When she nodded, he lobbed it—and she dipped and successfully snaffled it.
They laughed, and eating the rest of the bunch became a contest, which, after distracting him, she won, much to their shared delight.
He hadn’t recently seen this side of her—the more lighthearted girl he’d caught glimpses of long ago—and he was delighted to find her again.
For her part, she, too, seemed to soften, to allow her feelings for him to show in her features, in the way she leaned her shoulder against his.
Being with the other couples—by then, likewise focused on each other—afforded them greater license, and they both took advantage.
Eventually, it was time to rise and return to the house.
Leaving Melissa chatting with the other couples, Julian took their glasses to a nearby table for collection.
After setting the glasses down, he turned and found Lady Jersey standing beside him. Her haughty gaze had been resting on Melissa, but she transferred it to him and nodded regally. “I’m very pleased to see Melissa smiling so much more frequently than she used to. She’s much more beautiful when she smiles, don’t you think?”
Subjected to an arched eyebrow and a penetrating look, he was pleased to be able to answer truthfully. “I do.”
“Indeed. I heartily approve. Keep it up!” With that firm admonition, Lady Jersey swanned off.
He blinked, shook his head, then, a smile slowly forming, returned to Melissa’s side.
She looked after Lady Jersey. “What was that about?” Suspicion rang in her tone.
“Nothing bad.” He offered his arm, and she wound hers with his. They started back with the others, making their way to the beginning of the path. “Apparently, she approves of us.”
“She does?” Melissa stared at him. “She actually said those words?”
Puzzled, he met her gaze. “Yes. Specifically, she said ‘I heartily approve.’”
“Well!” She faced forward. “That’s one for the books.”
“It is?”
She nodded. “She very,veryrarely indicates unequivocal approval.” She smiled, gave a happy little skip, and caught his eye. “We obviously pass muster. I must remember to tell Mama.”
He smiled, then raised a hand and tucked an errant strand of her hair behind one of her ears.
All she could see in his gray eyes was contented happiness; the sight moved her to vow that she would work to keep that particular expression permanently infusing his gaze.
They reached the lawns and joined the company in making their farewells and waiting for their carriages to roll up. Before Julian’s curricle arrived, a short, rather dumpy, dark-haired lady accosted them.
“Carsely, Miss North.” Lady Esterhazy exchanged nods. “I’m delighted to see you both. I wished to say how pleased I was to learn of your betrothal.”
Melissa shot Julian a swift glance, then her smile unabated, gave her attention to the second major ton hostess—indeed, the second of Almack’s powerful patronesses—seeking to bestow her imprimatur on their union.
Three weeks later, in preparing to quit London for Derbyshire, Julian and Felix sat in the study of Carsely House, going through the estate records, of which Julian insisted Felix keep abreast.
They paused for Julian to shut one ledger and open the next.
Seated on the opposite side of the desk, Felix sighed and stretched, then critically surveyed Julian. “I don’t know how you’ve survived the past weeks and retained your sanity—some semblance of it, at least. The earlier weeks were bad enough, but the last two have been horrendous! And if it’s been bad for Damian and me, keeping up appearances while worrying that an attack might occur at any moment, I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you.”
Julian grunted. He almost quipped that he’d grown used to it, only he hadn’t. The barrage of invitations had been relentless, with many events being ones they couldn’t avoid attending. Meanwhile, the unremitting tension of being constantly on guard, prey to an unforgiving compulsion to watch over Melissa like a hawk, had steadily eroded his social façade until, at times, he’d felt like snarling.
The only saving grace had been that Melissa had been there, by his side, sharing the ordeal. Their sotto voce exchanges of cynical comments and shrewd observations had helped anchor him and keep him sane.
The knowledge that had slowly seeped into his awareness—that she was watching over him as much as he was watching over her—had also grounded him in a way he couldn’t entirely explain.
Felix was still regarding him anxiously.
