Page 3 of Surrender Your Grace (Impromptu Brides #1)

A fanfare from the musicians soared above the chattering throng in the crowded ballroom, signaling the start of the dance.

Those outside surged inside. For the next hour, swirling colors and a heady mix of perfumes filled the room as elegantly dressed members of society, their jewels sparkling under the chandeliers, stepped, dipped, and whirled to the lively music.

Catching their breath before the supper dance, she and Maggie found themselves reunited. They watched the guests while swapping the newest tidbits they’d gleaned that evening. Then Cici spotted a flash of lavender in the crowd.

When she couldn’t contain a groan of dread, her friend looked at her with concern. “Are you unwell?”

“That might be preferable,” Cici muttered. “Elizabeth is signaling me.”

Maggie turned to see and struggled to contain her laughter. “What is she doing with that ridiculous purple plume? Feathers aren’t her usual style.”

Cici sighed in frustration. “It’s a prearranged signal. My sister has once again enlisted me into participating in one of her absurd plans.”

“What has she come up with, this time? More importantly”—Maggie faced her again, an eyebrow raised in challenge—“when are you going to learn to say no to her, and mean it?”

“Probably never,” she admitted with a hint of shame. “But you can’t possibly understand. You don’t have an overindulged sister like mine.”

“Thank the heavens for that. But dealing with two overprotective older brothers can’t be much easier.”

“Touché,” Cici murmured, although she’d gladly exchange overprotective for selfish and haughty any day.

“Hopefully, this won’t turn into a complete disaster like so many of her other schemes.

Excuse me, won’t you? Oh, and tell Lord, uh…

” She scanned her dance card for the name of the gentleman who had just hurried off to get her a glass of lemonade.

“Give Lord Jamison my regrets, but explain that I had to leave to attend to an urgent family matter. I will see you later this evening and fill you in on all the details.”

“Of course, and, later, I’ll try to arrange for an introduction to Andrew.”

Cici nodded absently, her mind on the task ahead of her, as she headed off. By the time she wended her way through the crowd, Elizabeth was beside herself.

“Cecilia Edwards,” she hissed. “I’ve been standing here for an eternity, waving this silly feather like a ninny.

The viscount invited me to tour the gardens with him.

” Elizabeth gripped her hand, her desperation evident in the bite of her fingers digging like claws into her skin.

“I need you with me, sister, more now than ever?”

“I am hardly a proper chaperone. Let me find Mama.”

Straining on tiptoe to scan the crowd, a hard tug on her arm brought her down.

“I have already seen to that,” Elizabeth exclaimed impatiently. “She awaits us at the garden door.”

“Let me fetch a glass of lemonade first. I am quite parched after the dancing.”

“There’s no time. Why must you be such a trial?” her sister snapped, thrusting her own glass toward her. “Here, take mine. I haven’t touched it.”

Cici drank deeply, parched from the dancing and the heat of the crowded ballroom.

She felt Elizabeth’s eyes on her, puzzled by her sudden interest as she finish the overly tart beverage.

As soon as she swallowed, her sister snatched the empty glass from her hand and set it aside, then her mood shifted again.

Impatiently, she took her arm and pulled her along like a wayward child.

“If you’re done dawdling, we can go.”

They exited into the garden, not bothering to fetch wraps. It was unseasonably warm for March, but there was still a slight nip in the air. The viscount waited just outside the doors.

“My lord,” Elizabeth coolly greeted the man with a nod.

In contrast, Cici’s tongue seemed tied in knots as she gazed up in awe at the Adonis before her.

He was well over six feet and, being woefully short, she had to lift her chin to gaze upon his handsome face.

Facing the house, the light streaming from the windows illuminated his features; startlingly deep-blue eyes, and thick, wavy, dark blond hair brushed straight back off his forehead, worn a little longer than fashion dictated.

Clean-shaven, defying the current trend, he had an appealing dimple in one cheek.

Even more surprising than how breathtaking he was up close was that Viscount Arendale was Andrew, Maggie’s brother.

The sharp swat of a fan to her forearm startled Cici from her dreamlike assessment of the man.Elizabeth glared at her for her inattention. “Cecilia,” she said, only slightly short of hissing. “His Lordship asked you a question.”

Blushing furiously, she searched to recall what it might have been. But she couldn’t. She’d been too busy staring. Gawking, rather. How mortifying!

Left with no choice, she performed a quick, awkward curtsy and offered her apologies. “Forgive me, my lord. I’m overly warm from the dancing, and my mind had wandered to other things.”

It wandered again to how her sister could reject such a man.

*****

The sisters couldn’t be more dissimilar.

One a classic beauty but cool and aloof.

Noticing her discomfiture and the blush rising to her cheeks, Andrew suppressed a smile that would have embarrassed her further and took her hand, bowing low with a flourish.

The younger Edwards girl was a beauty. Although not of the classical style like her sister, her vivid features and nicely rounded figure warranted a second glance.

“Think nothing of it, Lady Cecilia. I merely asked if you had toured the Marquess’ gardens before. They are quite impressive.”

“I haven’t had the pleasure, my lord, but I could smell the roses and lilacs as soon as I left the house and look forward to seeing them, even after dark.”

Her tone, too, was pleasing, unlike Elizabeth’s usual shrillness and impatience.

But, he had already committed his attentions to the elder sister, so he turned and took her arm first, offering his other to Cici who curled her fingers around his forearm with more enthusiasm than her bored-visaged sibling.

They proceeded a few feet ahead, reaching the stepping stones at the entrance to the garden.

Lanterns cast a gentle glow upon the stone pathway and illumined the meticulously maintained flower beds.

In the distance stood a moonlit gazebo. In full view of anyone leaving the ballroom, it didn’t smack of clandestineness or impropriety, yet offered the privacy he’d hoped to find to discuss the betrothal approved by her father earlier that afternoon.

If only they were alone. Unfortunately, societal norms didn’t permit even fleeting privacy.

Still, he had hope a moment might arise where he could issue his proposal.

“I’m told there is an azalea garden beyond the gazebo. Shall we stroll and see if we can find it?” he asked.

Elizabeth nodded eagerly, while Cici hesitated.

“We should wait for Mama. She was to meet us here to chaperone. Isn’t that right, Sister?”

“Yes, I wonder what is keeping her.” Elizabeth glanced around the garden for her missing parent. “She was heading this way before I went to find you, Cici. Maybe she wandered toward the back, searching for us. Oh dear. What if she became faint or twisted her ankle? We should check.”

“It’s a crush tonight. I’m sure she is just detained. Besides, if she preceded us into the gardens, she’s more fleet of foot than you give her credit for.”

Elizabeth forged ahead, taking the lead rather than allowing him to guide them as propriety demanded.

Because of the narrowness of the footpath, he had to drop Cici’s arm.

When he turned to beg her pardon, he didn’t miss the infuriated glare Elizabeth cast her way.

Cici didn’t seem to mind. In fact, it appeared as though she stifled a giggle.

“Is something amusing?” he inquired, finding amusement a strange reaction if her mother was indeed lost or injured.

Caught, Cici’s cheeks colored, the rosy blush noticeable even beneath the night sky. Lovely that.

“Not amusing, my lord. More so ironic since it is my sister whose beauty is usually praised. She is quite stunning in her rose gown, don’t you think?”

“Indeed,” he said, “But your ice-blue satin is a lovely shade too.”

When he smiled at the pretty young lady, Elizabeth practically vibrated with indignation.

Was it his praise of the younger girl’s gown rather than hers that bothered her, or that he’d paid her attention at all?

He eyed the lovely Elizabeth, her beauty striking even in the dim light.

It was disturbing that she begrudged her sister the smallest compliment.

He’d dismissed the whispers of her vanity as overblown, but now he realized they were spot-on accurate.

“Are we actually discussing dresses when our mother could be lying in the shrubs, bleeding or worse?”

“Of course. You are right to be concerned,” Cici replied, her tone chastened. “What was I thinking?”

Elizabeth sniffed inelegantly. “Obviously, you weren’t. But as the concerned elder daughter, that responsibility falls to me. We should make haste and locate her.”

The interplay between the sisters, one deferential, the other demeaning, caught his attention.

Cici took it in stride, just like the previous scolding and fan swat.

She didn’t flinch or protest. Had she always borne this kind of cruelty in silence?

It unsettled him more than her sister’s words did.

He looked from one to the other, battling a frown, as he wondered if he’d made a grave mistake.

As the ladies moved deeper into the garden, he followed, naturally. It was only a short walk to the gazebo, which was calm, inviting, and empty. As were the other paths leading to it.