.
Justin watched as Alex came down the stairs, holding the bannister with one long gloved hand and her skirts with the other. Her smile was wide and knowing.
She took his breath away.
The gown she’d selected for the ball caught the eye but could not compare to her natural beauty. It was another ivory piece but was threaded with gold and stitched with white pearls. Lace trimmed the bodice and hems while also creating sleeves that hung off her bare shoulders. Her gloves were white, as were her jeweled slippers, and by the time she reached him, Justin still hadn’t figured out what to say to her. There weren’t enough words in the English language to give detail to her beauty. Her black hair made her skin that much clearer and translucent, and the lashes that framed her eyes made her irises look like diamonds. He’d be the most coveted man at the ball.
The event was being hosted by the Duke of Crandrey, a commander and war hero who’d led regiments in the defeat of Napoleon’s forces in the Iberian Peninsula. It was the perfect place for Alex to be introduced, because every member of Society who was worth notice would be there.
Justin held out his hand for her, and she took it.
“You look very handsome,” she said.
He kissed her glove. “I was trying to figure out just how to say the same about you. You look like a queen.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I believe I’ll settle for a future countess.”
He smiled down at her. She’d not teased him in days. Not since her mother had walked out of the house and left London, leaving her daughter in an emotional shambles and Justin without a clue how to make her better. He’d tried to compare his own mother to hers to see if he had any advice he could give as to how to survive such disappointments.
His mind had come up with nothing because he’d not known he’d been simply surviving in life until he’d met Alexandra. She’d given him something he’d not known had been lacking in his life, a feminine touch.
He’d not wanted to go into detail about his relationship with Mrs. Shaw, but the woman had never once caressed Justin. Always they kept their hands and mouths to themselves. Those were his rules from the beginning and she’d kept them, instead finding pleasure with other parts of each other. There had been times when they’d kept their clothes on during their activities, but never had anyone dared to touch him as though they cared.
So that was what Justin had done with Alex, held her hand, kissed her gently, and locked her against him whenever he felt she’d needed a hug. He’d still not shared his feelings with her as of yet, because he’d not wanted her to think he was simply trying to duplicate what her mother had not given her, but what he had given her seemed to have worked.
“The carriage is waiting,” Selina called cheerfully from behind him. His sisters were both ready, and he began to turn toward them when he heard an audible gasp come from Alex. He turned back around and was surprised to see Reuben coming down the stairs, and even more stunned by what he wore.
He was dressed in the red coat of the British army. Justin could see by the gold buttons, cuffs, and cords that Reuben had not just been any foot soldier but a man of high rank. As he drew closer, Justin noticed he was decorated with a crown and Garter Star.
“I’d forgotten that I’d been told you were a colonel,” Justin said.
Alex pulled in a breath and frowned at her brother. “You’re a colonel? You didn’t say anything.”
Reuben shrugged and gave no further reply as he placed his shako onto his head. The black hat sat eight inches high and was decorated with more gold cords and laces.
Reuben had been no foot soldier indeed.
“How did you get the Garter Star?” Justin asked. The Order of the Garter Star had been founded in 1348 and was known for its exclusive membership and the favor of the king. “You’d have to be a knight or higher to get that star.”
Reuben said nothing.
Alex looked between the men then stared at her brother. Her brow furrowed further. “Reuben, have you been knighted?”
“Reuben, were you knighted?” Lucy Ann asked stepping closer. A new appreciative look filled her eyes as she looked Reuben over. “When did this occur? Why was I not invited? What are you? Who are you? Don’t keep secrets from me. How dare you!” Her outrage was genuine.
A muscle in Reuben’s jaw twitched. “Are we to go to the ball or not?”
Alex’s eyes widened, but her mouth closed before she turned away with a huff.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” Justin told him. “Had I known, I’d have told the duke, but with you being a colonel and wearing the star, no one will deny you entrance.”
Reuben smirked. “That’s very generous of you, my lord, but I’ve my own invitation.”
That got another gasp from Alex and an appreciative sound from Lucy Ann.
Justin glared at his sister, but then turned back to Colonel Reuben Smith. The mystery surrounding the man grew.
“Let’s go or we’ll be late,” Selina said, her young mind obviously unimpressed by a soldier of any rank.
Thank God.
Justin extended his arms toward Alex and Lucy Ann, but his sister had her own plans.
“Colonel Smith, would you please be my escort?” Lucy Ann asked.
Reuben chuckled but extended his elbow to her nonetheless. “It would be an honor, Lady Lucy Ann.”
Justin met Reuben’s eyes and hoped he succeeded in making a gesture of thanks. He realized he’d succeed when Reuben inclined his head before heading to the door.
And much like Alex, Lucy Ann drilled Reuben with one question right after the other. Like he’d done with his sister, he gave her very little in the form of reply or answer.
But Justin was glad the man had come along. He would need another set of eyes while escorting his sisters. He planned to find Gerard when he got to the party and ask his assistance as well, because Justin’s main focus for the evening was Alex.
She was quiet in the carriage, though she seemed to be paying attention to Lucy Ann and Reuben’s conversation. Still, he could tell she was nervous. She moved restlessly beside him, and more than once he witnessed her shoulders slump before she snapped back as though recalling instruction from somewhere.
When the traffic came to a stop because of all the carriages that lined the road to Crandrey’s mansion, Justin leaned over and whispered in her ear.
“You’ve nothing to fear, you know. Even if they treated you poorly before, they’d never do so now that you’re to be a future countess.” He grabbed her hand and watched her dark head bob in an absentminded nod before her gray eyes found his in the shadows.
What came out of her mouth next only confirmed what he already knew about her. She was the sweetest woman in the world and he loved her.
“I know, I simply wish Lady Emma could have come.” She tightened her fingers around his and looked down. “I just can’t help but think about her sitting at home while the rest of the ton attend the ball.”
She was not worried for herself but for a woman she hardly knew, a woman who had gifted her with friendship nonetheless.
“When you’re a countess you can hold a ball and invite whomever you wish,” he told her.
Alex’s eyes widened. “I never thought of that.” Then she smiled. “I didn’t think you’d enjoy the idea of opening your house for an elaborate event.”
He didn’t enjoy the idea. In fact, he admitted a measure of apprehension where Crandrey’s ball was concerned, but if it would please Alex, he’d do it. “I’ll manage.”
She squeezed his hand, a brilliant smile spreading across her lips and adding lines at the corners of her eyes. “I was a little bothered at the thought of tonight, not about how I would be treated but about the dancing.”
“You and Lady Emma worked very hard at it, and you moved flawlessly when I last saw you.” Lady Emma, Alex, and a pair of footmen had practiced the more important dances endlessly in the afternoon, and Alex had proved to be a quick learner.
“I know.” She bit her lip as the carriage moved another yard before coming to a stop. She leaned closer before lowering her voice. “I wasn’t worried that I’d make a mistake. I’m more than sure I will, but it’s not me I’m worried about. It’s you.”
Justin groaned in understanding. “I admit I’ve not danced in many years, but I think I can get through two or three before easily slipping from the ballroom...”
Alex shook her head and once again blew him away with her words. “That’s not it either. I don’t want you dancing.”
He stilled in his seat and asked, “What?”
Heat flickered in her gaze, and though he found himself attracted to the look, he knew it had little to do with desire. It was anger that darkened her irises. “I don’t want you near other women. I don’t like the idea of it.” She pulled his hand closer. “I don’t want them touching you at all. That’s what is bothering me.”
Justin’s heart raced at the possessiveness of her words. “It’s customary for couples to exchange partners at these events.”
“I know, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.” She narrowed her eyes. “I’ll probably never like it, I confess.” She shook her head as she looked him over and then their gazes locked again. “No, I don’t like it.”
He’d have kissed her were Reuben not sitting just across from them. A burning started low in his chest and he wanted to call off the night and simply spend it alone with Alexandra. “I don’t think I like the idea of other men dancing with you either.”
Alex’s expression softened. “I’ll only be thinking of you with my every step.”
“And I you.” He lifted his free hand to touch the curl by her cheek and thought there wasn’t a day that went by when she wasn’t all he thought about. Her comments on the dancing made him realize just how silly some of the social customs were. Had Justin had his way, Alex would dance with no one but him and they would dance the entire night, one dance right after another.
The carriage stopped once again, but this time the footman opened the door.
Reuben and his sister stepped out first, and Justin’s mouth was against Alex’s in the next second. Time forced the kiss to be brief, but just the taste of her was enough to cause his breathing to become hard.
“If only I had fifteen minutes,” he whispered, recalling that night in Christmas’ garden. That first kiss seemed so long ago now.
She laughed. “And could you believe I asked for an hour?” She recalled the night as well.
What Justin could do to her if he had an hour…
“My lord?” Reuben called.
“Time to go,” Alex said in a breath.
Justin helped her to the street and then they were in a crush of bodies as they tried to get into the Season’s most important night.