Chapter 5
Joseph’s gaze searched the ballroom for the one woman he couldn’t get off his mind.
She wasn’t hard to find. Indeed, she was impossible to miss.
She stood out like a diamond amongst all the other women who were attending the ball.
Her tawny hair was swept up in a pleasing coiffure and, as she twirled to the patterns of the dance, tiny diamond pins reflected in the candlelight of the room.
The dark green gown with a red ribbon below her breasts was becoming, and he wished he was the one to be at her side during the dance.
He knew his hand would fit perfectly on her waist if he was able to waltz with her.
He might need to ask the musicians to play a waltz and ask her for the privilege of her company.
His mind ran back to that day he had asked her to walk with him.
Fool! That conversation certainly hadn’t gone as he had planned.
He had watched her face fall in what he could only term sorrow when he had mentioned they were friends.
Friends. Good Lord! He wanted to be so much more to her, but he couldn’t seem to find the words to voice his thoughts aloud. What the devil was the matter with him?
For the last week during the house party, he had watched her move about as any hostess would do to ensure his guests were entertained and the staff was keeping everything in order.
He had never asked her to perform such a function, but she took it upon herself to do it without question.
He had the distinct intuition that she did it to please him and, if he didn’t act soon, he would lose her forever.
The festivities would conclude tomorrow.
If he didn’t tell her he was in love with her tonight, she and her brother would be gone in the morning, and he would have lost his opportunity to finally tell her how he felt about her.
The music ended and he watched as she curtseyed to Lord Hartwell.
Hartwell began escorting her from the dance floor and he reached for a fluted glass of champagne from a passing servant.
He handed her the glass and she took a sip.
Joseph’s eyes met hers across the space of the ballroom and his heart soared before she broke contact and replied to something Hartwell was saying.
The female voice that interrupted his thoughts was a familiar one. “You’re about out of time, Joseph. You best declare yourself tonight, before you miss a prime opportunity and let that wonderful lady slip from your grasp.”
Joseph turned to stare down into the face of his stepsister, Sophie. Her green eyes appeared to sparkle in mischievous delight that she had read his mind.
“I’ve been a fool not to do so sooner,” he confessed to the one person who most likely understood him better than anyone.
After all, he had been infatuated with Sophie in their youth, even though he knew deep down nothing would ever happen between them.
With those thoughts crossing his mind, it was as though everything fell into place.
He had been wrong about his brother being in love with Charlotte.
Garrett was aware, apparently, that Joseph was in love with his sister.
So, the only person holding him back from the one person he loved was himself.
Sophie gave a bright laugh. “Finally!”
“What?” he asked with a frown, wondering what Sophie was talking about.
“You’ve finally realized what we’ve all known all along. It took you long enough, Joseph.” She gave him a knowing smirk of satisfaction.
“Someone should have come along and knocked some sense into me months ago,” he replied, as he continued to watch Charlotte from across the room.
Sophie gave him a nudge. “Margaret and I thought with us hanging mistletoe at every entryway to a room would have been a clear indication that love was in the air for you.”
He looked down at Sophie. “I thought it was just a family tradition that Frederick and Margaret started.”
“They may have started it, but even I’ve continued such a tradition.
Joseph… you are family and we wanted to ensure you always remain that way, too.
I have to admit Margaret and I thought for certain we would have caught you and Charlotte kissing beneath one of the boughs in the past couple of weeks.
Don’t disappoint us now. Go and declare your feelings for the lady! ”
He gave his stepsister a short bow. “I’ll do my best to not further disappoint you.” Without further delay, he left Sophie to make his way to the lady that owned his heart. “Charlotte, might I have a moment of your time?”
“Excuse us, Lord Hartwell,” Charlotte murmured, before taking Joseph’s arm.
He began escorting Charlotte through the ballroom and down a hallway toward his library. Once she was standing beneath the mistletoe above the doorway, he placed his hands upon her waist.
“Charlotte… would you please forgive this fool who wouldn’t tell you how he felt about you before now?” he asked watching her blue eyes go wide in what he thought was disbelief.
Her hands trembled when she placed them on his arms. “Joseph… I—”
One of his arms wound around her bringing her closer while the other reached up to caress her cheek.
“I have to confess I’ve been in love with you for more years than I can count, Charlotte.
But fool that I was, I thought Michael was, too, and I couldn’t let my feelings for you get in the way of my brother’s happiness. ”
“Surely you must know that I never had feelings for Michael in that way,” she answered, as her hands went to rest upon his chest.
“And then there was Garrett. He was my best friend and there’s a certain code of honor among men that you don’t come to care for your best friend’s sister.”
She gave a huff of humor. “That’s silly. Garrett has known all along of my feelings for you.”
“Then you do care for me?” he asked in awe, as he hugged her tighter.
“Joseph… I’ve been here loving you for as long as I can remember. I’ve waited for you to come to the same revelation. I had just about given up hope.”
“I’m sorry I took so long before I told you I was in love with you.”
“Finally… the words I’ve longed to hear. I’m in love with you, too, Joseph.” Her smile was infectious as she wound her arm around his neck. Her eyes traveled to the mistletoe bough hanging above them. “Perhaps you should follow your family tradition and kiss me, Joseph.”
“You know about that too?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
“Your mother told me, along with your sisters. Honestly, Joseph, you should know women can never keep secrets amongst themselves.” She gave another bright laugh. “Tell me again that you love me.”
“I love you, my dearest Charlotte.”
“As I love you, my darling. Now kiss me under the mistletoe so I’ll know that my midnight wishes have come true.”
He gave her a smile before lowering his head to kiss her lips.
Years of yearning for this lady could have easily overtaken him as he held her against his chest and deepened their kiss.
It was as though everything in his life began and ended with Charlotte.
He would never forget to tell her each and every day how much she meant to him.
He broke off their kiss and gladly took her back to their guests. He went to the musicians and asked them to play a waltz. As the chords of the music struck up, he escorted Charlotte to the dance floor. His life was now complete and he knew, with this lady in his life, he had found his home!