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Andrew smiled to himself. Even though his mother clearly meant what she had said about being difficult that evening, all seemed to be going well so far. Rowena had even begun to relax, engaging more confidently in conversation with the two women who were speaking to her. Further down the table, Andrew saw Rowena’s sister looking at her with fond pride. Her mother, though looking tired, also appeared proud of Rowena. He was suddenly glad that he had agreed to the ball. That feeling did not last very long, however.
“Lord Eslbrook,” Viscount Worthingwood slurred from beside him, “I hope you haven’t forgotten what you promised.”
Andrew gave his future father-in-law a polite smile while inconspicuously glancing around to see if the viscount had attracted anyone else’s attention.
“Of course not,” he said. “I meant every word.”
“Good,” Lord Worthingwood said, his voice rising. “I’d hate to think that I ruined a perfectly good match for Rowena and a ten-year-long friendship for nothing.”
Andrew cleared his throat, trying to compose himself. Even before the viscount raised his wine glass to take a big, sloshing drink, he realized what was happening. Rowena’s father was deep in his cups, and Andrew had no doubt he would only get deeper still.
Fortunately, the only person who seemed to be paying the two of them any special attention was Edmund. He raised his eyebrows inquisitively at Andrew, who made a sour face and glanced sideways at the viscount.
“Not at all, Lord Worthingwood,” Andrew said, still trying to keep his tone calm and polite. “I can assure you—”
“That’s well and good,” the viscount said, louder still, “but I am unconvinced.”
Andrew was unsure of whether the viscount even knew what he was talking about. What he was sure of, however, was that his father-in-law was on the verge of making a scene. The man sitting across from the viscount had already glanced up with raised eyebrows. Andrew looked at Edmund with wide eyes, having no idea what to do.
Edmund hesitated for only a moment. Then, he gave Andrew a nod, quickly rising from his seat holding his wine glass and striking it lightly with his fork, gaining the company’s attention.
“If I may,” he said, smiling broadly around the table, “I would like to make a toast to the happy couple.”
The guests gave Edmund their full attention. Andrew raised his glass as Edmund began to give his speech, but he kept an eye on the viscount. He didn’t know what he would do if his future father-in-law disrupted the toast. But the last thing he wanted was for him to make a spectacle of himself. Rowena would be devastated, and Andrew would not stand for that.
Fortunately, Lord Worthingwood had lost interest in Andrew by that point. He seemed to have no interest in anything except the wine glass before him. It appeared to be almost empty, and Andrew was glad to see the servants were preparing to refill glasses after the toast had concluded. Edmund finished his speech and received his applause without incident, and Andrew breathed a sigh of relief.
When the guests returned to their meals, and the viscount returned silently to his freshened glass of wine, Andrew caught Edmund’s eye.
“Thank you,” he mouthed, giving his brother-in-law a grateful smile.
Edmund held up his hand with a kind smile and gave Andrew a small shake of his head. Then, he turned to Gemma, who had just said something to him animatedly. Andrew went back to picking at his own food. He kept stealing glances at Rowena and catching her looking at him.She is truly beautiful,he thought, despite his doubts.
When the dessert course ended, Lady Cresingdale announced the opening of the dance floor. Andrew was happy to abandon his untouched food and hurry to where Rowena sat. She looked a little nervous, so Andrew flashed her his most brilliant smile to reassure her.
“Shall we officially open this ball?” he asked. He knew they were expected to open with the waltz, and he couldn’t deny part of him was looking forward to it.
Rowena blushed, taking his arm as she rose from her chair.
“I suppose we must,” she said.
The guests waited to follow Andrew and Rowena into the ballroom. They made their way to the center of the floor as the orchestra played some preliminary bard while they waited for the couple to get into position. Andrew forced himself to not focus on the guests, who were watching them intently. Instead, he concentrated solely on his fiancée. He placed his hand on her lower back, took her hand in his, and when she laid her hand gently on his shoulder, tingles of desire ran up his spine. Suddenly, there was no one else in the room, just the two of them.
Then, the music began. Feeling as light as air, Andrew led his bride-to-be around the ballroom, twirling and twisting with her gracefully, united in the most scandalous dance known to man. His heart raced, and there was no denying the connection between them now. It was as powerful as lightning, and it threatened to take Andrew’s breath away.
As they danced, he realized he was at a crossroads. He had no idea what to do with his feelings for Rowena. He had tried to ignore, deny, and bury them ever since the very first time he’d noticed her beautiful smile. But as he gazed down at her sparkling eyes and the passionate flush in her cheeks, he could not deny it any longer. He was wildly in love with her.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Butterflies fluttered wildly in Rowena’s stomach as Andrew expertly guided her around the dancefloor. She hadn’t danced in many years before dancing with Andrew at Nancy’s party, and she had never put her lessons in the Waltz to use at all. But somehow, she found herself moving effortlessly across the floor with him. And the thrill of the dance and being so close to him, feeling his warm hands upon her, felt as natural as if she had been doing it her whole life.
As they danced, Rowena imagined she and Andrew were truly in love with each other. She envisioned a marriage that was a perfect love match between them. She imagined that, on their wedding day, they would share a sweet kiss of true love. The first of many. She conjured up thoughts of romantic picnics and more dances, just like the one they were sharing at that moment. And she imagined children running and playing about them while their parents looked lovingly into one another’s eyes.
When the dance ended, seemingly suddenly to Rowena, she couldn’t help feeling disappointed. And, though Andrew was smiling at her with flushed cheeks, she thought she saw disappointment in his eyes, as well.
But as he escorted her off the dance floor, she chided herself. It was just the lingering notions of the fantasy she’d indulged in. Andrew had made his intentions about their marriage contract clear. It would be her own fault if she anticipated more and was let down.
When she and Andrew reached her mother and Nancy, Andrew gave her another warm smile.
