst into laughter. That was not, most definitely not, the response that Damien had expected.
“Eventually, perhaps, just perhaps, one of my daughters might manage to do things in the manner that society expects. But I will not be betting on that. So, to the most important question – do you love her?”
Again, Damien was startled. Most men of the ton would ask about a man’s ability to support his daughter, about where they might live, perhaps about their investments and more – but not one that he had met would ever have simply asked about love.
“I do.”
Lady Camellia’s fingers tightened on his. The Duke nodded, as if pleased.
“Good. I won’t waste either of our time asking you about funds or other things – I know quite well that you are well off, and not a wastrel, and I am also quite sure that the last thing you would wish to do is follow your father’s example.” He turned to face Lady Camellia more directly. “So Camellia, do you love him? You are not accepting him out of some wrongheaded need to be kind, so that he won’t be hurt by a refusal, are you?”
She smiled gently, and shook her head slightly.
“No Father, I am not doing this for silly reasons. I love him, and I want to marry him. Please… will you give us your blessing?”
“Silly child, of course I will – you know full well that I would never prevent one of you from marrying a person you truly love.”
Lady Camellia jumped up from her seat, and went to her father, leaning down to envelope him in a hug.
“Thank you! Do you… do you think that we might announce this tonight? I would, I admit, be very happy to be crossed off the list of possible brides for all of those young men who have been swarming around me.”
The Duke laughed again, as she stood back and waited for his answer.
“We can… but you must allow me at least half an hour first, to find your mother, and inform her, lest she faint away from shock at the announcement.”
“Of course, she would never forgive me if she wasn’t the first to know.”
They all rose, and left the small parlour, and, as Damien closed the door behind him, it felt like shutting a door on his parents’ sad relationship, and leaving all of that behind for good.
<<<
Camellia felt as if she might burst from happiness as they returned to the ballroom, but she steadfastly maintained a calm expression as they rejoined the rest of her family.
“What was that about, Camellia? Is there something we should know?”
Primrose regarded her with a raised eyebrow, her gaze flicking to Blackwater and back again. Camellia attempted to look enigmatic, and simply shook her head. Primrose gave a huff of annoyance.
Blackwater stepped past her, and spoke to Thomas.
“How are you faring, Thomas?”
“Better than I expected to be, if I am honest. No one has given me the cut direct, two or three people have even chosen to speak with me – purely out of curiosity, I suspect – and Lady Camellia’s father wants to order a swordcane – and implied that he might tell others about my business, in the hope of starting a fashion which would put funds in my coffers.”
“That sounds like a successful first outing into society to me. And what of Lady Prunella? I must confess that my mind has been on… other matters…”
“It seems that her fears were groundless. No one has blinked at her being here, and a number of the older widowers have asked her to dance. So… perhaps, in the future, we will be providing her with a dowry… and… best of all, Lady Wells approached her, and the sisters spoke for a short time, and then embraced, before everyone. I do believe that Lady Prunella has just been gifted at least part of her family back.”
Camellia, looked up at his words, and she felt a wide smile spread across her face. She turned to them, leaving Primrose glaring at her back.
“Why, that’s wonderful! I do hope that she enjoys herself, and allows herself the chance at a changed life. I am especially glad that Lady Wells has made that choice – that is more than I had hoped for, and truly a perfect ending to all of this.”
At that moment, as Camellia glanced past Blackwater, she saw her parents approaching, and almost burst out laughing at her mother’s expression.
She could tell, instantly, that her mother was waging an internal battle between joy at having another wedding to arrange, and annoyance that her planned program of events for Camellia would no longer be necessary. Camellia suspected that, instead, it would be Primrose who was forced to attend every event between now and late June.
Her mother reached them, and met Camellia’s eyes, her expression one of indignation.
“Camellia! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Because, Mother, he only asked me tonight!”
“Oh! Well then. Blackwater – do you have any plans for how this wedding will occur?”
Behind them, Primrose gasped.
“Camellia!”
Blackwater smiled and shook his head.
“I do believe that I am happy to accommodate whatever you wish – so long as my family – not just my sisters, but also my half brother and his aunt – are present.”
“Excellent! I do so love organising a wedding!”
The Duke stepped up beside his wife, and touched her arm.
“My dear, perhaps you had best let me make the announcement, before you get too carried away with the planning?”
The Duchess looked at him, her smile broad, and happy, and Camellia was grateful, again, for how much her parents loved each other.
“Of course. But… do ge
t on with it then.”
The Duke turned to Blackwater.
“Where…?”
“The orchestra dais. They are just stopping for a short break between sets.”
Blackwater, Camellia, and her father made their way across the room, and curious eyes watched each step. Tomorrow, Camellia thought with amusement, they would all have this to gossip about.
Blackwater stepped up onto the dais, and clapped his hands together three times. Silence fell in the room, and all eyes turned to him. He stepped back, and waved the Duke of Elbury forward.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make. I ask you to join me in celebrating the betrothal of my daughter, Lady Camellia Gardenbrook, and the Duke of Blackwater.”
For a moment, the silence was absolute, then the room filled with sound as everyone spoke at once. The next hour passed in a chaos of congratulations and discussion, and by the time that supper was called, Camellia wanted nothing more than to sneak away and hide.
Blackwater provided her with a plate of food and a drink, which she took gratefully, and they settled on a couch set in a half-curtained nook.
“The thought that it will be like this, for at least three weeks, while the banns are called, and my mother plans everything, all the time bemoaning the lack of time, is enough to make me want to elope. But I suppose that, if my sisters managed to bear it, so will I.”
He ran a gentle hand down her arm, and the caress sent warmth through her, right to her core.
“I am quite sure that you will cope. And at least you have the excuse of still helping my sisters to allow you to escape your home for whole hours at a time…”
Camellia laughed, and allowed that he had the right of it.
A little later, as she returned to the ballroom from the ladies retiring room, Lord Setford spoke to her in the hallway.
A Diamond for a Duke : Book 4: Camellia: Clean Regency Romance (A Duke's Daughters - The Elbury Bouquet) Page 17
