Page 89 of A Cinderella to Redeem the Earl

She took a deep breath as if to steady herself. ‘Who else will join us? People who know me from the club? Do you think they will put two and two together when they see me in all this finery? Oh. I should have brought a mask. They only ever see me with a mask.’

‘Do not worry. We are the only guests.’

The coach drew to a halt and the door opened to reveal a man in red livery. ‘Welcome to Vauxhall Gardens.’

They stepped down and went through the entrance. Thousands of multi-coloured lanterns swinging in the branches of trees and on lamp posts lit the buildings and the Grand South Walks ahead of them.

Damian glanced at her face, trying to judge her reaction. Why the hell had he turned into a block of wood when she had said those words? It wasn’t as if they actually meant anything more than she was happy with his surprise.

They were lovers, yes, but love, true love, didn’t enter into it. How could it, given what he had planned? His throat dried.

She would hate him once the truth came out.

He felt as a huge hole had been carved in his chest. And he deserved it. He certainly didn’t deserve love. He had proved that when he had decided to save himself rather than save his family.

An emptiness hung between them. There was nothing he could think of to say.

‘They lit all these lights for us?’ she said, finally breaking the silence.

‘Yes.’

‘How pretty it is. Magical.’

His shoulders loosened. ‘It is quite the sight.’

She cocked her head on one side. ‘Do I hear music?’

‘You do.’

‘Come, let us see.’ She quickened her pace.

They entered the grove, and gazed at the Gothic Orchestra pavilion where a quintet was playing a waltz. He had given the order that they play nothing but waltzes.

She spun around, looking at the supper boxes and the lights in the trees strategically placed on the dance floor. ‘I can just imagine it full of people.’

It should be full of people. He would take pride in showing her off.

Devil take it, where had that thought come from?

His stomach fell away. He would be showing her off at the ball. But he knew without question that there would be no pleasure in keeping his promise to his father. There would only be pain.

He pushed thoughts of the future away, caught her in his arms and they effortlessly came together into the dance, twirling and gliding among the trees, her face glowing in myriad coloured lanterns.

It was as if they had been partners all their lives. Of course, he was holding her closer than he ought, but there was no one here to see or care.

When the dance ended he led her away from the orchestra to one of the overlooking supper boxes.

Chapter Fourteen

Pamela had heard about the famously shaved ham at Vauxhall, but now here she was, eating it in a private box in the Gardens.

She could scarcely believe that Damian had gone to so much trouble on her behalf. The moment she realised where they were, what he had done, she had entirely lost her heart.

She knew she had fallen for him, but now she knew he was the only man she would ever love. Not that she could ever tell him so.

His reaction to her words earlier had made it perfectly clear he did not feel the same.

It hurt. Terribly. But she wasn’t going to let her sadness spoil the evening. It was not his fault she was the only one in love.