Page 15 of The Taming of the Countess
Eighteen years later
‘I do not want to go to a ball, Mother,’ her daughter Mari moaned. ‘Why is it necessary?’
Evie smiled and opened up a trunk of her older ball gowns. ‘It’s a family Christmas tradition. My mother forced me to go, years ago, even though I didn’t want to. And I ended up marrying your father because of it.’
The ball was being hosted by the Earl and Countess of Arnsbury, in honour of their eldest daughter, Catherine. They had been married nearly as long as James and herself, and no one had ever questioned Matthew’s claim to the earldom again. Arnsbury had banished his cousin Adrian to America, after he’d bought up all the man’s debts, and thankfully, they had never seen him since.
James chose that moment to enter the room, a bemused smile upon his face. Though his brown hair was now tinged with grey, he was still as handsome as ever.
‘Your mother was, and still is, the most beautiful woman in London,’ he remarked. ‘And as I recall, she had some rather memorable gowns. You might wish to borrow one of them, Mari. I quite fell in love with her when I saw her in them.’
‘Now, which one was your favourite?’ Evie teased. ‘The one the colour of mouse fur or the one the colour of horse dung?’
Her husband winked at her, and she smiled slowly with a promise for later. When she turned back to the dresses, she held up a brown one, and Mari’s face held horror as James laughed. ‘Both were indeed eye-catching.’
‘You are not serious.’ Mari stared at them. ‘I would never wear a gown like that. Why would you, Mother?’
‘Your mother could have worn anything, and she captivated my full attention,’ James said.
‘I see no reason for me to attend a Christmas ball,’ Mari said to Evie. ‘I don’t even like to dance.’
‘But there will be cake,’ Evie countered.
‘That’s not a reason to go.’ Her daughter sighed and pleaded, ‘Don’t ask me to do this, Mother. I don’t know why you ever agreed to the invitation.’
‘When I was your age, I attended family balls because it was expected of me,’ Evie said. ‘And you will do the same.’
‘But it will be awful,’ Mari moaned.
‘It won’t be. You’ll see your friends, and you might meet someone. It’s how I fell in love with your father.’ She tried to reassure her daughter, but Mari would have none of it.
‘We’re not the same,’ Mari insisted. ‘I’m not going to find a husband.’
‘You might be surprised,’ Evie countered. ‘Contrary to what your father says, there was a time when he was adamantly opposed to marriage.’
‘You changed my mind,’ he said, leaning down to steal a kiss.
‘Will you both stop?’ Mari pleaded. ‘It’s bad enough that the two of you still kiss each other around all of us. It’s not respectable.’
Evie saw the glint in her husband’s eyes, along with the promise that they could be quite disrespectful later on. She smiled at him as she put the ball gown away, for she fully intended to make good on that promise.
‘I used to be a wallflower, you know,’ she told her daughter. ‘Before I became the worst sort of shrew.’
‘You’re lying,’ Mari accused. ‘You could never be a shrew. You’re entirely too nice to everyone.’
‘Oh, I assure you, I was,’ Evie answered. ‘I had a dreadful reputation.’
‘The worst,’ James teased, offering his hand as she turned around.
‘Indeed.’ But it was clear that their daughter didn’t believe a word of it. Evie continued, ‘Truly, Mari, all I want is for you to be yourself. And if a gentleman doesn’t like who you are, let him be. He’s unworthy of you.’
‘And if he dares to take liberties, your mother will shoot him,’ James said. ‘She is an excellent shot, after all.’
Their daughter gave a groan of disbelief and left the room. After she was gone, Evie turned back into her husband’s arms. ‘Just think, James. We only have to endure this four more times.’
He leaned in to kiss her. ‘Five daughters and two sons. I never imagined we would have such a family. But I’m glad of it.’
‘So am I.’ She embraced him hard, so grateful for all the years of happiness they’d shared together.
And all the years still yet to come.
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