Page 49 of Dropping the Ball

“My dear, I know you are predisposed to despise Lady Gladys because of the threat she presents to your dear friend,” Cedric told her as they all left the conservatory together, “but even you must admit that she has done something extremely generous for the young ladies present by presenting them with matrimonial possibilities.”

Lady Muriel scowled at her husband as they made their way to the stairs. Cedric had a point, though. Alden wasn’t particularly keen on admitting it either, but Lady Gladys had done something very good, despite her own, selfish aims. Perhaps she was not as bad as he’d made her out to be in his mind because of her coolness toward Bernadette.

Those thoughts stayed with Alden as he undressed for bed. It felt as though he were shedding the heavy cares of the day with each piece of clothing he removed. He hated wearing tightjackets and formal boots as a rule, and it was heaven to rid himself of them. He did not even bother donning a nightshirt before having a quick scrub in his washbasin, then toweling himself off.

As he crossed the room to his bed, however, a scuffling sound in the hallway, followed by a soft sigh of irritation, drew his attention. Instead of going straight to bed, he went to fetch his banyan, threw it around his shoulders and tied it, then went to crack his door open so that he might see what was happening in the hallway. It could be anything, and after what he’d seen that day, he wouldn’t have put it past any of the mamas flooding his estate to try to shove their daughters into his bed.

But something far more glorious and amusing awaited him in the hallway. Past his door, closer to the end of the hall that contained a large window letting in moonlight, Bernadette was scrambling along, bent over, her arms outstretched.

“Really, Egbert,” she hissed. “Have you not caused enough trouble for one evening?”

Alden clapped a hand to his mouth to stop from laughing loud enough to wake the other guests on the hall, most of whom were his cousins and Bernadette’s friends in any case. He leaned against the doorframe, watching as Bernadette leapt forward, almost catching Egbert, only to have the sneaky little lizard scuttle away from her. There was just enough light from the dimmed sconces along the walls to observe the entire chase.

Alden also rather enjoyed the lovely curve of Bernadette’s backside when she bent over to scoop at Egbert. She wore a banyan over her nightgown, but even though the shape of the banyan was voluminous and concealing, it hid nothing when she bent the way she did. The sight was breathtaking and immediately reminded Alden of the improprieties the two of them had shared.

And then Egbert scrambled back in Alden’s direction, Bernadette stood, and as she faced him and spotted him watching, she let out a yelp.

“Alden!” Immediately, Egbert was forgotten, and Bernadette’s cheeks flushed pink. Her eyes glowed with humor and longing, a potent combination.

“Good evening, Lady Bernadette,” Alden said with a mock formal bow. “What a surprise to see you out and about on an evening such as this.”

Bernadette laughed a little as she came closer to Alden. Egbert had scuttled closer as well, then had the audacity to disappear into Alden’s room. At least he was somewhere Alden would be able to keep an eye on him.

“You’re looking rather charming this evening, Lord Alden,” Bernadette said when she was within a few yards of him. “Dressing for tomorrow evening’s ball already, are we?”

Alden burst into a beaming smile at her teasing. “I was merely attempting to coordinate my costume with your elegant ballgown,” he said, gesturing to her banyan, which was disheveled from chasing Egbert.

Bernadette glanced down at herself, blushing harder. “This?” she said, continuing with their play. “This is the very best I have, my lord.”

“Then we shall have to find you something better,” Alden teased her. “I believe I have any number of fine, brocade robes and banyans in my wardrobe, if you should care to step inside.”

He meant it as teasing, but the fire that came to Bernadette’s eyes brushed all teasing aside in an instant. “You know we cannot,” she said, her voice dropping to a seductive whisper. Instead of backing away, she stepped closer to him. “We’ve a house filled with guests, half of them eager to win your approval and your hand.”

“Yes, I know,” he said, reaching for her as she came within his grasp. “A beautiful, clever, and talented woman of my acquaintance arranged for the whole thing. She has done a remarkable job of making this weekend one for everyone to remember.”

“She has done it all for you,” Bernadette said, lowering her head as she fit her body carefully against his. It was not quite an embrace, more of a prelude to an embrace, if she summoned up the courage to take what she clearly wanted.

Alden decided to help her find the courage. He slipped a hand under her chin and tilted it up so that they could gaze at each other.

“I know,” he said, lowering his voice to a tender rumble. “I have seen every effort you’ve made on my behalf. You have no idea how deeply I appreciate everything you have done for me, Bernadette. I know the price you have paid to do it.”

“Perhaps,” she said, her eyes filled with emotion. “But you have given me so much in return.”

“Money means nothing,” he murmured, brushing his thumb along her soft, bottom lip as he continued to hold her chin. “I would gladly toss everything I have into the ocean if it meant I had even the slightest possibility of being with you.”

Bernadette’s eyes suddenly sparkled, and she said, “Not the alligators, though. You must never throw them into the ocean.”

Alden laughed, his heart filled with joy and light. A moment later, it ached with the cruelty of the situation they found themselves in. It had to be Godwin Castle and that abominable curse. How else could he be so bitterly unlucky when it came to love?

“Alligators can swim,” he told Bernadette, as if reciting the deepest love poetry every written to her. “Granted, they much prefer fresh water, rivers and swamps, but they have been known to–”

“Oh, Alden,” Bernadette sighed, raising her hands to clasp the sides of his face. “Do stop talking and kiss me.”

Alden sucked in a breath, his heart and other parts of him rising, and pulled Bernadette more tightly against him, obeying her command and slanting his mouth over hers.

Chapter Seventeen

The moment had come. As she always knew it would be, the choice was suddenly before Bernadette. Did she continue on as a good, modest, obedient woman, putting others before herself, or did she take what she wanted and accept the consequences?

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