Page 51 of Unseen

THE PARTY AT THE GRANTHAMS

T he door opened just as Mary fastened the diamond necklace around my neck, and I smiled at Azriel in the mirror.

“You look rather dashing,” I told him, and he cocked an eyebrow as he looked me up and down.

“And you, beloved, are a vision.”

Mary smiled over her shoulder at him. “Isn’t she, sir? The prettiest lady at the ball tonight.”

“Well there was never any doubt about that.” Azriel crossed the room, taking a red velvet box from his pocket.

“And I must say, my intuition should be studied. For I knew you’d be wearing green tonight.

” He stood behind me, grinning at my reflection, and held the box up in front of me. “Have a look.”

“More gifts?” I shook my head, smiling indulgently. “It was just Christmas.”

“If you think I have any intention of ever not spoiling you, beloved, then you sadly do not know me well at all.” Azriel’s smile widened, and he dropped a kiss against my bare shoulder. “The neckline of this dress is rather marvellous.”

Gertie ran around the room, yapping loudly, and Mary scooped her up in her arms with a laugh. “Now now, little miss, it is time for your supper. Let your parents get ready for their party.” She looked at me with raised eyebrows. “Unless you still need me for something, madam?”

“No, no, Mary, go and feed her, before she starts eating my gown.” I waved them off, then looked back down at the jewellery box.

“What did you get me then, darling?” I popped it open, and gave a short gasp.

“Oh Azriel, it’s beautiful!” I ran my finger over the enormous teardrop-shaped green stone, dangling from a necklace set with glittering diamonds. “Wherever did you get it?”

“This one belonged to my mother,” Azriel said, unclasping the necklace I was already wearing and laying it on the dressing table.

“A Colombian emerald, handed down to her by her mother, who was given it by her mother, and so on.” He took the necklace from the box, and placed it around my neck, his fingers running over my skin, and he kissed the back of my neck.

“It is only fitting that it now goes to you.”

“Thank you.” I ran my fingers over the stones, and marvelled at them in the mirror. “I think it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever owned.”

“It is indeed.” Azriel’s blue eyes blazed in the mirror as they met mine, and a flush rose in my cheeks.

“If you continue to look at me like that, we will never leave this house and we will miss the party.”

Azriel’s arms wrapped around my waist, and he kissed along my shoulder. “That would, on the whole, not be such a terrible thing, would it?”

I giggled, running my hands over his arms. “I am sure they would be wondering where we are.”

“They can all go to hell.” His mouth roved up my throat, sending a delicious shiver down my spine, and I trembled as his fingers dug into the lace neckline of my dress.

“Azriel, we shall be late.”

He growled against my skin. “I’ll be sure to make you pay for delaying my pleasure later.”

“You may punish me as much as you like.” I turned around in his arms, and grinned up at him. “But for now, I want to dance and dance, all night.”

“Very well, beloved.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “Let us go then.”

The Granthams’ house lay in Highgate Hill, a short distance north of us, and it was lit up like a beacon when we turned down their drive. Carriages milled around the front entrance, wheels immersed in the deep snow, and the wind was icy as I descended the steps onto the frozen ground.

Azriel ushered me inside, and butlers at the door took our coats. Music wafted through the house, and I balked for a moment at being amongst quite so many people. As though he could sense my discomfort, Azriel tucked my arm under his, and gave me a furtive side smile.

“Head up, Mrs Caine,” he murmured. “You are not alone, remember that.”

I nodded, and took a deep breath before he escorted me into the ballroom.

All the light being cast from the house appeared to be coming from this very room, filled with a raucous throng of people, laughing and celebrating and almost drowning out the music.

But it was warm inside, almost oppressively so, and made the chill in my bones abate, and perhaps a little of my fear, too.

“If anyone was wondering where the high society of London is, I think they’ve all landed here tonight,” I said with a chuckle, unfolding my fan and waving it, trying to create some sort of breeze in the hot, overcrowded room.

“The Granthams’ parties are somewhat infamous,” Azriel replied, leaning down to be heard. “Too much drink, too much noise, and altogether too much debauchery.”

I giggled behind my fan, my anxiety giving way to a pleasant eruption of butterflies in my stomach.

I was at a real party, and a furtive glance around the room told me that no one was shooting daggers in our direction, too lost in frivolity were they to even care that Mr and Mrs Caine had arrived.

It was so different to the church, and my shoulders relaxed, my jaw unclenching, and I let out another soft giggle as Azriel kissed my cheek.

“Caine!” Lord Grantham approached us, his cheeks ruddy, betraying just how much he’d already had to drink. His slightly unsteady gaze went from Azriel to me and back again, and he smiled widely. “You made it!”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Azriel said, and I suppressed a laugh. “Happy New Year.”

Grantham took his proffered hand and shook it enthusiastically. “And to you too, my good fellow.”

“Is your wife in attendance this evening?” I asked, and at that moment a loud, almost cackling laugh echoed behind me, and a woman in a blue and white gown, her round belly visible underneath layers of lace, took Grantham’s arm.

“Good evening!” Lady Grantham’s face was flushed, her eyes bright, her reddish hair hanging in curls from underneath a complicated array of feathers on her head. “I have been ever so eager to meet you!”

“My dear, Mr and Mrs Azriel Caine,” Grantham said, patting his wife’s hand. “I talked them into coming.”

“I am so glad you did!” Lady Grantham exclaimed. “Honestly, I told Edward, did I not my dear? I told him that we simply had to have you here. ”

“We are honoured, madam.” I dipped my head to her.

“Oh, it is I who am honoured!” Lady Grantham held a hand to her chest, and huffed out a breath. “Honestly, the two of you, what a love story! Like Romeo and Juliet!”

Azriel smiled down at me. “With a much happier ending, one hopes.”

Lady Grantham let out another loud, garbling laugh, and slapped her husband in the chest. “Oh, but he is funny, isn’t he?

” She ran a hand over her belly as she looked back at me.

“I convinced my doctors to let me stay out of confinement just for this party, and I am so glad I did. Meeting you two was all worth it.”

“You are too kind, Lady Grantham.” I gave her a warm smile, and Azriel stroked his hand over mine.

“May I fetch you something to drink, beloved?”

I nodded my thanks, and Lady Grantham grabbed my hand, dragging me away across the room. “Come and find us, Mr Caine! I need to steal your wife away and talk ladies business with her!”

Azriel smiled after me with a shake of his head, and he and Grantham laughed indulgently as Lady Grantham took me to a corner of the room, and collapsed into a chair.

“You will have to forgive me, my dear, but I need to rest these weary feet!” She puffed a feather out of her face with an upward breath, then smiled brightly at me as I sat down beside her. “You look exquisite, by the way. My husband told me you were pretty, but he vastly understated your beauty.”

“You are too kind, your grace.” I fanned myself, and allowed a quick glance at her belly. “You look lovely, too.”

“Me?” Lady Grantham waved her hand with a squawked laugh.

“I am a whale. I’m sure I’ve never felt so enormous in my life.

I am looking forward to the little fellow being out so I might sleep again.

And the kicking!” She laughed out loud, throwing up a hand.

“Feels like he is taking to my insides with boots on!”

“That must feel so very strange.”

She smiled down at her belly, and ran an affectionate hand over it. “Strange, and also wonderful. It is quite possibly the only thing I shall miss.” She gave me a sneaky glance. “I suppose you and your handsome husband shall be expecting one of your own soon.”

I fanned myself more vigorously, and forced the smile to remain unchanging upon my face. “We can only hope to be blessed.”

“We were all surprised you managed to tie him down!” Lady Grantham looked around the room and leaned closer to me.

“He had such a reputation, you know. So well-liked by the ladies, I hope you don’t mind me saying.

There are plenty of women in the room with us right now who no doubt envy you.

Everyone hoped for the affections of Azriel Caine. ”

“Is that so?” I cast a quick glance around the room, suddenly not feeling quite so at ease.

“Oh, don’t worry about that my dear, we’re all just pleased to see a gentleman like him married.

” Lady Grantham patted my arm affectionately.

“And to such a jewel as well, you are truly the perfect match for him. I mean, look at him.” She nodded in the direction of the door, and I turned to watch Azriel approaching, carrying two glasses of champagne.

“Such a handsome man, it only makes sense for him to be married to an equally handsome lady.”

I turned back to her and took her hand, liking this slightly garish, rather too-loud woman more than I thought I would. “You are far too kind, your grace. I fear you are making me blush.”