Page 57 of A Game of Hearts

“The Valentine’s lottery wasn’t truly random, was it?”

“My dear Miss Everton, what a shocking suggestion.” But his smile widened. “Though I must say, everything has worked out rather as I hoped. Even the... complications... only served to prove what was real.”

As the set ended, Emma saw Nathaniel speaking quietly with the musicians. Her heart quickened - the supper dance would begin soon. Whatever he had planned... She turned away, and went towards Lady Beatrice, determined to trust…

“Miss Everton.” His voice behind her made her turn. “Might I partner you for supper?”

“Of course, my Lord.”

But instead of leading her towards the supper room, he drew her to the centre of the ballroom. The musicians began to play - not the usual country dance, but a waltz. A waltz that seemed somehow familiar...

“The same music that they played that first night,” Nathaniel said softly. “When the lottery paired us together. Though this time...” He reached up and removed his mask. “This time I want no barriers between us.”

A hush fell over the ballroom. Emma’s hands trembled as she removed her own mask, aware of every eye upon them. Nathaniel took both her hands in his, his expression more open than she had ever seen it.

“When I arrived at this house party,” he said, his voice carrying clearly in the silence, “I thought that I knew everything about proper behaviour. About what mattered in life. I was wrong.” His smile held such tenderness that it made her heart ache. “You showed me that real propriety comes from caring, not rules. That trust matters more than appearances. That love... love is worth any risk.”

Emma’s breath caught as he bowed deeply before her, still holding one of her hands. The he rose, and met her eyes. Everything else seemed to fade away in that moment – she was captivated.

“Miss Emma Everton, you have taught me to trust, to feel, to hope. Will you do me the very great honour of becoming my wife?”

Tears spilled down Emma’s cheeks as she looked into his beloved face - no masks, no barriers, just truth between them.

“Yes,” she whispered, then louder, “Yes.”

The ballroom erupted in applause as Nathaniel drew her close, lifting their joined hands. His kiss was perfectly proper, just a brief touch of his lips to her hand, but his eyes promised so much more.

“Well!” The Duke’s voice held satisfaction. “I believe that this calls for a celebration. To supper, everyone! Though perhaps we might dispense with masks for the rest of the evening?”

*****

Emma sat beside Nathaniel at supper, her heart still racing from his proposal. The Duke had arranged their seating perfectly - her aunt across from them, Lord James and Lady Beatrice to either side, creating a bubble of understanding around their newfound joy.

She was betrothed. The thought kept sweeping through her, making her fingers tremble slightly as she lifted her glass. Not just betrothed, but betrothed to a man who had learned to balance strength with tenderness, rules with feeling. Who had transformed himself not because she demanded it, but because he had discovered what truly mattered.

Every time she glanced at him, she found him already watching her, his expression holding a warmth that made her breath catch, and warmth fill her. The rigid mask of propriety had vanished completely, replaced by genuine joy that lit his entire countenance.

“I believe,” he said softly, for her ears alone, “that I have never been so happy in my life.”

“Even though everyone is watching?”

She couldn’t help teasing him gently about his former obsession with appearances.

“Let them watch.” His smile held both tenderness and triumph. “Let them see that true happiness comes from trust, not rules. From letting oneself feel deeply rather than maintaining perfect control.”

Emma’s heart swelled.

This was the real Nathaniel - the man she had glimpsed beneath his rigid exterior from the start. The man who could command a ship through storms yet spend hours crafting a delicate mask just to show her that he understood.

Around them, conversation flowed easily. She caught fragments of plans being discussed - her aunt and the Duchess already talking of wedding preparations, Lord James teasing his brother about finally getting something right, Lady Beatrice glowing with shared happiness.

But mostly she was aware of Nathaniel beside her, of how their fingers kept finding ways to touch as they passed dishes or reached for glasses. Each brief contact sent sparks through her entire body, making her wonder how she would survive the weeks until their wedding with any composure at all.

*****

Nathaniel could scarcely focus on his food, so caught was he by the joy in Emma’s expression every time she looked his way. His heart felt too full for his chest, expanding with each smile, each brush of her fingers against his.

He had planned the proposal carefully - the music from their first meeting, the removal of masks to show complete honesty, the words that he had practiced a hundred times. Yet in the moment, different words had come, springing from his heart rather than careful preparation.