Ashley finally ceased her perusal and stopped before Catherine. “What happened when Valentine saw you? Did he ravish you?”
“What kind of question is that?” Catherine felt her cheeks color and wished that, for once, she could be as brazen as Ashley.
“The kind of question we virgins ask. We may be maidens, but that doesn’t mean we’re not curious.”
“Nothing happened.”
“Nothing?” Josie cried. “He just grunted and held out his arm?”
“No, he said”—Catherine thought back, her skin warming with pleasure as she remembered—“he said I looked lovely.”
“That’s all?” Even proper Maddie seemed disappointed.
Catherine glanced about her, made sure Quint was not in sight, and continued, “He said that I took his breath away.”
Her three cousins beamed. “That’s so romantic,” Maddie said.
“It would have been more romantic if he’d ravished her.”
“Ashley, shh. You can’t say things like that,” Catherine chided. “You will get a reputation.”
Ashley shrugged. “What do I care? But I promise to be on my best behavior tonight. Look, there’s the man of the hour.”
Catherine turned to see Quint coming up the stairs. His smile was pinched and tight, and she could tell immediately by the way he held his shoulders that he was apprehensive. Her first impulse was to rush to him and reassure him that all was ready, but the sight of him in his evening attire always undid her, especially when he looked as he did tonight.
He wore the requisite dark blue tailcoat and breeches, the snowy white cravat, waistcoat, and white gloves. But his hair had been cut so that it no longer brushed his collar. It was short and neat in the back, the only untamed section the wave that fell over his forehead. He pushed it back, and then his mahogany brown eyes found her.
She knew the moment they did because his entire expression changed. He relaxed, and his smile became more genuine. Her own body reacted instantly. Her pulse fired, and she had the urge to go to him. He needed her, and she wanted to be there to help him.
Now and always.
“Catie, there you are. Are you ready to receive our guests? The footmen tell me the first couples have arrived.”
“Oh, yes, of course.” She lifted her skirts and went to him quickly. As she passed her cousins, Josie caught her arm.
“Take a deep breath and remember to keep breathing. Everything is going to be perfect.”
“I know.” Catherine smiled. She felt absolutely no fear, only the warmth of love and acceptance.
She took Quint’s outstretched hand. “Ready?” he asked.
“I couldn’t be more so.”
Quint and Catherine descended the stairs together, a little family. She had never before been part of a family so much as the scapegoat. She had never felt as though she belonged in the drawing rooms of the ton. The only time she felt at ease was with her cousins, but since marrying Quint even their childhood club was closed to her.
She couldn’t explain why, but being at Quint’s side made her feel more a part of anything than she ever had. She felt right with him. She felt that she belonged, that she was where she was supposed to be.
And then he led her to the entryway, the door opened, and the footman admitted the first guests.
Chapter Twenty-three
Quint had been a bulwark beside her in the receiving line, and he’d stayed beside her for much of the night. When he was not beside her, one of her cousins was. Finally, Catherine had shooed Maddie and Josie away, insisting they dance and enjoy themselves. She was doing fine and wanted a moment to check on everything.
With a smile on her face, she glided into the dining room to make sure the servants had replenished the fare. It made her nervous to walk among so many people. There were reporters from all the papers, politicians, and what seemed like the entire ton in attendance. And all were staring at her.
The dining room was blissfully empty, and she leaned against a chair, took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself. No one was looking at her. No one cared one whit for her. It was only that there were so many people in the rooms, jostling against her, closing her in. She was being foolish, especially considering that she had been doing so well all evening.
There was nothing to fear. And yet, she couldn’t seem to take a deep breath. She closed her eyes.
