The Unlikely Lady (Playful Brides #3)(60)
She mustn’t think about such things right now. All she needed to do was enjoy the ceremony and look forward to tonight. Her ankle was still sore, but perhaps she could muddle through a waltz with Garrett. Just one. She’d remember it forever. A sly smile spread across her lips. Aside from the waltz, she hoped tonight would be similar to last night actually.
She was going straight to hell for thinking about it in a church of all places, but ooh, last night. Heat rushed between her legs at the memory. The things they’d done. The things they’d almost done. She’d nearly begged him to take her right there on the settee in her friend’s drawing room. Not very ladylike and certainly not very bluestocking spinsterish of her, but that was perhaps the best part. She plucked at the neck of her gown. It was getting warm in the church with such a large crush. Her thoughts were not helping.
Jane turned her attention back to the ceremony and watched with delight as her two beloved friends promised their lives to each other.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
After the wedding, the entire party had a breakfast feast on the lawn at the Moreland estate. Tables were set up and covered with huge white linens. Lilacs and white roses festooned each of them. Colorful ribbons of green and lavender had been strung above the tables with poles and children ran and shouted and laughed. There was nary a cloud in the sky and the smell of the fresh flowers along with the slight breeze made the entire affair magical.
Jane was stuck sitting next to a family member of Cass’s, some sort of knight. She couldn’t help glancing over at Garrett’s table time and again. They sat only a few yards from each other. He was usually watching her.
The rest of the day was a blur with Jane and Cass and Lucy all hugging one another, wishing Cass the best, and congratulating her groom. Jane and Lucy helped Cass prepare for the wedding ball, and then they all settled in to take naps so they might be refreshed for the dancing.
Jane snuggled beneath her coverlet, just about to nod off, when her mother came into her room. “Jane, dear, you haven’t said. Have you met anyone special since you’ve been here? A gentleman perhaps.”
Normally Jane would have rolled her eyes or pretended to be asleep already. Her mother asked her this same question of every party she’d been to since her come-out. For the first time in forever Jane could actually say yes.
She breathed in the lavender scent from her pillow and squeezed her eyes closed. She wasn’t ready to admit it to her mother yet. She didn’t want to engage her mother’s hopes for a … what? A marriage? Jane hadn’t considered that possibility, herself. She’d barely begun to enjoy kissing Upton. Marriage was far too much to consider at present.
“I’ve met some wonderful people here, Mama, and come to know some of them better than before,” she replied cryptically. “I’ll see you tonight.” She rolled over and pulled the covers to her chin.
*
The wedding ball was spectacular. The dancing was marvelous. There were several sets of La Boulangère, cotillions, quadrilles, and even a Scottish reel or two. The waltzes came and went while Jane waited for her ankle to comply. At least that awful Mrs. Langford had the good sense to stay far across the room. Owen Monroe, it appeared, was taken with the widow. He was spending a great deal of time in her company, poor man. When Owen wasn’t there, Daphne Swift seemed to take up the task of speaking with the woman. Poor, sweet Daphne.
Garrett had helped his mother get a plate of food and danced with her to one of the reels while Jane and Lucy watched and laughed and clapped along. Aunt Mary, for her advanced years, was a wonderful sport. She’d hugged Cass soundly and declared how happy she was about her wedding to Lord Swifdon. “I must admit, dear, when you were in Bath last summer, I was convinced you should take the duke up on his courtship, but all’s well that ends well, isn’t it?” The older woman patted Cass’s arm.
“Yes, Aunt Mary. That’s absolutely right,” Cass replied with a laugh.
Julian pulled his bride’s hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. His eyes sparkled with love and admiration. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Aunt Mary sighed. “You two are so perfect for each other. I just wish my darling Garrett would find someone special. I’d like to meet my grandchildren before I’m too old to know who they are.”
Garrett’s eyes nearly bulged from his skull. “Don’t get any ideas, Lucy,” he growled as Lucy opened her mouth to speak. “Mother, please do not encourage her.”
“Lucy needs no encouragement,” Aunt Mary replied with a wink.
Soon afterward, their little party broke up to speak and dance and share time with others, but Garrett remained by Jane’s side. He ensured she had a proper chair to sit in along the sidelines and that her foot was propped up, and he brought her a glass of champagne and a plate of teacakes.
“You do know the way to a lady’s heart,” Jane said, laughing when he returned with the teacakes.
The look Garrett gave her was so serious, so sincere. She wished she hadn’t mentioned her heart. Had it been too much?
“Dance with me,” he whispered as another waltz began to play. “We’ll mind your ankle.”
She stood and placed the plate of teacakes on the chair. “I should like nothing better.”
The dance was lovely. They didn’t speak. No ribbing or word play or teasing or taunts. Garrett whirled Jane around and around and they stared into each other’s eyes as if they were the only two people in the room.