Eloping with the Princess (Brotherhood of the Sword #3)(38)

There was no turning back now.



Isabel had never given much thought to what she’d find attractive in a man, but now as she watched her husband move through the ballroom, she knew he stood out above the rest. Yes, there were other attractive men here, but Jason was different. Perhaps she was already biased in his favor, but no one moved as gracefully as he did. None of the other men walked with such purpose, such athleticism. Next to Jason, many of the other men seemed soft and uncoordinated.

Evie and Lilith had stayed close to her side once Jason had left to retrieve refreshments. They’d been whispering in her ears as they’d passed guests, giving her information on each. She’d spoken to so many people tonight she knew she’d never remember all their names, but in truth, she hadn’t felt too out of the fabric of the rest of the guests. This was her home, regardless of how she’d acquired it. No one here knew the truth about her marriage.

Of course, the evening wasn’t over yet. There was still plenty of time for her to trip over something and fall on her face. Her mother-in-law, Genny, as she’d insisted on being called, picked the perfect moment to come and be at her side since Lords Somersby and Lynford had come to collect their respective partners for the dance.

“You’re doing quite well,” Genny said.

“I am surviving, and I haven’t managed to do anything too embarrassing,” Isabel said.

“Nonsense. You’re being positively lovely. I saw you charm Lady Bentley, and she doesn’t like anyone.” Genny gave her a conspiratorial wink.

Isabel laughed. “She seemed rather impressed that I was a princess.”

“Yes, good breeding is of upmost importance to Lady Bentley.” Genny linked their arms, and they strolled to an open part of the room, giving Isabel a perfect glimpse of Jason as he stood at the refreshment table.

“And you are doing an excellent job of appearing to love my son. It shines all over your face.”

Isabel felt her face grow warm. Was she that obvious? Had Jason seen it, too?

“I know that my son is a tough nut to crack, as it were, but I also know it will be worth the effort.”

Isabel met Genny’s gaze and found the same blue eyes as Jason’s. And, as if Genny could read her thoughts, she said, “You are precisely the woman to do it. Be patient, and don’t give up on him.”

Isabel clenched her jaw against the tears she felt well in her eyes. She took a steadying breath and nodded. Isabel knew one thing for certain, Jason was never going to see their marriage as real, and therefore never fall in love with her, until she was his wife in every sense of the word.

…

Jason had been congratulated enough tonight for six lifetimes. He was tired of smiling and saying “thank you.” He wasn’t, however, tired of looking at his wife. She was stunning. Everyone noticed, and he’d be a liar if he said that he wasn’t enjoying the fact that the entire crowd was staring at her. He’d left her briefly to go and fetch refreshments, but she was safe from any would-be gossips with Evie and Lilith flanking her. He poured two glasses of lemonade.

“Can you imagine what that must be like? To not know you’re a princess?” a girl’s voice said from behind him.

“I think I’d know if I were royalty,” another replied.

“Well, if someone showed up tomorrow and told me I was a long-lost princess, I would buy everything in this town. People everywhere would quickly lose interest in Victoria, because I would be far more entertaining.”

“You are ridiculous,” the other girl said.

“Tell me you would not want all new clothes and such.”

Jason rolled his eyes and bit his tongue so he would not hand out a nasty response. Isabel was most assuredly not like the other women in this town. He suspected that these two were not the only ones who would have spent every penny he had upon discovering they were royalty. But Isabel had been uncomfortable with such gifts and shows of wealth. She was one of a kind.

He brought her the lemonade but had to hand the glass quickly to a footman as the final waltz began. “This is our dance, my dear.” He bowed to her, then swept her into his arms and onto the dance floor.

Isabel felt stiff in his arms as they moved around the room. Her eyes had a glazed look, as if being the center of everyone’s attention was making her slightly panicked.

“Isabel,” he murmured in a low voice. When she didn’t meet his gaze, he gave her waist a light squeeze to get her attention. “You might want to breathe now and again.”

Finally, her eyes met his. “I’m sorry.” But then her lips curved in gentle amusement. “Was I not breathing?”

“No.”

“It’s just that I didn’t expect everyone to be watching us.”

“You might be less nervous if we make conversation instead of concentrating on dancing.”

“Yes, I suppose that might work, and you are much more accomplished at that when there are others around,” she said.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I meant only that you ignore me much of the time, but then when we have an audience, you dutifully play the doting husband.” She patted his shoulder. “It is understandable. That is the relationship we have, but it does make me wonder which of the Jasons I’ve seen is the real one.”

“What are you talking about?”