Page 176 of Secluded with the Rogue

Belle curled her fingers about Calvin’s arm. Her brother’s party was underway, and it was nothing less than a spectacular crush.

The first ball was always open to everyone. Guests had arrived from all corners of England, and plenty more had walked or taken a sleigh ride over from Marlowe Castle or the nearby cottages.

Calvin was nervous among so many strangers, so Belle had made it her mission to ensure all the familiar faces did not remain strangers to him for long. It was thrilling to introduce Calvin as her betrothed. Who would have thought that one day Belle would overshadow her important brother at his own party?

But more importantly, she wanted Calvin to feel at ease and at home, so he could come to love Cressmouth just as much as she did. As for him becoming beloved in return, he was well on his way. Vale had dozens of the Fit for a Duke illustrations hung up about the ballroom, and everyone wanted to speak to the visionary who had designed them... and hint that they wouldn’t mind their names being at the top of the list when the first catalogue was ready for orders.

“Congratulations, you two lovebirds!”

Belle turned toward the cheery felicitations with a smile. “Calvin, this is my good friend Eve le Duc. She runs the Cressmouth Gazette, a broadsheet delivered monthly to aficionados of our Christmas village all over the country. Eve, this dashing gentleman is the subject of your next front-page column. You won’t want to miss your chance to have an exclusive interview with up-and-coming fashion designer and reclusive genius Calvin McAlistair.”

“I would love to.” Eve had always had ambition, but her eyes positively shone at the idea of publishing an exclusive interview before the big London broadsheets got wind of it. “My office is in the castle. You can drop by or send a note round, and I’ll come here. If I arrange a few things...” She tilted her head in thought. “Yes! You’ll be in the January issue.”

“I hope you’ll be mentioning my betrothed as well,” Calvin said gruffly, giving Belle’s hand on his arm a little squeeze. “I am no lone genius, but rather part of an equally matched team. Belle is an integral part. She not only painted all the illustrations in this room, she also innovated clever ways of promoting Fit for a Duke.”

“I’m not the genius he makes me out to be,” Belle said, but her cheeks flushed with warmth all the same. “Eve, tell me. What is the primary reason a man who is not a dandy would spend comparable attention to his toilette?”

Eve didn’t even need to think it over.

“To attract winsome ladies,” she said with a laugh. “Am I right?”

“Of course you’re right.” Belle grinned back at her. “I’m painting a series of ‘before’ and ‘after’ sketches, in which our dear sir is all alone in unimaginative duds, and then becomes the life of the party once he’s clothed in attire fit for a duke.”

Eve’s eyes sparkled. “If you can provide a simple woodcut by Thursday, I’ll run it in the January paper. It’s always the most popular because everyone wants to see what they missed over Christmas.”

Belle nodded. “I’ll see that you have it.”

“In fact,” Calvin added, “we’ll be releasing a collector’s edition compilation of Belle’s illustrations sometime this spring.” He gazed at her with pride. “Two books in one year!”

“Two?” Eve repeated in surprise. “What is the first book?”

“Watercolors of life here in Cressmouth,” Belle admitted, with a glance up at Calvin beneath her lashes. “I’ve been painting such scenes for years, but never had the courage to see them published until now. It’s not certain yet, of course. We haven’t spoken to any publishers.”

“It’s certain,” Calvin said firmly. “They will fight amongst themselves to be the chosen publisher.”

“I have no doubt,” Eve agreed, then winced.

He frowned. “What is it?”

“Oh, I just saw my husband talking to Belle’s brother and realized I hadn’t paid my respects yet. If you’ll excuse me for a quick moment?—”

“Wait,” Belle stammered. “Did you just call His Grace... ‘Belle’s brother?’”

“Well, of course.” Eve stared at her quizzically. “That’s who he is. Oh, to be sure, he’s also now the Duke of Nottingvale et cetera, et cetera. But like most everyone in this village, I’ve known the two of you since we were small. Belle, and Belle’s brother. Easy to remember.”

And with that, Eve was gone.

Belle stared up at Calvin. “Did you hear that?”

The corners of his lips quirked as he valiantly tried to hide a smile. “I did. Would you care to explain again who has been living their life in whose shadow? I suppose it’s too late to rename the company ‘Fit for Belle’s brother.’”

She burst out laughing. “Don’t tempt me. That sort of mischief is what sisters are for.”

He affected an innocent expression. “And what are wives for, may I inquire?”

“I’d rather show you,” she answered wickedly. “I hope your dance card is empty. This ballroom is too crowded to spy one’s hand in front of one’s face. No one will notice if we go missing for a set or two.”

“Or three... or four...” His eyes filled with heat and love.

They never did return to the ballroom.

What exactly happened between handsome drifter Jonathan MacLean and local jeweler Angelica Parker during that snowstorm?