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She suddenly thought of the way he’d stared down at her when he’d caught her before she plummeted off her horse, and her heart did a funny little skip.
Damn him—he was already ruining things.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THEREWEREMANYaspects to Joshua’s state of mind of late that he abhorred. He didn’tlikebeing glum and distant. He hated that he was petulant with Miles when Miles only wanted to help him. He despaired that he could be so maudlin and terse, and that he’d chopped so much wood that his hands were callused.
But one thing he was not was a liar. And he would be lying if he said to himself or anyone else that the Princess of Wesloria was anything less than beautiful.
The woman who descended the stairs was the image of a woman that most men could only dream of. Suddenly, the things he’d heard about her in the village made sense—that she was a beauty, an angel, a dream,et cetera,et cetera,et cetera.
Funny he’d begun to notice this about her. He’d hardly looked at her at all when he’d thought her a farm woman, which, when he thought about it, made him question his capacity for observation in general. He’d studiously avoided her gaze at the picnic when her laugh had tinkled over the proceedings and her joie de vivrehad annoyed him. And he’d been so rattled when she nearly killed herself on the horse that he’d only been able to think of how fragile she was in spite of the many signs to the contrary.
One thing he had to admire about her—the princess knew how to make an entrance. Either on horseback or down a staircase, she aimed to be noticed. Tonight, she couldn’t have been more notable had she toppled over on the top step and rolled all the way down in a swirl of pink and green and landed with a splat.
Like everyone else crowded into this ballroom, he couldn’t take his eyes from her.
Her smile radiated to everyone as she came down on Iddesleigh’s arm, moving with an elegance and bearing that didn’t come naturally to most. He noticed male gazes fixed on her in lust, and female gazes fixed on her in admiration...and some in envy.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, Lady Aleksander was there with a string of people to introduce. He watched Princess Amelia move through the crowd, stopping every few feet, Lady Aleksander leaning in to introduce people, to make some remark for them. The princess smiled warmly and spoke to each one, and the people on the receiving end of that warmth seemed to melt a little. At least it seemed so to him. He watched her until the crowd had swallowed her and the only thing he could see of her was the tiara on top of her head.
Only then did he look at the champagne glass he held and realize it was empty.
It took him some time to find a servant, as everyone was angling for a look at the princess. When he at last had a fresh glass in hand, he realized there was some commotion on the dance floor. Ah—the princess was on the verge of embarking on her first dance. Joshua rose up on his toes to see who had been granted the plum spot of being the first on her dance card. He shook his head—of course it was Miles. Always perfect in situations like these, always knowing the very thing to do, how to proceed, how to get the evening truly underway.
Joshua moved around the crowd so that he could see them. Miles smiled charmingly, made small talk when the steps to the dance brought him and the princess together. He was the consummate gentleman, Joshua would give him that. In their youth, he’d been a reckless bachelor, taking small liberties on the dance floor that were certain to get him a smile or a slap.
When the dance ended, and the princess was swept into another dance with a new partner, Joshua retreated to a corner of the room to nurse his champagne. He was studying the floor in earnest when he heard a feminine voice say his name. He knew at once the voice...but he couldn’t think which female it belonged to.
He looked up and to his right, and his heart lurched.Sarah.How could he have not known instantly whose voice it was? He quickly straightened and looked around for some place to put the champagne, but finding nothing, turned back to her. “Sar—Lady Wexham.” He bowed.
She smiled warmly. “It’s Sarah. We’ve known each other too long to land on formality now.” She put her hand on his arm.
His whole body seized at her touch. He found it...uncomfortable. Her hand didn’t belong there. It hadn’t belonged there in a very long time, and he didn’t like that itwasthere.
“How are you, Joshua?” she asked softly. “I’ve heard that you...that perhaps you—”
“Had lost my mind?”
She moved her hand to her throat. “No.I heard that you were returned to Hollyfield.”
A kind little lie. “I am well, thank you. The rumors of my demise are merely rumors. You are obviously very well.” He glanced at her swollen belly. “Congratulations are in order. Your third, if I am not mistaken?”
Sarah dropped her hand to her belly and she ran her palm over it. “Yes, my third. We’re hoping for a girl this time.”
He couldn’t help but wonder if she’d ever lost a child before birth. If she knew the sort of pain that caused. “May God bless you.” An invisible hand went round his throat to choke him.May God bless you?What in damnation was he saying? He never spoke like that.
“Thank you.” She shifted slightly closer, her hand still protectively on her belly. “I’ve thought of you so often, you know. What you endured is unthinkable.”
It wasn’t unthinkable, actually—he’d thought about it endlessly.
“I wish there were words I could offer to soothe you.”
Soothehim? There were no words she could offer. The only words that would soothe him would be from Diana, and that was impossible. “It’s not necessary—you really mustn’t trouble yourself.”
“It’s just that I hope—”
“Marley!”
