Chapter Nine
Jason met her on the third floor so they could descend the staircase together and be introduced to the ballroom. His eyes traveled the length of her, but he said nothing. She knew she looked different. She’d seen herself in the mirror. The dress was daring. A low-cut, square neckline accented her décolletage, and the bodice molded to her curves. It deviated from the fashion of the day, as it had no added ruffles or flounces; it simply flowed around her. Perhaps it was too much, too brazen.
“Do you like it?” she asked cautiously.
He swallowed visibly. “I do. Very much.”
She grew warm beneath the weight of his stare.
“I’m glad you are pleased.”
“Very much.” Then he gave his head a slight shake. “I already said that, didn’t I?”
“You did.” She took his outstretched hand. “You look rather dashing tonight, Jason.”
“I stand but in your shadow,” he said.
Her heart stuttered.
He led her forward to the staircase that would deposit them in the ballroom. But the closer they got, the more anxious she became. Panic seized her, and she froze.
“I can’t do this. I don’t know how to talk to such important people. They shall all be looking at me.” Judging me, and recognizing that I’m nothing more than an imposter.
“There is no one in that room more important than you or me. You are a princess. Moreover, you are a hero. Your quick thinking has helped remove the queen from danger.”
“No one in the room, save you, will know that,” she said.
“Yes, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t true.”
“I do not feel like a princess or a hero. I feel like a girl who was raised in a small school on the outskirts of town. Like a girl who never dared dream of balls or beautiful dresses.” Or a handsome husband.
“They are all people, just as we are.” He tilted her chin up so she met his gaze. “Isabel, breathe. You can do this, I promise.”
She looked away to the staircase that beckoned them forward. She shook her head.
“Isabel, look at me.” His voice was soft. Again, he pulled her chin to face him.
She reached up on her toes and kissed him. The moment his lips touched hers, calm spread through her. She backed away and gave him a tight nod. “All right, I’m ready.” She didn’t know why she felt stronger with him at her side, but it seemed to reinforce something in her.
“May I present to you Viscount and Viscountess Ellis,” the footman said loudly.
There was no turning back now.
Isabel had never given much thought to what she’d find attractive in a man, but now as she watched her husband move through the ballroom, she knew he stood out above the rest. Yes, there were other attractive men here, but Jason was different. Perhaps she was already biased in his favor, but no one moved as gracefully as he did. None of the other men walked with such purpose, such athleticism. Next to Jason, many of the other men seemed soft and uncoordinated.
Evie and Lilith had stayed close to her side once Jason had left to retrieve refreshments. They’d been whispering in her ears as they’d passed guests, giving her information on each. She’d spoken to so many people tonight she knew she’d never remember all their names, but in truth, she hadn’t felt too out of the fabric of the rest of the guests. This was her home, regardless of how she’d acquired it. No one here knew the truth about her marriage.
Of course, the evening wasn’t over yet. There was still plenty of time for her to trip over something and fall on her face. Her mother-in-law, Genny, as she’d insisted on being called, picked the perfect moment to come and be at her side since Lords Somersby and Lynford had come to collect their respective partners for the dance.
“You’re doing quite well,” Genny said.
“I am surviving, and I haven’t managed to do anything too embarrassing,” Isabel said.
“Nonsense. You’re being positively lovely. I saw you charm Lady Bentley, and she doesn’t like anyone.” Genny gave her a conspiratorial wink.
Isabel laughed. “She seemed rather impressed that I was a princess.”
“Yes, good breeding is of upmost importance to Lady Bentley.” Genny linked their arms, and they strolled to an open part of the room, giving Isabel a perfect glimpse of Jason as he stood at the refreshment table.
“And you are doing an excellent job of appearing to love my son. It shines all over your face.”
Isabel felt her face grow warm. Was she that obvious? Had Jason seen it, too?
“I know that my son is a tough nut to crack, as it were, but I also know it will be worth the effort.”
Isabel met Genny’s gaze and found the same blue eyes as Jason’s. And, as if Genny could read her thoughts, she said, “You are precisely the woman to do it. Be patient, and don’t give up on him.”
Isabel clenched her jaw against the tears she felt well in her eyes. She took a steadying breath and nodded. Isabel knew one thing for certain, Jason was never going to see their marriage as real, and therefore never fall in love with her, until she was his wife in every sense of the word.
…
Jason had been congratulated enough tonight for six lifetimes. He was tired of smiling and saying “thank you.” He wasn’t, however, tired of looking at his wife. She was stunning. Everyone noticed, and he’d be a liar if he said that he wasn’t enjoying the fact that the entire crowd was staring at her. He’d left her briefly to go and fetch refreshments, but she was safe from any would-be gossips with Evie and Lilith flanking her. He poured two glasses of lemonade.
“Can you imagine what that must be like? To not know you’re a princess?” a girl’s voice said from behind him.
“I think I’d know if I were royalty,” another replied.
“Well, if someone showed up tomorrow and told me I was a long-lost princess, I would buy everything in this town. People everywhere would quickly lose interest in Victoria, because I would be far more entertaining.”
“You are ridiculous,” the other girl said.
“Tell me you would not want all new clothes and such.”
Jason rolled his eyes and bit his tongue so he would not hand out a nasty response. Isabel was most assuredly not like the other women in this town. He suspected that these two were not the only ones who would have spent every penny he had upon discovering they were royalty. But Isabel had been uncomfortable with such gifts and shows of wealth. She was one of a kind.
He brought her the lemonade but had to hand the glass quickly to a footman as the final waltz began. “This is our dance, my dear.” He bowed to her, then swept her into his arms and onto the dance floor.
Isabel felt stiff in his arms as they moved around the room. Her eyes had a glazed look, as if being the center of everyone’s attention was making her slightly panicked.
“Isabel,” he murmured in a low voice. When she didn’t meet his gaze, he gave her waist a light squeeze to get her attention. “You might want to breathe now and again.”
Finally, her eyes met his. “I’m sorry.” But then her lips curved in gentle amusement. “Was I not breathing?”
“No.”
“It’s just that I didn’t expect everyone to be watching us.”
“You might be less nervous if we make conversation instead of concentrating on dancing.”
“Yes, I suppose that might work, and you are much more accomplished at that when there are others around,” she said.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I meant only that you ignore me much of the time, but then when we have an audience, you dutifully play the doting husband.” She patted his shoulder. “It is understandable. That is the relationship we have, but it does make me wonder which of the Jasons I’ve seen is the real one.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You are wickedly charming when you want to be, were exceedingly giving and friendly before we wed. And then, since I became your wife, you all but ignore me unless someone else is in the room,” she said.
“We are not having this conversation now.”
“Yes, we are, because were there not all these people here, you would have already walked away. Besides, you are the one who said we should talk while we danced.”
He wanted to argue, but he knew she was right, and she was right about his behavior. It was no wonder that she was confused. He’d behaved as if he were at least three different men.
“It’s complicated,” he said.
“That’s stupid.”
Two couples danced close to them, so they stopped talking and smiled at the other dancers.
“Perhaps I’ll be able to explain it to you someday,” he said, hoping to placate her.
“Until then I simply have to endure this behavior? Not knowing whom I’ll be with on any given day, or even if you’ll speak to me? That is unfair.”
“I know.”
“I wish it were as easy for me to turn off aspects of my character. It must make things simpler,” she said.
“Isabel, I am not a different person than the one you first met. Everything you’ve seen is me. Perhaps not all the most flattering parts of me.”
“You are hot and cold with me. One moment kissing me as if I’m the only woman you could desire, and the next speaking to me as if we’d only just met. I know I’m naive, but I can’t believe this is how marriages work.”
“No.” He met her gaze. “Never for a moment doubt that I desire you, Isabel.” He probably shouldn’t have told her that, but she’d had such pain in her voice. He could only torment her so much. Not to mention the torment he endured. He would not be able to resist her forever. He’d come to terms with that; he need only prevent her from getting with child.
…
Isabel should be exhausted. The ball had lasted way into the night, but now that she had resolved to seduce her husband, she found herself energized and fully alert. She took several deep breaths, eyeing herself in the mirror. Gone seemed to be the girl from St. Bart’s and before her a new creature. The thin gauzy shift shimmered over her body, hinting at her curves but not revealing them. She’d taken her hair down and allowed it simply to hang about her shoulders in thick dark curls. She could do this. She was his wife, he her husband. Their marriage would not be completely legal, therefore she would not be completely safe, until they’d consummated it.
She shivered at the thought of Jason’s hands on her skin. The kiss they’d shared the other day had nearly had her crawling onto his lap, and she could scarcely imagine what it would be like if he unleashed all his passion on her. He desired her; he’d told her as much at their wedding ball.
They hadn’t married under normal circumstances. Even the standard London marriages brought equal assets to both parties: a wealthy heiress got a better title and standing in Society, whereas the penniless earl filled his coffers once again. But Jason had married her simply to prevent her from marrying someone else to protect her and his country, likely not in that order. And perhaps he’d needed time to grow accustomed to such a situation. They might have a passionless marriage, but even if only for this one night, he needed to make it real.
She took one last glance at herself, then rolled her eyes and headed for the door.