Apparently, she could romanticize anything. She sighed. No sense in waiting any longer. She wanted to dance. She smoothed her eyebrows with her fingertips and gathered up her voluminous golden skirts. Mrs. Hartsmeade had even brought her delicate golden slippers that Lord Medford had apparently purchased for her on Bond Street. He must have set the gossipmongers’ tongues wagging with that purchase. Or wait. Perhaps he’d sent Lily or Annie to do it. That would make much more sense. And those ladies seemed so kind and thoughtful. No doubt the sisters had picked out the beautiful little slippers with the golden bows on the tips.

Kate moved to the door to her bedchamber and reached out to pull the handle just as Louisa came barreling through. “Oh, your grace, beg your pardon.” The maid bobbed a curtsy. She was holding something behind her back.

“Did you forget something, Louisa?” Kate asked.

“No, that is to say … I didn’t.” She had a curious sparkle in her eye.

Kate couldn’t help but smile. “What is it?”

Louisa pulled a midnight-blue velvet case from behind her back and presented it to Kate with both hands. “It’s from his lordship, your grace. He wanted to be sure you wore them tonight.”

Kate gingerly took the velvet case and flipped it open with her thumb. “Oh my!” There, nestled inside the cream silk lining, was the most beautiful set of sapphires in a necklace she’d ever seen. They were large, round, and sparkling. And there were matching ear bobs. “He said they’d bring out your eyes,” Louisa said, fluttering her own eyelashes.

Kate was sure her cheeks were turning pink and her chest felt so tight she couldn’t breathe.

“Oh my goodness, Louisa. These are the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. Quick. Help me put them on.” She hurried back over to the looking glass and held up the wisps of hair that would be in the way while Louisa took the sapphire necklace and fastened it around her neck.

“I feel like squealing,” Kate admitted, bobbing on her tiptoes. “But I shall refrain.”

“Duchesses squeal?” Louisa asked from behind her with wide eyes that reflected at Kate through the looking glass.

“I don’t know about all the duchesses, but duchesses who were raised on farms do.” She winked at the maid and Louisa gave her a wide, conspiratorial grin.

“If there was anything for a duchess to squeal about, I’d certainly say these jewels qualify,” Louisa replied.

“I couldn’t agree more.” Kate took two very deep breaths and exhaled.

“I’ve noticed you do that, your grace,” Louisa said, motioning to Kate with her chin.

“Do what?”

“Take two deep breaths every so often.”

“Oh, that,” Kate replied. “Yes, my mother taught me that. ‘There’s nothing two deep breaths won’t cure,’ she always said. Especially nerves.”

“You’re nervous?” Louisa asked, wide-eyed again.

Kate laughed and turned to face the maid. “Why, yes, of course. Isn’t every young woman nervous before a ball?”

Louisa glanced down at her hands. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been to ball.”

Kate winced. She pinched the inside of her arm. Of course the maid hadn’t been to a formal ball before. What possible occasion would she have had to go to one?

“I’ll tell you what, Louisa, come to the ballroom later, wear your best dress, and I’ll ask Lord Medford to dance with you.”

Louisa’s eyes looked as if they’d pop from her skull this time. “No, my lady. I absolutely could not!”

Kate laughed. “Why, of course you could. Why not?”

Louisa’s chin trembled. “Because it’s completely improper.”

Kate waved a hand in the air. “Oh, who cares about being proper? Besides, I’m a duchess and I’ve invited you.”

Louisa looked up at her through long lashes. “Do you truly think … Lord Medford wouldn’t mind?”

“I’m sure he’d be delighted. I had neighbors in the country who used to host servants’ balls once a year. I’m sure he’s heard of such a thing before.”

“Yes.” Louisa bit her lip. “I’ve heard of it too, but we’ve never done it here.”

“First time for everything,” Kate replied. She glanced at the clock on the mantel across from the bed. “It’s nearly ten o’clock now. Come at midnight.”

Louisa grinned from ear to ear. “I might just peek in and see how it’s going…”

“Come in, Louisa. And dance. I insist upon it. If Lord Medford won’t dance with you, I’ll dance with you myself.”

Louisa laughed outright at that, and Kate patted her shoulder.

“Now I must hurry,” Kate said. “Mustn’t keep Lord Medford waiting. Thank you for everything.” She squeezed the maid’s hand and quickly hurried over to the door. She pulled the handle and made her way into the corridor.

Kate nearly flew down the hall, rounded the marble balustrade, and made her way as elegantly as possible to the ballroom. Locke stood at the entrance to the room wearing his finest livery. Her eyes went wide when she saw him. What was the butler doing there?

“Miss Kate Blake,” he announced. Kate was delighted. He’d called her by her maiden name. He hadn’t introduced her as the Duchess of Markingham, didn’t call her “your grace,” and was it her imagination or did the man wink at her when she walked past him into the ballroom?

The moment she stepped through the door, Kate caught her breath. She pressed her hand against her middle and took in the scene that lay before her. The entire ballroom was transformed. It had been decorated as if an arbor had come to life inside. Flowers lined the walls, vines had been brought in, hanging greens were everywhere. Why, the man must have raided every conservatory in the land. Where he’d managed to get beautiful fresh flowers in the middle of winter she’d never know. But they were there, all sorts, including red, red roses. Her very favorite. It looked exactly like a … moonlit garden. Just what she’d requested. Unexpected tears stung the back of her eyes. No one—never her husband, certainly—had ever done anything quite so … nice for her before.

There was a refreshment table off to the far right, and a group of musicians stood behind a wooden screen tuning their instruments.

Kate glanced around breathlessly. She was in the middle of a dream. She was sure of it. A movement from the other side of the room caught her eye.

There he was, standing in the middle of the dance floor, surveying the ballroom, a single red rose twirling between his fingers, his other hand in his pocket. He was wearing impeccably tailored black evening clothes, superfine trousers, a black overcoat, and a shirtfront so white it nearly blinded her. His cravat was tied in a perfect knot, but most intriguing of all was the look he wore on his face. So handsome he took her breath away. Kate quickly glanced down to compose herself. Then she turned her face up again and smiled.

He made his way over to her slowly and she curtsied. “My lord.”

He bowed. “My lady.”

He pulled his hand from his pocket and held out his arm to her. She stepped closer and slid her hand through, marveling at the feel of his warm muscles through his coat. She took a deep breath.

“You are breathtaking,” James said, handing her the rose. “I thought you might like this.”

“Roses are my favorite,” she murmured, noticing that he’d plucked away the thorns. She twirled it in her gloved hand and brought it up to her nose to inhale its sweet scent.

“I remember,” he murmured. “I’ve been sending them to your room every morning.”

Her eyes went wide. “That was you? I thought it was merely a coincidence.” Her chest felt tight again.

“Nothing is a coincidence,” he said. And then, “The sapphires bring out your eyes.”

She sucked in her breath and touched the lovely necklace with the hand that held the rose. “Thank you so much for allowing me to wear them,” she murmured. “They are beautiful.”

His arm dropped away and he turned to look at her with a furrowed brow. “Wear them? They were a gift.”

Her eyes met his and her breath caught. She couldn’t allow him to give her such an extravagant gift. It was exceedingly inappropriate. Not to mention that she hadn’t much occasion to wear jewels nor would she in the future … But it was exceedingly kind of him just the same. She opened her mouth to speak. “I cannot—”

“I hope you’re not thinking it improper of me,” he replied, as if reading her thoughts. “We’re far past improper.”

She snapped her mouth shut. And smiled. She couldn’t help herself. “I was actually thinking … I wouldn’t need them…” She couldn’t finish that thought. She looked down at the marble floor.

He slipped a finger under her chin and tilted up her face to look at him. “Let me worry about that. Tonight is for … dancing.” He let his hand fall away, and Kate knew a moment of regret.

She glanced away, feeling self-conscious all of a sudden.

Twirling her rose between her fingers again, she gestured to the musicians with her hand. “Why are they hidden?”

“I couldn’t allow them to see my guest, could I? The music might be a bit strained but it’s a precaution we must take.”

As if on cue, the music started, and a beautiful song began to play. “Shall we?” He offered her his arm again.

“Which dance?” Her brow was furrowed.

“Ah, I see I shall have to teach you to waltz.”

She shook her head. “Waltz?”

“Yes, it’s all the rage. The Prince Regent introduced it at a ball last summer.”

Kate reached out and slid her gloved hand over his sleeve again. James’s arm was so warm and hard and muscled and, oh, she mustn’t think such things. Apparently, the waltz involved a bit more … intimacy than the dances she remembered from so long ago. He showed her the steps and she did her best to concentrate upon remembering them. But she found it rather difficult with his hand on her waist and the feel of his strong shoulders under her fingertips.