The Andersons’ townhouse was larger and grander than anything Emery had seen before. While Lucien’s townhouse wasalso large and beautiful, it was clear to her, once she entered the Andersons’, that her husband had been saving money over the years and not spending on things such as the most lavish decorations a person could buy. The Andersons, however, seemed to have all the money in the world. At least, they liked to spend it on balls.
As she entered the entrance hall, Emery couldn’t help but stare at everything she saw.
“It’s so beautiful!” Leah whispered to her, also gazing around in wonder. “Look! They have marble statues of Greek goddesses in the hall!”
“And they’re covered in ivy,” Emery whispered back, marveling.
“It’s even more surreal than I ever could have imagined,” Leah said, and her hand found Emery’s. “I’m nervous.”
“I know,” Emery murmured back, “but you will be wonderful. Just you wait and see.”
She glanced around at her husband, only to find him greeting an elderly lady with a kind face.
“Ahh, Aunt Wilhelmina, it is so wonderful of you to meet us here,” Lucien said, embracing the woman. “You remember my younger sister Leah, do you not?”
“Leah? Ahh, yes, she was but a girl when last we met!” The woman, Wilhelmina, turned to Leah and curtsied. “You look very beautiful, Lady Leah.”
“Aunt Wilhelmina!” Leah could not hide her surprise. “My brother didn’t tell me you would be here tonight. It has been too long!”
She let go of Emery’s hand and went to her aunt, taking her hands in hers and kissing both her cheeks. “You must tell me how my cousins are! Are they still rascals?”
“Not at all,” Aunt Wilhelmina laughed. “They are all grown up and have children of their own now!”
“What is this?” Emery whispered, moving closer to Lucien. “You didn’t tell me that a relative of yours would be meeting us at the ball tonight.”
“Did I not?” Lucien looked innocent enough, but Emery still narrowed her eyes. She had a feeling that he was feigning innocence. “Ahh yes, I suppose I forgot to tell you. But it is no matter. She is just here to act as chaperone to Leah.”
“Chaperone?” Emery stared at him. “But I am supposed to be Leah’s chaperone. Wasn’t that one of the agreements of our marriage, that I should watch over her during her first Season?”
“And so you shall,” Lucien said, smiling at her in a decidedly wicked way. “For the rest of the Season. But tonight, I wantedsomeone else to be here to chaperone Leah so that you could focus on enjoying your first ever ball.”
“But--” Emery blanched, unsure of what to say. It was the kindest, most thoughtful thing someone had ever done for her, and she was speechless.
Lucien looked as if he knew exactly what she was thinking, and he grinned wickedly. “Now you shall have to dance the night away, instead of following Leah around, making introductions, and trying to keep her out of trouble.”
“But aren’t you worried about her?”
“Of course I’m worried. But Aunt Wilhelmina raised three sons and five daughters. She knows how to take care of young ladies and how to ward off ill-intentioned gentlemen.”
Emery licked her lips. She was suddenly even more nervous. She had thought that tonight she would be looking after Leah, not dancing or socializing on her own. And while she much preferred the latter, she also felt afraid.What if I make a fool of myself?
“Just stay close to me,” her husband said, putting a protective hand on her lower back. “I will show you how to enjoy yourself at a London ball.”
“And how does one do that?” she asked, genuinely curious.
Lucien smiled. “By dancing with me, of course.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“You have come a long way as a dancer,” Lucien said as he steered Emery around the dancefloor. It was the waltz, of course, and Emery couldn’t believe that she was finally dancing it, in a ballroom full of beautiful, fashionable people, and in the arms of a man she--well, a man she admired greatly.
She smiled shyly at her husband. “Thank you. I have been practicing all week.”
He looked mildly surprised. “When did you find the time? We have been flat out with social engagements.”
“Leah and I practiced every night before bed,” Emery admitted. “We wanted to be perfect.”
“Well, you’re doing very well,” he said. “Better even than the last night at Dredford Castle.”
