MARK HEADED BACK to the parlor to find his sister and brother-in-law and several other guests who had already arrived. Jessica smiled and made her way to him, kissing him on the cheek. “There you are.”

“Hi. Is Travis okay?”

“He’s fine, why?”

“He was ready to kill me not long ago.” Mark glanced at him, and although Travis didn’t necessarily smile at him, he also didn’t appear to want to kill him.

“It’s all good now,” she assured him. “Where have you been?”

“Catching up with Emma.”

“Cool.” She linked her arm with his. “I don’t see your girlfriend yet.”

“Jess.” Mark sighed. “You and Emma are going to get me in trouble.”

Jessica giggled. “I knew I liked her for more than one reason.”

* * *

Gabby stared at herself in the mirror. Evaline had swept her blonde hair away from her face, rather than parting it in the middle and the look softened her features. Victoria had suggested it once, and Gabby had loved the effect. She wore an older gown... perhaps not old, per se... but old to her, and she worried it wasn’t her best. She wanted to look better than ever tonight. “I’m not sure this is right, Eva.”

“You look beautiful, Gabrielle,” Evaline assured her. “The blue in the gown matches your eyes, and even if it didn’t, I don’t think Mr. Battaglia would notice.”

“Do you think so?”

“Absolutely. He asked you to sit with him at dinner after just a short visit, and you weren’t wearing an evening gown then.”

“I suppose that’s true,” Gabby said reluctantly.

Evaline clapped her hands. “I cannot wait for tonight.”

“And why’s that?” Gabby asked as she secured her earrings.

“Since it’s just family and close friends, everyone’s invited to dance. Even the servants.”

“Truly?” Gabby looked at Evaline in the mirror. “Is that something Captain Ford decided?”

“Yes. John told me.”

“Oh, I’m so glad.” Gabby smiled. “I hate when you have to miss out.”

“I know,” Evaline said.

“We can sit together in the ballroom.”

“Only if we aren’t segregated and I can act as your maid.”

“I know the rules, Evaline,” Gabby said a little more irritably than she meant to. Evaline widened her eyes and Gabby shook her head. “Sorry. I’m just nervous.”

“I can see that.”

“What if I say something he finds objectionable?”

Evaline shrugged. “How is that different than any other man you’ve ever had a conversation with?”

“I don’t know,” Gabby admitted. “There’s just something different about him. He’s so... ah... kind.”

“To me.”

“Well, yes. To you. But it’s more than that. He said he wanted to be your friend.”

“My friend?” Evaline scoffed. “What would I do with white man as a friend?”

Gabby chuckled. “I admitted you were my friend and he said, ‘Then, she will be my friend as well,’ or something like that. I don’t know. He seemed to mean it.”

Evaline helped Gabby with her necklace. “Well, you just keep your guard up and let your brain guide you. You’ll be fine.”

Gabby licked her lips and pinched her cheeks. “I will.”

A knock at the door brought Theodore holding Gabby’s cloak and gloves. “We’re waiting on you, Gabby.”

Gabby took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”

Her brother assisted her with her outerwear and then followed her downstairs and to the foyer where Richard and Charity, along with Victoria and Quincy, waited.

“You look beautiful,” Victoria said.

Gabby smiled in relief. “Thank you.”

“I love your hair.”

“Your idea.”

Victoria giggled. “Well, I’m a genius then.”

“Are we waiting for Christopher and Hannah?” she asked.

“They’re staying in tonight,” Victoria said. “Hannah’s not feeling well.”

“Oh, nothing serious, I hope.”

“Just a headache.”

“Where’s Jake?” Gabrielle asked.

“He’s already next door.” Quincy pulled open the door. “Shall we?”

Gabby nodded and followed the rest of the group from the house. The night was free from snow, but she still appreciated the carriage waiting to take them two houses away.

* * *

Mark was standing with Clayton and Emma, along with Sam and Rayne, when the temperature in the room changed from the cold air in the foyer. His focus was drawn to the parlor doors where the rest of the group greeted the new arrivals. The Butlers, along with Richard and Charity Madden, shook hands and hugged Sophie and Jamie while Mark stood in awe of the vision in blue.

Gabrielle wore a deep-blue velvet gown, the front chaste even by nineteenth-century standards, but low enough to hint at the bounty that was hidden inside. She saw him and her eyes widened and then lowered, her cheeks brightening to a stunning shade of pink.

“And he’s gone,” Emma said.

“Hmm?” He glanced at his friend and then back at Gabrielle. “What?”

Emma chuckled. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go greet your future wife.”

Mark followed Clayton and Emma to the new arrivals.

“No Chris and Hannah?” Emma asked Victoria.

“She’s not feeling well.”

Emma frowned. “Is she okay? It’s not like her to miss a party, and she seemed fine before I walked over.”

“She just needs some sleep, I think.” Victoria smiled. “Check on her tomorrow. I bet she’ll be raring to go.”

As niceties continued, Mark smiled and tried to be patient while he waited for his turn with Gabrielle. Then she stood before him and the world came into focus again. He raised her gloved hand and kissed it. “Good evening, Miss Butler. You look lovely.”

“Thank you, Mr. Battaglia,” she said, and he raised an eyebrow. “Mark,” she amended in a whisper.

“May I retrieve you something to drink?”

“Oh, yes. Sherry, please.”

Mark nodded and made his way to a side table where drinks were lined up. He couldn’t help but watch her out of the corner of his eye as she was escorted around the room by her brother, greeting other guests. She truly was magnificent.

He grabbed a glass of sherry and one of whiskey and headed back toward her. She blushed as he handed her the glass.

“Thank you,” she said.

“My pleasure.”

They weren’t able to converse, as dinner was announced and the guests filed back to the ballroom, where several tables had been set up. Mark had managed to escort Gabby without her brother objecting, but was disappointed to find they weren’t at the same table.

“I asked Sophie to seat us together,” Mark said.

“You did?”

Mark nodded. “I can’t imagine she’d have forgotten. We discussed it barely an hour ago.”

“Theo,” Gabby complained.

“I’m sorry?” Mark leaned closer, not quite understanding what she meant.

“My brother would have instigated this.” She frowned. “He’d have made sure the name cards were put where he wanted them.”

“Oh, really?” Mark raised an eyebrow. “How are you with subterfuge?”

She smiled. The first relaxed one she’d given him since they met. “I’m well-versed in the art.”

“Excellent. You distract your brother and I’ll take care of the seating.”

Mark grabbed the card with his name on it, slid it into his pocket, and headed toward the far table, where Theo and Gabby had been assigned to sit. He replaced Theo’s card with his, slipped Theo’s in his old place, then rejoined Gabby.

“Miss Butler, may I escort you to your seat?” he asked.

“I’ll do that. She’s sitting with me,” Theo said.

“Is she? How strange. I was certain I saw her name right next to mine,” Mark said. “I noticed it when I located my chair.”

Gabrielle grinned and slid her hand into the crook of Mark’s arm. “How fortuitous.”

“Yes. Quite.”

Mark chuckled as he led Gabrielle to their table.

“He’s going to be so angry,” Gabby said, stifling a giggle.

“Will he?”

“Yes, he’s already scowling at me.”

“How angry will he be?” he asked in concern.

“There might be some raised voices,” she admitted.

Mark laid his hand over hers. “He wouldn’t harm you, though, would he?”

“No, never. My brother may be a lot of things, but an abuser of women, he is not.”

Mark held her chair for her and waited until she was settled before standing behind his. Once all the women in the room were settled, he took his seat. Mark realized how much harder it was to relax during a nineteenth-century meal as he made small talk with the rest of the group seated around him. Stephen Paxton and his wife, Christine, were to Mark’s left, which helped.

He followed Stephen’s lead with the pacing of the language, but wished he’d studied more about the Harrisburg area, rather than a general overview of the war. Most of the conversation was lost on him, and he listened more than he spoke.

“Is anything amiss?” Gabrielle asked.

“No, why?”

“You’ve said little.”

“I’m simply observing.” Mark smiled. “How has your day been?”

“Quiet.”

“Is that a good thing?”

Gabrielle gave a little shrug. “I suppose it depends on the day. If the weather had been better, and my brother would allow it, I would have loved to ride.”

“Does he often stop you?”

“No. He actually doesn’t.” She sighed. “I’ve made him sound like an ogre, haven’t I?”

“I don’t know if it’s quite as severe as ‘ogre.’”

“He’s been meeting with Christopher and Clayton quite a bit since we arrived, and he has requested I not ride alone... ah... without him or a soldier present. So when Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Madden rode today, I was forced to decline, since there was no one to accompany us.”

“No one male, you mean?”

She nodded. “Exactly.”

“I’d be happy to accompany you.”

“You would?”

“Absolutely.” Mark smoothed the napkin on his lap. “Name the day and time, and we’ll go.”

She smiled, a brilliant and blinding smile that made Mark’s breath catch. “Oh, I’d love to go tomorrow. Would that be agreeable? Theo has a pressing engagement and has told me already he can’t accompany me.”

He squeezed her hand under the table. “There’s nothing I’d rather do.”

* * *

Gabby swallowed hard. Mark’s touch was overwhelming. Her heart slammed against her chest and she took a deep breath. She had to control her emotions, before she found herself falling in love with this man at an all-too rapid pace.

She couldn’t help but link her fingers with his. Her need to keep contact even for just a little while overrode any common sense she might have. His hands were large and strong, and when they covered hers, she felt safe.

“We won’t be able to stay like this all night. As much as I’d like to, eating with one hand might prove difficult,” Mark whispered. “But I hope you’ll allow me the opportunity to hold your hand again.”

She shouldn’t. She knew she shouldn’t, but she also knew she’d never be able to resist. “I’d like that very much.”

He smiled and leaned closer. “That’s the perfectly right answer, Miss Butler.”

Gabby giggled quietly, her heart racing again when he gave her hand another gentle squeeze. “Evaline told me everyone has been invited to dance after dinner, including the servants.”

“Yes,” Mark said. “I have been roped into playing the piano.”

“You play the piano?”

“I do. A little known secret about me is I also sing.”

“You do?”

He nodded. “But that’s a secret.”

“And you also dance magnificently.”

“Oh, magnificently, huh? Well, thank you. I suppose I’m what you’d call a triple threat.”

“That sounds terrifying.”

“Never to you.”

Gabrielle grinned. “Well, I do hope you won’t expect me to share one of my secrets. I hold them close to my heart.”

“We’ll see,” he said, with promise. “What time would you like to ride tomorrow?”

“I have a free schedule. Whatever is acceptable to you.”

“Does ten o’clock work?”

“That would be perfect,” she said.

Gabrielle noticed that even after dinner was concluded, Mark made a point of staying close to her side, except when he sat down at the piano for his allotted time. Though she was free to dance with others, she found herself staying close to the large piano instead. The morning, for her, could not come fast enough.

* * *

Amelia wrung her hands as she waited in the parlor for her brother to arrive. She’d insisted on speaking with him alone, but was regretting her choice in a big way. However, she also knew she had to do this one-on-one.

“Meely?” Sam walked into the room and frowned. “Are you all right?”

She bit her lip. “I’m perfect.”

“What was so urgent?”

“Jacob has spoken with father.”

My brother frowned again. “About?”

“He’s asked him for my hand in marriage.”

“Why didn’t he come to me?”

“Because you’re not my father,” she ground out. “I know you forget that sometimes.”

“Amelia,” he growled.

She bit back frustrated tears and fisted her hands at her sides. “I love him.”

“You are too young, Amelia.”

“Jesus,” Rayne hissed as she pushed into the room. “Are you serious?”

“Rayne,” Sam breathed out in frustration. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to save you from yourself, dear husband.” She breezed in and pulled Amelia in for a hug. “Congratulations.”

Amelia heard movement by the door and glanced up to see Jacob standing sentry. She smiled, hoping to put her fiancé at ease. The last thing she needed was him and her brother getting into fisticuffs over her.

She’d begged Jacob to let her talk to her brother alone, and he’d argued with her for a considerable period of time, but finally agreed. He now looked perturbed and she realized he’d been right all along.

Rayne released her, turning to face Sam. “Congratulate your sister, baby. She’s engaged to the man she loves.”

Samuel raised an eyebrow. “Angel—”

“Samuel,” she interrupted. “Your sister and Jacob are engaged. Congratulate them.” Rayne took Amelia’s hand and let out an oooh. “Your ring is beautiful. Isn’t it, honey?”

Samuel closed his eyes briefly.

“Jacob, you did well,” Rayne said. “Sam. Didn’t he do well?”

Samuel smiled and Amelia relaxed. “Congratulations.”

She rushed into his arms and squeezed him tight. “Thank you.”

“Let’s let the lovebirds have a few minutes alone, hmm?” Rayne said, taking Samuel’s hand and smiling up at him. “I’m very proud of you.”

Without another word, Samuel led her from the room and Amelia focused on Jacob. He crossed his arms and stared pointedly at her.

“I had to do it.”

“Did you?” he countered.

“I have to learn to face my brother like an adult, Jacob. I can’t have you fight my battles for me.”

“Yes, you can,” he said and closed the distance between them. “It’s my job.”

“Don’t be angry.”

“I’m not angry.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I’m proud.”

“You are?”

He smiled, leaning down to kiss her gently. “You’re a beautiful woman, Amelia. Inside and out and I’m humbled you’ve accepted my proposal.”

She licked her lips. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Stroking her cheek, he kissed her again. “Shall we have a glass of wine and see how long we can be alone before they kick us out?”

“I’d love that,” she breathed out.