“Let others join in!” cried the Prince Regent. At that, people quickly paired up and the Bow Room was soon filled with dancing couples.
With all the attention no longer focused just on them, Erika let her gaze settle and remain on Christian. “You have become quite the adept dancer. I thought you were not one for the waltz.”
“I wasn’t, but Anna made me see sense. Once I understood the appeal of the dance and how one could hold a young lady close without being beaten around the ears by her mamma, I took to it with gusto.”
Erika chuckled. “Gusto? You really are becoming quite the Englishman with your language.”
“I think it’s Italian in origin, but I must say it is an excellent word. I have used it several times this week,” he replied.
They followed the rest of the twirling couples as they spun around the room. By the time the waltz was finally coming to an end, Erika’s body was quite warm. Her cheeks were flushed.
Christian spun her into one last turn. Erika was still praying it would last forever when he set her gently down. He bent, and for just a heartbeat, she thought he might kiss her. She drew in a deep breath, taking in the manly scent of his woody cologne.
Please kiss me properly. I don’t care who sees. I just want you. My handsome prince.
While everyone else applauded the orchestra, Christian smiled. He dropped a kiss on Erika’s cheek and the illusion shattered.
“Thank you. I think everyone was delighted with our performance,” he said.
She bit her bottom lip hard, trying to stifle her rising sense of disappointment. Of course, it had all been for show. Even the kiss. Everything tonight had been in aid of the trade agreement talks.
When Christian reached back and attempted to take her hand once more, Erika stepped away. “I need to go to the ladies retiring room. Please excuse me.”
Blinking back tears, Erika headed for the grand staircase. Her heart had spoken too loudly tonight and for a moment she, like almost everyone else at the ball, had believed the glittering love-story fairy tale.
She needed some time alone to get her thoughts together, to quietly remind herself of her and Christian’s agreement.
This was a fake engagement with one rule only.
Don’t fall in love.
OceanofPDF.com
Chapter Twenty-Two
The change in Erika’s demeanor once she returned to the main gathering in the Corinthian Room was obvious to Christian. Her easy smile was gone—in its place was wariness. She spent little time with him over the next few hours, only coming to stand with him when it was required.
It was a little after three in the morning and Christian had just finished a long discussion with the French ambassador, René-Eustache. He was grateful to be able to have spent time conversing in a language in which he was fluent.
It was apparent she was struggling. She may have just been tired, but there was something in her manner which had him politely making his apologies and leaving the ambassador. “It was an honor to talk to you this evening. Would you please excuse me? I must speak with my fiancée.” He hurried over.
Erika barely gave him a glance as he came to her side. Something was most certainly wrong. “Erika are you ill?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No. Just exhausted. These things always take so much energy out of me. By now Pappa and I have usually made our farewells and gone home. I think this is the longest I have ever stayed at a party in London.”
Christian turned and made a quick check of the room. The Prince Regent had disappeared several hours ago and retired to his private rooms upstairs along with a handful of select guests, most of them members of his family. At this late hour it was unlikely that he would return. The remaining guests were well into their cups and had settled into smaller groups discussing more mundane and trivial matters. Whatever ground the Swedes had already made tonight in their efforts to secure the trade deal, little more would be gained by them remaining.
The last time he had spied Count Jansson and Baron von Rehausen, they had been in the conservatory, deep in conversation with several representatives of the United States government. One of the Americans apparently had family in Sweden and the four gentlemen were bonding over a shared appreciation of vodka.
There was no need for Christian and Erika to remain.
“I shall have our carriage brought around to the front. I am sure the count can find his way home with the von Rehausens when they are ready to depart. It is but a short walk from their house to ours,” he said.
She gave his suggestion the barest of nods. “Alright, if you think it is appropriate for us to leave. I am not exactly sure what the protocol is here. I know at home you don’t leave until the royal party has officially departed, but that doesn’t appear to be the case here.”
Christian motioned to a nearby footman who immediately hastened over and bowed.
“Would you please make your way to the conservatory and inform Count Jansson that Countess Erika and I have departed for home,” he said.
