Evermore (Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy #3)(67)

"Everyone seems to adore him," I said as Jacob tipped his head back and laughed. He'd been laughing most of the evening and I was utterly mesmerized by the rich sound of it. He'd hardly laughed at all when he was a ghost, and certainly not with such abandon. What made it even more special was that he was laughing along with George and a thin fellow with floppy hair and a pronounced limp. I'd met him earlier and the youth had been so awkward around everybody that he'd blushed whenever he spoke. Now, with Jacob, there wasn't a blush in sight and they were like two old friends. Jacob was certainly making good on his promise to take notice of everyone.

"Emily." Theo's voice was a low murmur intended to be heard only by me. He bent his head down to be closer to mine and his fingers brushed my hand. "Beaufort is so popular, so...available to everybody, and I know you prefer not to be noticed. Being with him, you will be stared at more than I think you'll like."

I clasped his hand, because he seemed to be in need of reassurance, and gave him a smile. It was easy to do. Like Jacob, smiling and laughing was something I did a lot of lately. "You're mistaken. I don't mind being looked at if there is no offence meant. Curious stares I can cope with, distrustful and mean-spirited ones I cannot."

Those sort still existed of course. A week in Jacob's company wasn't enough to wipe them out entirely. Even at the ball there was the odd hurtful whisper about my exotic looks and I heard more than one matron ask her friends if I'd been a true medium or a fraud.

"Will you be happy with him?" Theo asked, rubbing my knuckles with his thumb.

It was much too intimate a gesture. I pulled away and glanced in Jacob's direction. He was watching me, his jaw rigid, an unmistakably possessive gleam in his eye. He bowed to his companions and strode through the ballroom toward us. The crowd parted for him and didn't hide their curiosity about his destination. We had not announced our engagement yet—a speech was scheduled for later—and we'd spent much of the evening apart since he was far too popular for me to get within three feet of him.

"Theo, I am the happiest girl in this room. Perhaps in the country. And you?"

He scanned the faces of the dancers and his gaze settled on one in particular. Suzette. "I will be," he said with more determination than one should need when looking upon one's fiancée.

"Excuse me, Hyde," said Jacob, squaring up to him. He bowed. "I need to dance with Miss Chambers."

A strange hush snuffed out the surrounding conversations. All heads swiveled like sunflowers turning toward the sun. Those close enough to hear him speak had already repeated his words to those behind them, making special note of his "need" to dance with me. Within seconds the whole ballroom must have known about it, if the ripple of conversation was any indication.

I felt like I was on display as I put my hand in Jacob's big one and let him lead me onto the dance floor for a waltz. I wasn't yet used to the attention, and contrary to what I'd said to Theo earlier, I was unnerved by it.

As if sensing my apprehension, Jacob held me tighter and we whirled around the other dancers. The wide skirt of my borrowed gown floated around my ankles like a cloud. There had been no time to have a new outfit made and Celia refused to let me attend in the same one I'd worn to Adelaide's ball, so Jacob's sister had graciously loaned me one of hers. The hem required adjusting but it was otherwise an exquisite dress of white satin with silvery lace and little lavender bows sewn into the fabric.

"Jacob, are you all right?" I asked. "You feel a little tense." Indeed, his shoulders were like bricks and his back was ramrod straight. He stared over the top of my head.

"I know I pushed you toward him. I know that the feelings between you are partly my fault." His Adam's apple jerked up and down, and he suddenly looked at me. The desolation in his eyes melted my insides.

"Jacob—"

"I will bear it if I have to," he growled, his voice ragged, "but I will not give you up." His hand at my back pressed harder. "I cannot."

I smiled at him. I couldn't help it. I adored him, but it was rather nice to see him quietly rage with jealousy. "I don't care for Theo. Perhaps as a friend, but nothing more. You're the one I love."

He blinked rapidly and one corner of his mouth tilted upward. He sucked in a breath as deep as the one he'd first gasped after re-awakening in the storage room. "I want to take you somewhere quiet right now and kiss you. Do you think anyone would notice if we disappeared?"

"I think a few might." I giggled and he grinned. Indeed, there was no escaping for us. Still everyone's gaze was on us, some openly, others not quite so obvious.

A little while later, Jacob and I found ourselves separated once again. He was so tall, however, that I could make out his head over the top of everyone else's. Every once in a while he looked for me and when he spotted me, would smile, then turn back to speak to whomever had his attention.

I made my way into the refreshment room where Celia and Louis spoke quietly to one another in the corner, perhaps discussing their upcoming move to Melbourne. They'd been inseparable all week, and now that I knew they were my parents, I couldn't bear to watch them together. I suppose it was sweet, but they were my parents! Did they have to fawn over one another in public?

I was inspecting the array of bonbons, ices and, cakes on the table when a loud whisper caught my attention, which I suspect was the intention.