“Will you do me the honor of dancing with me, Grandmother?” By the stunned look on her face, Daniel guessed he had never asked his grandmother to dance before and was instantly ashamed of himself.
“Please,” he added.
“Of course she will,” Lady Dunbar snapped, giving the Dowager Duchess a shove in the back.
“Get up, Beatrice! We were just saying last night that we never get to dance anymore, and here you have an invitation from one of the most handsome men in the room.” Lady Fairlie winked at Daniel.
“You flatter me, Lady Fairlie.” Daniel bowed deeply. Dear God, he couldn’t remember the last time he had blushed in company, yet his grandmother’s cronies could always make him feel like he was wet behind the ears.
“I want to thank you, Grandmother,” Daniel said as he gently steered her around the room seconds later. He wondered if she was nervous, because in truth he had not seen her dance in many years. “For this night, for helping Eva, but most of all for being the one constant in my life, the only person I could truly rely on,” Daniel added, realizing that it was, indeed, the truth. Shaking his head, he wondered if loving Eva was making him soft.
“I am proud of you, Grandson, proud of what you have become.”
Was that a tremor in her voice?
“But I will not be happy until you produce a great grandchild!”
Smiling over her head, he met his wife’s gaze and held it for several seconds before her partner turned her away. He would keep their secret for a while longer.
The night for Eva was both pleasure and pain. Pleasure at her acceptance and success with the hundreds of guests, pleasure at her husband’s and grandmother’s obvious pride in her, but dear Lord, her feet hurt and she was exhausted. Her slippers were far too tight and if she was going to get through the entire evening she would need to change them and soon. Realizing supper was only a few dances away, Eva knew she had to make her move now.
“If you will excuse me, Claire, I must see to something.”
“Shall I come with you?”
“No. I can mange and will return shortly.”
Eva skirted the room and slipped out of the ballroom.
“May I be of assistance, your Grace?”
Waving her hand vaguely at the footman who had appeared before her, Eva shook her head and walked toward the stairs. “I will return shortly,” she added over her shoulder as she started to climb.
Eva released a breath as the quiet enveloped her. She could still hear the music and soft rumble of voices but it was nice to be on her own. Daniel would not like that she had left the ballroom unescorted, but it was only briefly and she would have returned before he noticed her absence. Walking down several long hallways, she finally found her room. A lamp had been lit and the curtains drawn. Eva looked longingly at the bed but knew it would be some time before she could lie upon it. Kicking off her slippers, she sighed as her cramped toes stopped aching. Molly had packed several pairs of slippers in case the first pair was ruined in some way. At least Furban wasn’t here so she didn’t have to worry about his little teeth gnawing on the satin. Unfortunately, it was Daniel’s clothing and footwear that he chose to drag around the house, not hers. Yesterday, she had watched as he ran past, followed by a scowling valet, with one of Daniel’s neckties in his mouth.#p#分页标题#e#
“I am most pleased to have finally found you alone, your Grace.”
Eva watched in horror as Gilbert Huxley emerged from behind the curtains and walked toward her.
“I would ask you to leave this room at once, Lord Huxley!”
“I think not, your Grace. When I leave, you will be accompanying me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I would never leave my own ball.” Eva was pleased at how calm her voice sounded when inside her chest, her heart was thumping painfully.
“I didn’t say it would be voluntary, Berengaria. And much as I want to throw you upon that bed and rut you until you scream, we must leave now before your husband appears.”
Eva felt the color drain from her face. “He will kill you for this.”
“He will have to catch me first and with all the noise going on below, I fear we shall be well away from here before he even notices you’re missing.”
“No!” I will never leave with you,” Eva began edging toward the door.
“Unfortunately you will have little choice in the matter, my dear.”
Eva watched him walk toward her as one would a venomous snake. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because you have always belonged to me and I should never have listened to your father when I wanted to take your innocence. The duke may have been your first lover, Berengaria, but I will be your last.”