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Even through the lingering fog of inebriation, he knew he’d sulked long enough.
“You look ravishing,” said Percy.
She knew he meant it. The deep-lilac silk was a perfect complement to her coloring, as were the amethysts adorning her neck, wrists, and ears. She had worn this gown specifically for him, knowing his love of the color. Her hair was piled high in his favorite style, too, with cascading curls down her back.
“You look rather charming, yourself,” she said, inspecting his attire with approval. His jacket was an exquisite confection of violet silk with velvet trim in a deeper shade, picked with gold embroidery and tiny diamonds. Layer upon layer of frothy lace spilled from his neck and cuffs, too.
He looked like a perfect fairy-tale prince—and if ever she had need of one, it was now. Tonight was the dreaded Pembroke ball. She would have to face Henry and his family one last time.
Percy had tried to convince her it was unnecessary to attend, but she insisted on going. She had to attend, if only to prove to Henry that she was truly happy.
The affection in Percy’s eyes changed to wariness as his gaze shifted above her shoulder. “Good evening, Countess.”
Sabrina turned, astonished to see her mother descending the stair. She was dressed in mauve silk, diamonds, and pearls. “I thought you weren’t coming?”
Her mother smiled, shaking her head and setting the diamonds at her ears to swinging. “I never said I was not. I wouldn’t miss the second most important ball of the Season. Not even under the circumstances.”
An hour later, Sabrina strove to exude confidence as they entered Pembroke’s grand ballroom. All of London was salivating in anticipation, she knew. Tonight would provide grist for the gossip mill no matter what happened.
Percy was a solid comfort at her elbow as her friends greeted her with undisguised wonderment. Clearly, no one had expected her to show her face here.
Eugenia came at once and appropriated her arm. “Lady Bidewell has just let slip that her daughter will wed Lord Fairford on June twenty-fourth—the day before your wedding,” she said. “The spiteful cow is deliberately trying to upstage you.”
Sabrina could not care less which day Miss Bidewell chose, but for her sister’s sake, she made a show of concern. “I wonder how she could have known. We have not yet publicly announced the date. Mama only ordered the invitations last week. Perhaps it was merely chance that made her select that day.”
“Ha!” Eugenia said, scoffing. “There are a limited number of calligraphers in London. I’d be willing to wager she made inquiries and bribed the one Mama hired to give her the date. I also heard that she hired the same couturier.”
“At Mama’s recommendation, no doubt,” Sabrina cut in, trying to calm her. “She was helping Lady Bidewell with her daughter’s launch, remember?”
Eugenia crossed her arms stubbornly. “Even so, it is unconscionable that she should infringe so upon your plans in this manner.” Suddenly, her narrowed eyes grew as round as saucers.
Sabrina’s heart began to pound. She turned, and there he was.
“May I have the honor, my lady?” asked Henry, holding out his hand.
Her head dipped in acquiescence before her mouth could decline. She could not refuse the host, in any case, she reasoned. And this would be the last time they ever danced.
She scarcely felt the ground beneath her feet for the insistent drumming in her veins. Everything that had dimmed and dulled into an endless landscape of blurred grey over the past several weeks sprang back into vivid color and clarity. Every nerve in her body was alive and possessed by longing.
“You are unhappy,” he said simply.
“I would not be if you would simply leave me alone,” she said with heat. “Henry, please. You must understand that I cannot just—”
“Trust in my love?” he supplied. “I do love you, Sabrina. Surely you must know it by now.”
All at once, her eyes filled. Love. The one word her heart wanted so badly to believe in, to trust in—and couldn’t.
“Marry me, Sabrina,” he urged. “Say yes, and I will make you the happiest woman on earth. I swear on my very life that I will never betray you.”
His midnight eyes were so earnest, so intense and full of feeling. The thought of them dulling over the years as his love for her turned into resigned tolerance—or worse—was unbearable.
“I cannot,” she choked out as the music drew to a close. Disengaging, she turned and forced herself to walk away from him.
She must find Percy and leave. Immediately. The border was only a few days’ ride away. It took a while to locate her affianced. She walked into the room, the estate’s office of all places, just as he was filling his glass. Her relief on seeing him was like a cool bath. “Thank heaven I finally found you.”
Percy downed the liquor and then plunked the empty crystal goblet on the mantelpiece.
Coming right up to him, she placed her hands on his che
