“It is.” She nodded. “I could not forget it.”
“Because I tore your gown?” he suggested.
“Because I stood on your foot, and you yelped as if you were your sister.”
He offered a mock look of irritation. She had to stifle her giggle so as not to disrupt the dance.
They broke off, circling other dancers nearby and returning to face each other again, both now bearing a smile.
“There it is,” he remarked, his tone deep.
“There what is?”
As they circled each other, he moved his lips near her ear.
“Your smile,” he whispered. He had come so close that she felt clammy, a sudden sweat breaking across her temple and palms.
Thank God, I am wearing gloves!
They formed a circled with two other couples and performed a slow two-time step around their space, making it impossible to talk for a minute. In that quiet, Frederica couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at Allan. The sweating of her palms grew even worse when she saw that he was doing the same thing, sneaking a glance at her.
As they separated from the others and came back together, she saw that he was smiling fully.
“And what is your smile for?” she asked, unable to resist as they returned to the beginning of the dance, circling each other, clasping hands. “It’s quite a full smile.”
“I was just thinking how glad I am that I can be the one to cheer your spirits, even when you look very down indeed,” he whispered. “You’re safe with me. I want you to know that, and if I’m not mistaken, I think you’re beginning to believe it yourself.”
They turned to circle the people at their sides, leaving Frederica to stare after Allan. She was so busy fixating on him that she nearly walked straight into another dancer rather than around them. She murmured a hurried apology before moving back to Allan.
“Do you believe it?” he asked softly as they came together.
“That I’m safe with you?” she whispered.
They had been married a handful of days now. In that time, Allan had never once forced himself into her company. He’d sent her gifts, and the door which adjoined their chambers had remained firmly closed.
I have my freedom.
“Of course, I feel safe with you,” she said, the words escaping her in a rush.
“Good.” He turned her under his arm. “I have to tell you, Freddie, I’m very glad we married.”
“You are?” She turned back to face him so fast that she hurried the choreography. He bore a smile of amusement as he took her hands, ready to move forward and back from one another again. “Why?”
“Why?” he repeated in a chuckle. “Maybe some people marry for love in this world, and maybe we’re not that fortunate, but I believe I have found myself the best thing I could have possibly hoped for. I have married a friend.”
His hand was soft in hers as they joined with the others and performed a large circle.
Frederica’s heart was now hammering in her chest so hard that she wondered if it would crack her ribs.
Friend… he called me, his friend.
Was she happy at this statement? Yes, a part of her was, but there was another part that was crestfallen.
As they came back together, she tried to maintain her genuine smile as much as her body would possibly allow her to do.
“I am glad, too, Allan.”
Gladder than I can possibly say that I married you and not Lord Wetherington.
