“I think it’s getting worse,” Helena said. “She had an album…”
“What do you mean?”
“She had pictures of you. A lot of pictures.”
The hairs on my arms stood straight up. “How did you come across—”
“She said she wanted to talk to me privately about Annette. Said she didn’t know how to reconnect with her or something like that, but I think that was an excuse to talk about you because she kept bringing you into the conversation. I gave her vague answers, and then she got a phone call and walked into the hallway for a minute. A moment later, I happened to glance at her bed and observed a photo album lying wide open. I probably shouldn’t have looked, but that’s when I noticed they were of you. I flipped through the pages and nearly freaked out when I saw they were all of you.” She took a deep breath. “And some of them were of the two of you, as if she’d had someone take pictures of the two of you when you stood next to each other.”
“Okay, that’s weird. Maybe she wanted you to see those pictures for some reason. Is it possible she wanted you to think we were together?”
“I don’t know. Honestly, I think she’s starting to lose it. After she finished talking on the phone, she saw it and hastily put it away. She acted flustered and suddenly didn’t want to talk anymore.”
“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do about this. It’s definitely creepy, but I don’t want to worry Annette.”
“Just be careful. Don’t let Georgina talk to you alone. Who knows what she’d tell Annette later, and Annette is much too vulnerable to deal with this.”
“You’re right. I’ll be cautious.”
After Helena left, I finished getting ready for the ball, stewing on what she’d shared. Georgina had been calling a lot, but I didn’t want to believe she had some strange psycho obsession with me. Best-case scenario: she had a small crush, and it was nothing to worry about. Worse-case… I wouldn’t go there. This was the last thing I needed in the midst of all the other problems.
Still, something niggled at the corner of my mind. Would Georgina ever want to hurt Annette? I hated to even think it, but someone shot Sophie, and Annette had been at her side when it happened. What if Annette had been the real target? A sick feeling washed through me. No, Georgina might be a little obsessive, but she would never resort to hurting her own sister.
An hour later, I knocked on Annette’s door, dressed in a black tuxedo, ready to escort her to the ballroom. She told me to come in, and when I did, my mouth fell open and the air rushed out of my lungs.
“You look…stunning.”
And she did, in fact, look more beautiful than I’d ever seen her before, except for our wedding day, of course. Normally, she wore suggestive gowns with plunging necklines and bold make-up, but today…today she appeared like someone out of a fairy tale. Her lips were a bright ruby red, but the rest of her make-up was soft and muted. The gown had a modest neckline with a form-fitting bodice and a full skirt falling to the ground, the fabric a sparkling shade of silver, shimmering in the light. She appeared ethereal and otherworldly with a layer of fine glitter over her chest. Her auburn hair was pulled to the back in a loose bun with a clasp of white miniature roses.
Our eyes locked and something passed between us that sent my heart racing in a way it never had before—in a way that both delighted and scared me at the same time. I blinked, caught up in how lovely she was, afraid to say anything that might ruin this moment, wanting desperately to connect with her but not sure if I should.
“Thank you,” she said, the corners of her lips curling up the slightest bit. She had to know how beautiful she was, but her proud demeanor had been replaced with a sweet humility that made her even more appealing.
I extended my arm to her. “Are you ready to go down?”
“Yes.” She took my arm, and we walked soundlessly into the hallway and down the stairs, neither of us saying a word.
Everything went quickly after that. We strolled around the foyer and ballroom, her hand on my arm, greeting our guests and playing the part the citizens of Calais expected us to play: a loving husband and wife in their element, happy and content as always. Annette fell into her role perfectly, smiling and laughing when appropriate, paying compliments and showing interest at the right moments. She had forgotten who everyone was though she probably recognized many from the garden party. Still, she seemed to know intuitively how to respond at a gathering such as this.
And then it was time for the dancing to begin and my parents danced the first waltz while the crowd stood back and watched. Annette and I took the second song, floating around the ballroom as we had many other times, only this time, it was like Annette’s first attempt. She smiled tentatively, never taking her eyes off me, following my lead gracefully. The dance instructor had done wonders with her.
I leaned in and brought my lips to her ear. “You’re doing brilliantly.”
She shivered at the contact, and a light blush crept across her face. “I hope so. I wanted tonight to be perfect.”
Her blush made me light-headed and fuzzy, and it felt good to know I still had that effect on her. She obviously still affected me. When the song came to an end, everyone clapped and moved to the center when a new dance began. Despite tradition, I didn’t want to release her from my arms to find another partner. Protocol demanded it of me…yes. But it wasn’t what I wanted. I decided right then and there that I would do exactly as I pleased, so I swept her back onto the dance floor, smiling like a man who was breaking the rules and couldn’t care less.
“It’s not customary for a husband and wife to dance two times in a row,” she said with a satisfied smile.
“And you know that how?”
“Helena told me.”
I pulled her in closer but didn’t say anything. She smelled like roses and lavender and something else I couldn’t quite put my finger on—maybe her perfume—but whatever it was, it was intoxicating, and it cast a spell over me, holding me hostage in a way that made me…incredibly happy.
The thought was alarming. My limbs nearly stiffened up, but I caught myself just in time. We had to finish out the dance, and I would not allow my thoughts to go to a dark place and ruin this moment. I would enjoy these last few minutes as if they were all we would ever have.
If I could pretend that nothing could touch us, and it was only Annette and me in this room, our love rising above everything else, I might be able to get past the burden that had rested on my shoulders and look forward to the future.
I glanced at her again, observing her flushed skin and glossy eyes, and I started to worry that she hadn’t been blushing at all. She actually looked a little under the weather. Frowning, I leaned closer. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. I’m just…tired. That’s all.”
Without thinking, I pressed the back of my palm to her forehead. “You’re warm. I hope you’re not coming down with something.”
“No, I’m fine.” She smiled shyly. “I’m excited about this evening. I’m probably warm from the dance.”
I glanced towards some chairs on the outer perimeter. “Maybe you should rest. This is too much for you.”
“No. Please.” She smiled. “I’m perfectly fine. I want to dance with you.”
She seemed so hopeful that I relented, and quite frankly, I didn’t want to let her go. “All right. If you insist…”
“I do.”
Chapter 9
Annette
I felt a little feverish, but I wasn’t sure if it was because I was sick or because Edward was having that effect on me.
His arm tightened around my waist while he swept us to a dark corner of the room away from all the guests. Our movements slowed, and it seemed as if time slowed as well, as if no one else existed but Edward and me. His gaze burned into me with a look I hadn’t seen from him before, a look that melted my insides and left me weak in the knees. This was what I’d wanted from him…this look.
He’d distanced himself, and I wa
s beginning to think our marriage was in shambles without even understanding the details, but something had gotten into him this evening. He was staring at me as if I were precious to him. As if he thought I was the most beautiful woman in the room.
As if he loved me.
I couldn’t remember our history, but there was no denying the pull we had to each other. I felt it even as he twirled me around and around, the corner of his lips tilting up in a wry smile as his eyes lingered on my face. The warmth of that look penetrated my uneasy, untrusting heart, making me want to confide in him, believe in him, trust in him. He would never hurt me—that was where I wanted my thoughts to go. It was where I was willing them to go right now.
Later, I could second-guess all of it but not at this moment. This slice of time was just for us, a glimpse into how we’d ended up together. Why we’d always come back to each other after years of dating on and off. I wanted to see it all in my mind’s eye, to remember, but I would take what we had as a gift and let everything else go.
He whipped me around, drawing us closer to the terrace. “Je suis folle de toi, ma chérie.”
Oh, goodness, he was speaking in French again. Did he know what that did to me? I wanted to melt into his arms each time he spoke like that. I waited, and when he didn’t say anything more, I cleared my throat. “No translation?”
He chuckled, the sound deep and hoarse, and then he moved us to the outdoor terrace where we were all alone. The noise level inside was so loud, it took a moment to adjust to the quiet. We weren’t dancing anymore—just swaying—but he hadn’t released me from his arms, and I didn’t want him to.
He placed his forehead gently against mine, and his skin felt cool to the touch. Maybe I really was getting sick, but I wasn’t about to say anything and miss out on this…whatever it was. His lips were dangerously close to my own as he whispered, “I’m crazy about you, my darling. That’s the translation.”
Something had definitely gotten into him.
But I wouldn’t question it, not even for a second.
Because it felt too good to sink into him, to close my eyes and let this happen.
I felt his warm breath on my cheek, and then his lips were brushing over mine, soft and tentative…sweet. Coaxing. As if persuading me to trust him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him in. His hands went to my waist, and he made a sound deep in his throat that resulted in both of us deepening the kiss even further. A heady wave of warmth washed over me again and again and my spirits soared in this feeling…this feeling of belonging I had with my husband.
Someone cleared her throat. “Excuse me. You two shouldn’t be out here alone.”
We both jerked as if we were teenagers and had just been caught in a forbidden kiss. It was Edward’s mother, Queen Anne, and she was looking at us with so much disapproval my breath stalled. I tried to pull away but Edward wouldn’t let me. He held me tightly against him as if refusing to accept a reprimand from her.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m with my wife.”
“What if our guests were to walk out and see you like this?” she asked, her voice strangled and high-pitched. Her hand went to her throat as if she’d caught us in an indiscretion, and it was more than she could bear.
“Then they would see how much I love her.”
I gasped. It was the first time he’d said the words, and the wall I’d erected around my heart began to crumble. Warning bells were going off in my head, telling me to be careful. This could all be for show. Maybe he had meant me harm at some point. I shouldn’t trust him so easily.
“Please, Edward,” she said, voice pleading. “We have an image to uphold. There’s nothing wrong with sharing a kiss but not in the public eye. We’ve always held to that standard.”
“I’m tired of bowing to the needs of society.” His voice cracked, and he brought desperate eyes to meet mine. “I’m sorry, Annette. I’m so sorry for the rift between us.”
I wasn’t sure if he was speaking about the past week or everything that had happened before I lost my memory. “I’m sorry too.” And I was. Even though I was afraid my judgment might be off.
“I’m not leaving until you go back inside,” his mother said. Her lips were tight and determined. Unwavering.
Edward glanced at her defiantly. “Then you may as well pull up a chair.”
“She’s right.” I stepped out of his embrace, immediately missing the warmth of his arms. “We shouldn’t disappoint our guests.”
As much as I wanted to stay in this little cocoon we had created on the terrace, I needed a clear head and that wouldn’t happen as long as I remained this close to Edward.
Disappointment flickered in his eyes, but he didn’t say anything. He just nodded and reached for my hand, bringing it up to his lips and placing a soft kiss on my knuckles.
“Shall we go inside?” I asked so softly it was nearly a whisper.
“Yeah.” His voice was low, husky, and he didn’t take his gaze off me.
The intense look he gave me sent shivers down my back, and for a moment, I regretted taking his mother’s side. I wanted to stay out here with him forever and forget royal protocol and anything else that stood between us. But on the other hand, I didn’t want to earn more of her disapproval. Clearly, she was already dissatisfied, and I didn’t want to make it worse.
His mother breathed out a sigh of relief but neither of us looked at her. We headed indoors and once we were back in the crowded room with people and music and a flurry of activity, we parted ways to mingle and do our duty. The light reflected off the women’s jewels as they swirled around the space with dashing partners. I felt guilty for wishing that was me and Edward again. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t monopolize his time.
Helena caught my eye and walked up to me, a smile lighting up her pretty face. “You and Edward looked amazing dancing together.”
“Did we?”
She nodded. “You have that indescribable thing…the kind of chemistry that defies the odds.”
Chemistry… Yes, there was no denying our chemistry. But was there love? Edward had said he loved me in a roundabout way when we were on the terrace, but he’d never said the words directly to me. He could have said it as a jab for his mother’s benefit.
Helena had an expectant look on her face as she waited for me to say something in return. Suddenly, she tilted her head to the side and studied me. “Are you okay? You don’t seem well. Are you ill?”
I was growing more and more tired as the night went on, but I wasn’t ready to admit that and have my first ball ruined. I planned on experiencing and enjoying every second. “It’s just warm in here. I’m fine.”
She didn’t look convinced. “I don’t know. Maybe you should sit for a while.”
I opened my mouth to speak but a short, bald man walked over to us, interrupting at just the right moment.
He bowed his head in deference, his eyes on the floor. “Good evening. May I have this dance?” And then he peered up at me, offering a hand.
I glanced at Helena, and she was suppressing a smile. I knew exactly what she was thinking because unbeknownst to her, I’d caught her watching a young man across the room. This gentleman was not her dream partner, and she was probably happy he wanted to dance with me, leaving her free to dance with someone else.
“Yes, you may,” I said.
He offered his arm, and as we made our way to the center of the room, I couldn’t help but think how regally he moved as if he himself were the prince. I remembered meeting him at the garden party. He was an older man, an earl…I knew that much, but I didn’t remember his name, unfortunately.
He was stiff and very formal as we waltzed, and I had the distinct impression he wanted to be seen with me to show his association with the royal family. He spoke about the weather and a few current events in Calais, and as we circled the floor, my eyes fell briefly to Beatriz and her partner…Leo. A sick feeling tumbled in my stomach, and, for a second, I wanted to run away and disappear. I di
dn’t want him to see me and ask for a dance later on.
“Is everything okay?” the earl asked, appearing concerned. “You’re flushed and just now you appeared as if you wanted to…” He trailed off, and I had the sense he’d wanted to say I looked like I was about to vomit. But Leo had brought about that reaction…nothing else. “Well, it wouldn’t be polite to mention,” he said, “but you look quite ill.”
“I’m perfectly fine. It’s warm in here. That’s all.”
He nodded, spinning me around, and then we were facing Leo and Beatriz directly though I was pretty sure they didn’t see us. Beatriz was smiling into Leo’s eyes, and he was smiling back. I wasn’t sure if I should be relieved or horrified that the two of them were together. Then again, at least she wasn’t trying to dance with Edward. When she’d initially mentioned they’d dated in the past, I worried he might still have feelings for her, but that fear had been unjustified. I hadn’t even seen them together.
When the dance was over, my partner bowed his head and thanked me. He walked away stiffly, his head held high.
“Excuse me. You must have dropped this.” A man with brown hair and a mustache handed me a note and before I could reply, he slipped through the crowd and disappeared.
I opened the folded piece of paper he had given me and scanned the contents.
I know what you did with Leo. You don’t deserve to be with a prince. You betrayed Edward and you will pay for it very soon.
Ice trickled down my spine in a slow, tortuous movement, and every muscle in my body tensed. Who would write such a thing? My heart began to pound so hard my pulse increased at my throat, and my limbs trembled as fear swept over me like an unrelenting ocean wave, pulling me under and holding me there.
Just breathe. I sucked in a breath and released it slowly.
The Prince's Bewildered Bride (The Blushing Brides Book 5) Page 8
