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She smirked. “I didn’t say you looked breathtaking.”
“Ah,” he grinned back, “But it was implied in how I took your breath.”
The ensign who was with her cleared his throat loudly as if to remind them of his presence. She grimaced as Bertram huffed in amusement. “It is time for you to descend and greet your guests, my dear,” he said softly, holding out his arm to her. She looked back down at the courtyard and saw that it was relatively deserted. No doubt most of the guests had already arrived.
She handed the opera glasses to the ensign, took a deep breath and smiled at Bertram, taking his arm. “Lead the way, then.”
As they walked away from the balcony, Letty glanced at Bertram and smiled. “We match.” She pointed at his coat which although black, with gold insignias on the lapel, matched the black sash of her gown that cinched in her small waist. He smiled. “I am happy that I decided to wear the black coat and not the red, so that nothing will distract from your lovely visage. You were born to wear that gown, Miss Strange.” His eyes were alight with admiration as they traveled over her bare shoulders, and followed the line of the gown to her décolletage where they lingered quite deliberately.
“You will have more than one man envying me tonight,” he whispered.
She smiled, a little self-consciously. “I suppose…” she murmured for lack of something better.
Suddenly Bertram stopped. “There’s something missing, however,” he said.
She quirked an eyebrow at him as he stared at her naked throat. Suddenly he changed direction, heading for his chambers. “Come with me.”
She grinned slyly, “I thought we were not to do that until after the ceremony?”
He cut her a glance full of wry amusement but said nothing until they were inside his bedchamber. He released her arm. “Wait here,” he said as he crossed to his chest of drawers.
He opened the top drawer and reached for something inside it. He closed it and turned, the item clutched in his hand. He caught her eye as he approached, his own naked with some emotion she could not identify.
“Turn around,” he said.
She did as he said and was startled as his hands appeared before her, clutching a black velvet choker bearing a large emerald in the center. She gasped as he clasped it about her neck, her hand reaching up to touch it reverently.
“It belonged to Victoria. I have a feeling that she would want you to have it.”
Letty choked up, and swallowed a few times to stop herself from bursting into tears—she was so moved by his gesture. “I…th-thank you.”
He shook his head, “Don’t thank me—”
Before she could think about it, she swooped up and captured his lips with hers, swallowing his words as she kissed him. He stiffened for a moment but then he was kissing her back, his hands like iron bands around her waist. She could feel the entire hard length of him, pressing against her and all she wanted was to stay here with him—devil take the ball.
He pulled away from her, breathing hard. “We have to…go.”
She stared as he licked his lips, holding in the protest, trying to get her breathing back under control. “Y-yes you’re…you’re right. We need to go and…attend the ball.”
Bertram smiled before pressing his lips hard on hers. “Yes, we do.” He took her hand and tucked it into his arm before leading her out of his bedchambers. “Perhaps to be safe, we should ask Lady Fiennes to chaperone you until the wedding,” he murmured in her ear.
His words startled a loud laugh out of her. “Do you think that will suffice? Will you behave yourself because she is present?” she batted her eyelashes at him coquettishly.
“Willyou?” he eyeballed her closely as he smiled.
“Good God, no. I am an ill-mannered little imp at all times,” she declared proudly.
“Oh well…I suppose it was worth a try.” He didn’t sound too heartbroken about it and the next minute, the butler was announcing them.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, the Duke of Thybaut and his betrothed, Miss Jacqueline Letty Strange!” he gestured to them with flair as Bertram drew her into the light.
There was a gasp from below as she appeared at the top of the stairs and her eyes darted about, wondering where it had come from. She met many an envious glance from the women as well as admiring ones from the men and her self-consciousness increased.
Bertram squeezed her hand as he escorted her down the winding staircase and onto the ballroom floor. The orchestra began to play a song and he led her at once to the middle of the floor and began to propel her about in a waltz.
Her hands trembled with nerves and she was grateful for his hold on her back, keeping her upright. Her gown swirled around her as the light from the chandeliers bathed her in gold.
What a farce it all is, she thought.
