Page 35 of Brazen Rogue
And circumstances his own inability to keep away from her had placed her in too.
Because he loved her, and nothing was too much for Reign.
The Lawrence's ball was a crush, and Bellamy took Reign's hand before entering the house, placing it firmly on his arm. She was a vision tonight in her shimmering, golden gown. Her hair was up in an abundance of curls and jewels, no doubt borrowed from her good friend the Marchioness of Chilsten.
He could not take his eyes off her. So beautiful, regal, and elegant to the beholder. Anyone seeing her would never imagine that only a week ago, she was his daughter's governess, her gowns much less stylish.
Shame washed over him that he had allowed his fear to keep her in that position instead of proposing to her the moment she had reentered his life.
"You look utterly breathtaking, my darling. You will be the belle of the ball this evening," he said, pulling her close, wishing she did not wear long, white silk gloves that stopped him from being able to feel her, touch her as he wanted.
She grinned, her cheeks kissed by a rosy hue. "Why thank you, kind sir," she said, a teasing note in her voice. "Let us hope my attire and company are suitable enough to keep the gossip from shredding my reputation as a fraud."
He frowned, not liking her self-derogatory remark. "We will not allow you to be tarnished merely because you attended my house party and then could not include yourself as much as you like." He winked at her, and she chuckled.
"They know I was not there as a guest. I think this is a mistake, Bellamy."
He could feel her tremble under his hold, and he patted her hand, wanting to comfort her. "Marrying you, playing this game is no mistake. We will make them think they were wrong all along, and they are not bright enough to imagine otherwise. Do not forget we have dukes and viscounts, not to mention a marquess on our side, myself included. They will not naysay our story."
Speaking of all the titled friends he had rallied for assistance, they entered the ball and spied most of them congregated near the terrace doors.
"You see," he said, dipping his head toward their allies. "All the Woodville ladies and their husbands are in attendance along with the Yorks. Thetonholds no chance of winning this war. They ought to relent immediately and raise their white flags."
"I do hope you're right," she said as they stepped in the direction of their friends and comrades-in-arms.
True to his word and much to Reign's surprise, the ball was enjoyable. Nary an eyebrow was raised in her direction when thetonnoticed the acceptance and loving response she had gained from her old friends in Grafton, now ladies who ruled theton,having married so high in society.
She, too, she supposed, would join their ranks in a month when she became Lady Lupton-Gage, a dream she had never thought would ever happen.
"Will you dance with me?" Bellamy asked her, bending over her hand.
Without hesitation, she accepted and let him lead her onto the floor for a waltz. "Do you need to ask me, my lord?" she chuckled as he pulled her into his arms, holding her closer than what was proper. "Careful, or you'll cause a scandal," she teased.
He shook his head, but she saw that he found her comment amusing. "I'm trying to be more like you, Miss Hall. Not so fearful of scandal, maybe I should embrace it more if it enables me to marry a woman as sweet and wonderful as you are."
Had she been ice, she would have melted at his words. She took him in, all his handsomeness, and wondered how she had become so fortunate. How had she been so lucky to have ended up at his estate when she could have been sent to any place in England for employment?
"I'm glad you think so, for I feel the same, my lord." Reign wanted to tell him, to admit that her feelings had always tittered on the edge, leaning more toward love than mere like, but she did not.
He had not said it to her, after all.
"You should have always been mine," he murmured, leaning close, so near that for a scandalous moment, she thought he may kiss her on the dance floor in front of all theton.
The thought sent a thrill through her.
"I've always been yours too, Bellamy," she admitted. The truth of her words no longer needed to be concealed, pushed down where they did not hurt so much every day she lived without him. "Even during all the years I lived in Grafton, hundreds of miles from you, lost to you, my heart only belonged to you," she admitted.
"Had you not manifested at my estate that day, I would have come for you, Reign. I know I would not have been able to live without you forever. Even if our courtship were considered scandalous, I would not have been unable to deny us forever."
She slipped her arm farther about his shoulder, holding him near. "My knight, coming to rescue me. I would have waited even when Mr. Johnson from two doors down from my cottage in Grafton could not alter my mind in marriage. I may have lost you, but I wanted you still."
"A Mr. Johnson proposed? You did not tell me that before," he queried, a small frown between his brows.
She remembered the day she had been sitting outside in her front garden, wondering if the carrots she had planted were ready for harvesting. "His proposal was much less interesting than yours, my lord. He did not get down on his knees as you did." She shrugged. "I could not accept."
"My proposal was most memorable indeed," he agreed, his eyes darkening in need. "Come with me. I want to be alone with my betrothed."
Reign glanced about and noted there were some eyes upon them. "We cannot. People will talk even more, and we do not want to make any gossip for them," she declared.
