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Abruptly, Rosaline felt Chloe’s hand on her wrist, pulling her into a curtsy.
“Lord Gloucester, this is my good friend Miss Rosaline Baker. She is a seamstress here at the estate and helps me with the Duchess’ gowns.”
“You helped make these creations?” Lord Gloucester seemed impressed as he offered Rosaline a rather deep bow.
When hearing I am just a seamstress, why is he bowing so deeply?
Rosaline would not have blamed him for turning his nose up at her at this revelation. She was sure many a gentleman here would have done, yet Lord Gloucester didn’t.
“They are all Chloe’s designs, of course. I mean, Miss Green’s.” Rosaline hurried to correct herself, knowing in formal company that she should use Chloe’s proper address. “But yes, I help as a seamstress. I must confess how lucky I feel tonight to be here, my lord.”
“You do?” the Earl said with a smile. If Rosaline wasn’t mistaken, he found amusement in the ball as he looked around it.
“Of course.” Rosaline nodded eagerly. “Never have I been to such an event before. I do not think I have ever witnessed such beauties, such…grandeur!” Something about what she said made that lovely smile flicker a little wider. Rosaline found herself staring at him some more, quite entranced.
“In my experience, Miss Baker, it is the people that can make these events special, rather than the grandeur.” He spoke as if they were alone, in a whisper, sharing a great secret, quite ignoring Chloe was beside them. Rosaline offered him a quizzical look, one he must have understood, for he went on. “As much as it pains me to say it, not all of these events are as fun as they should be.”
“Oh, I hope this one turns out to be,” Rosaline said excitedly. This was to be her one and only ball. Never would she be so fortunate to be invited to something like this again, so she intended to make the most of it.
“Have no fear, Rosaline.” Chloe seemed to inch back a little as she spoke. “As Lord Gloucester here has said, these events are made wondrous by the people in attendance, and I have no doubt the Duke and Duchess have invited many fine friends here tonight.”
Rosaline nodded, though in truth, she didn’t one look away from Lord Gloucester. He seemed to be staring at her too, just as openly.
Does he feel this too?
Rosaline had heard of such things before.Attraction…That deep feeling of being drawn to another, yet never had she thought she could be so attracted to a gentleman she had just met. Perhaps there was something in the way he spoke too, this deep voice and the way he whispered to her, sharing secrets. It all made her long to know him better.
“Ahem.” Chloe cleared her throat. Rosaline snapped her eyes to Chloe, noticing the rather amused smile Chloe was trying to bite down on.
Oh no, she can see it!
“Lord Gloucester, I know Rosaline here was eager to dance tonight, so that she could enjoy the event to its fullest.” Chloe’s words were not subtle. Rosaline felt a wave of embarrassment and widened her eyes, but it did little to stop Chloe’s question. Rosaline feared her cheeks would soon be as red as her hair.
“Well, I’d be keen to be your first dance partner of the night, Miss Baker, if you would do me the honor?” Lord Gloucester offered Rosaline his hand.
He wishes to dance with me?
Rosaline struggled to find the words, yet her body acted of its own accord. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she supposed a part of her thought it might look odd to others, that a seamstress was dancing with an earl, but when it was this earl offering to dance with her, everything seemed verynaturalabout the idea.
“I would love that, my Lord,” Rosaline said, finding her voice as Lord Gloucester drew her toward the dancefloor.
As they approached the other dancers, Rosaline grew aware of Lord Gloucester stealing as many glances at her as she did him. The attraction was mutual, it was plain not just in those looks but in the touch of their hands, feather light, as if the very tips of a feather were brushing her hand.
When they reached the dancefloor and parted, ready to bow and curtsy, Rosaline was quite breathless. She couldn’t help feeling that this moment changed things. It wasn’t just the attraction that burned there, but the meeting in itself.
I hope Lord Gloucester stays in my life.
The music began and they bowed and curtsied. When the music struck up a waltz, Rosaline felt herself taken into his arms, with one light hand on her waist and the other taking her palm.
“Well, I did not think I would be so fortunate as to have a dance partner such as you tonight, Miss Baker,” Lord Gloucester said as he began the dance.
“How strange, my Lord, I was just thinking the same about you.”
He smiled, that lovely smile again that made her heart beat harder, then all effort was devoted to their dance and the touch of their hands grew stronger.
Chapter 1
Rosaline
