18 #2
Finding refuge on a small gilt chair on the far side of the ballroom, Jane watched as Archer approached her parents, making his bow, kissing Lady Goddard’s cheek, listening gravely to something she said, then turning to speak to Anne and Bennetta, giving both, to Jane’s surprise, equal attention.
She could tell, even from a distance that her twin was not happy by this.
She obviously wanted to be the only recipient of his regard.
“There you are, Jane! I have been looking for you.” Susannah, regal in dark lavender, all diffidence gone from her manner, kissed her cheek and sat down next to her. “I was beginning to think you were unwell.”
Jane shook her head and forced herself to smile. “Not at all. I am just tardy in my dressing. I am delighted to see you tonight. I had wondered if you might be too tired to attend after the long journey.”
The new Mrs Fitzwilliam laughed. “Not at all. Happiness is a great reviver of weary limbs and nothing can dampen our spirits. Oh, Jane, I can hardly believe what has happened to me. To have found love at such a late time of life and for that love to be returned, why, it is nothing short of a miracle. Who would have thought our trip to Dorset could have ended in such a fashion.”
Jane smiled and squeezed her hand. She wondered what Susannah would say if she knew that she was not the only person to have found love at Deerwood Park!
In a flash of gold, Anne crossed the room to sit next to them. Her eyes were sparkling with half-concealed excitement. “Goodness, Jane, you are so late coming downstairs and why are you hiding yourself away right over here, away from the rest of the family?”
“I am sure you do not need me.”
“Need? No, but I want you here. I want all my friends and family around me.”
Jane nodded. She had no doubt that the proposal was about to happen. Archer obviously intended to make it a very public affair. She wondered if a heart could actually break or if the pain she was feeling would ever lessen.
Just then the music started up again and she realised they were playing a waltz. By the time she had realised that it was the same piece of music she had danced to with Archer, the man who would always be her best beloved was walking across the floor towards them.
She felt, more than saw, Anne stiffen in her chair, then her fan moved swiftly and Jane knew she was gazing at Archer over the top of the feathers, her blue eyes sparkling with invitation.
“Miss Jane! How good to see you again. May I say how well you are looking? Surely I recall that dress. Why it was one you wore when we last danced together. Did you wear it tonight for that reason. Ha! Come, dance with me. I promise not to step on your toes as I did in the summer. Haha!”
To her horror, Digby had stepped out of the crowd, looming over her, his prominent blue eyes bright with what she could only suppose was feigned passion.
“Miss Jane, I believe this is our dance. The one we never finished.” In two paces, Archer was standing next to Digby, ignoring him in an extremely arrogant fashion, gazing down at her, his dark eyes full of feeling as he held out his hand.
She was only just aware of a muffled exclamation from Digby and a stifled gasp from her twin and out of the corner of her eye she saw Susannah’s hand shoot out to grasp Anne’s arm, to stop her from rising from her chair.
Then nothing else mattered but the warmth of Archer’s fingers clasping hers, his hand on her back, the closeness of his body and the way they moved to the music as if they had been born to dance together.
“This is madness,” Jane whispered as they circled the room, aware that people with expectations of seeing a different couple, were viewing them in puzzlement.
“I agree.”
“We must stop! You must ask Anne to dance. You must—”
“I am dancing with the woman I love, the woman I believe loves me in return.”
She gasped. “Archer!”
“Be a coward and tell me you do not love me, Jane!”
The music faded away and all she could hear was the thumping of her heart as she realised that with those few words he had thrown open the doors to the cage that had both protected and imprisoned her entire life.
He was giving up wealth and a life of power and influence for love. And he was asking her to join him.
“Sir, I am not very brave … no, you may not laugh … I know I am not. But, Archer Maitland, I love you with all my heart and soul and will do so until the day I die.”
“Jane, my dearest, sweetest Jane. God, I want to kiss you so much, but I fear that would scandalize our fellow dancers even more. Marry me, Jane! We will not be rich, but I will do everything in my power to make you happy. I have repeated tonight to my grandmother my decision that I will not choose a wife at her command. My mother married a poor lawyer and she was happy. I am asking you to do the same, although I fear your family, especially your sister will not be overjoyed at our union.”