Captured by Love (Michigan Brides #3)(55)

Lavinia’s laughter tinkled through the elegant room, her delight in his compliment bringing a flush to her cheeks.

“You must at least look at Miss MacKenzie,” she insisted. “Especially after all my hard work and the weeks of grueling effort to transform her into a lady.”

The lieutenant glanced at Angelique and made a show of perusing her before turning his attention back to Lavinia. “You’ve outdone yourself, Miss McDouall. I do believe you’ve effectively erased all trace of the fish lass, even the smell.”

Lavinia gave another laugh. “Pierre, what do you think of all my hard work in transforming Miss MacKenzie?”

Pierre’s attention hadn’t budged from Angelique. A silky white cravat tied about his neck couldn’t hide the motion of his hard swallow. “She’s stunning.”

Angelique’s lips trembled into what she hoped was a semblance of a grateful smile.

“I knew it.” Lavinia clapped her hands together and stared at Angelique as if she were a masterpiece she’d finished painting. “I just knew I could do it.”

“She’s as beautiful as always,” Pierre said, finally seeming to find his voice. “I don’t think you’ve transformed her, Lavinia. You’ve only helped to uncover the beauty that’s been there all along.”

Lavinia’s lips turned into a playful pout. “Why, Pierre, you are always the charmer, aren’t you?”

The sourness in Angelique’s stomach welled up. She’d known she was only a summer project for Lavinia, one of her many charity efforts. Is this what she was to face all evening? Would everyone see her only as Lavinia’s project and offer compliments on Lavinia’s behalf while secretly harboring pity?

She started to back into the hallway. How could she endure the dance? It was all wrong. She was all wrong. She didn’t belong in the gown, in the gloves, with her hair sitting atop her head like a jeweled crown. It was all just one step down the hill to becoming too much like her mother.

At her movement Pierre started toward her with quick steps. “You’re right, Lavinia. I can be a charmer when I want to be. But I’m always honest. I never say anything I don’t mean.”

His eyes beckoned Angelique to stay. In his gentleman’s attire he was more dashing than she’d ever seen him. And yet, even though he was clean-shaven and wearing the latest fashion, an air of ruggedness hovered about him that he couldn’t shed. It was the same dark wildness that she’d always loved about him.

Her footsteps faltered.

“The truth is I’ve never met anyone as beautiful as Angelique.” He continued toward her. “And she’s even lovelier on the inside.”

His words were as powerful as the adoration brimming from his eyes. They reached across the distance and soothed her. The sweetness of them overpowered the uncertainty roiling inside. He was a good and loyal friend, and she was grateful for him.

Lavinia glanced between her and Pierre. “You are rather savage and uncivilized yourself, Pierre,” she said with a forced laugh. “With your breeding and background, we certainly cannot rely on you to be the expert in beauty.”

Pierre came to a stop only inches away from Angelique. “I know real beauty when I see it.”

“Thank you, Pierre,” she whispered, drawing hope from his kindness. Even if he was a charmer and had said the same thing to a hundred other young women, at least he was doing his best to ease her discomfort. And she loved him for it.

She loved him.

The truth sank deep inside like a precious gemstone.

Yes, she truly loved Pierre. And not just for his kindness at that moment, but for everything. She loved everything about him.

Her chest swelled with the knowledge, and it brought a smile to her lips. The love rolled around, warming her insides. She’d let herself fall in love with him that summer even though she’d warned herself to guard her heart.

Or maybe she had always loved him but had just been too afraid to admit it.

But she couldn’t deny it any longer. She could only stare up at him, sure that he could see the glow of her love. How could she hide it? Did she even want to?

“Well, gentlemen,” Lavinia said, starting across the plush rug at the center of the sitting room, “shall we depart?”

“I’m ready.” Pierre’s eyes warmed to the color of coffee, and his attention shifted to Angelique’s lips.

“Lieutenant Steele, you may escort me to the dance.” Lavinia’s voice contained a petulance that Angelique hadn’t heard there before. “I am apparently not beautiful enough for Pierre.”

Pierre tossed a grin over his shoulder at the young woman. “Since I’m such an uncivilized savage, Lieutenant Steele is the better choice anyway.”

Lavinia gave him a coy sideways look as she slipped her hand into the crook of Lieutenant Steele’s arm.

The lieutenant’s brows had furrowed together in a dark line, and he glanced at Pierre as if he were a pesky fly he’d like to squash.

Pierre bowed with an exaggerated flourish and waved for the couple to precede him into the hallway. Then he offered his arm to Angelique.

She slipped her gloved hand into the curve of his muscles. His solidness seeped into her and gave her fresh courage. With him at her side, maybe she could find the strength to survive the night.

Their clipped footsteps echoed in the empty hallway. The normally busy house was silent of the usual commotion, as most of the servants and officers were already at the dance. As they stepped out of the officers’ quarters and into the warm summer evening, the peacefulness of the fort made Angelique almost forget they were at war.