“No protests. I’m not going to have you appear at the Assembly Rooms with only Mother’s amethyst pendant to adorn your neck. It’s not your fault your husband was such a miser.”
I pressed my hand to the cold gems she draped around my neck while she fastened the clasp, not wanting to be reminded of Sir Anthony, especially after the events that had transpired earlier.
“There.” Alana gripped my shoulders and turned me so that she could see the full effect of the necklace. A warm smile softened her face, making me think I might truly look pretty. “If Mr. Gage doesn’t pay you all sorts of compliments, then the man must be blind.”
I turned away to straighten the brushes and combs and other various items littering the top of my vanity table. I knew he was likely already downstairs waiting to escort me to the ball Alana had managed to gain us a special dispensation to attend, that I would have to go down to join him soon. But I suddenly had no idea how I was going to face him.
“Is something wrong, dearest?” my sister asked gently. When I didn’t immediately respond, she moved closer, her face appearing in the reflection of the mirror. “Is it Mr. Gage? Has he done something?”
“No,” I lied.
She hesitated, and then stepped even nearer so that she was standing at my side. “Then is it William?” The sleeve of her dress brushed my arm as she turned. “You know, you can’t mourn him forever.”
I sighed. “Of course I do. But it’s barely been eleven weeks. Why is everyone so determined to forget that?”
“Because we’re worried about you.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” I snapped. I closed my eyes against the sight of Alana’s hurt expression and inhaled deeply. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair. I know you’re only trying to help.”
She reached out to press a hand to my elbow above my long white evening gloves. “You know I would do anything for you.”
I gave her a sad smile. “I know. But there are some things that even a fierce older sister cannot make better. No matter how much she wishes to.”
Tears glistened in Alana’s eyes, and I reached out to squeeze her upper arms.
“Cheer up, dearest. I no longer want to smash every dish in sight. Or torch that hideous set of curtains you decided to hang in the parlor.”
She gasped a laugh.
I leaned forward to see into her eyes. “That’s a positive sign, isn’t it?”
She sniffed and nodded. Her hand rose up to smooth a curl back into place. “Isn’t it my job to reassure you?”
“Yes, well. Perhaps it’s time that changed.”
? ? ?
Gage was speaking to Philip just inside the doorway to my brother-in-law’s study when Alana and I descended the stairs to the ground floor. It was gratifying to hear how their conversation stumbled to a stop as we came into sight, their words trailing away. I felt Gage’s eyes on me before I even looked up to meet them. The intensity of his gaze tingled across my skin. His pale blue eyes, normally an icy hue, warmed to something much less wintry as they trailed over every inch of me before settling on my face. A blush crested my cheeks and I struggled to keep it from blossoming further.
Gage appeared as handsome and impeccably turned out as always in his dark evening kit. His golden curls were artfully arranged, his linens pristine. The only thing to mar his appearance was the dark circle of his black eye. I wondered what the matrons and young ladies at the Assembly Rooms would think of it.
He met me at the base of the stairs, offering me his hand to help me down the last few steps. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you,” I replied, feeling flustered by the way he was looking at me.
A smile curled his lips. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
I pivoted to take my fur-lined white evening shawl from Alana, but Gage reached for it first. He held it out for me and I turned so that he could drape it over my bare shoulders. The skin across the back of my neck and shoulders prickled with awareness at his close proximity. I wrapped the soft fabric around me, hugging it close. My heart was beating very fast, and I suddenly felt wildly out of my element. Such a simple thing, to help a woman into her cloak, but no one but my father and brother had ever done so for me. Maybe the movements were the same, but this was very different.
I looked up to see my sister beaming down at me, clearly pleased by Gage’s attentions toward me. I tried to offer her a smile back, but I was afraid it came out quite timid. Then Gage was taking my arm and leading me down the steps to his carriage. I settled back against the squabs, my breath fluttering very quickly in and out of my chest like I’d run a race.
Gage sat beside me and I was grateful for his warmth, as well as the fact that I would not have to try to meet his gaze. The lantern light cast everything in golden shades, including the stack of papers tossed on the bench across from us.
“What are those?” I asked as the carriage pulled away from the curb and began to round the square toward George Street.
“I made some discreet inquiries into the finances of our intrepid trio of young gentlemen.”