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Authors: Jenn Langston
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yellows or golds with the men in matching waistcoats.”
“Yes. I will be wearing gold.”
Catherine couldn’t keep the excitement from her voice. From what everyone claimed, Lady Laramie hosted extravagant events centered around her travels. She heard the lady never had a guest leave her ball less than satisfied. The theme this evening was to be the desert.
“I’ve attended her gatherings for years, and I’m always surprised by the amount of money she spends on this one night.” His eyes took on a faraway quality. “When I amass my fortune, I would never waste it on silly parties.”
Unsure of how to respond, Catherine smiled and nodded. She couldn’t be sure if he referred to gambling or if the conversation in the hallway was his next scheme to acquire funds. Either way, she didn’t want to have anything to do with it.
“Well, I should probably begin preparing myself for the ball.”
He nodded, and his laughter followed her out of the room. Thinking about his odd conversation made her uncomfortable, but she refused to allow thoughts of her cousin to ruin her enjoyment tonight. Her uncle had paid handsomely for her costume, and she couldn’t wait to wear it. The delicate gold material had shimmered in the light and flowed behind her as she walked. In addition, strips of the same material would be woven in with her golden ringlets.
Everyone would be attired similarly, but she hoped Jonathan would still notice her. The thought stopped her halfway up the stairs, then she stomped the remainder of the way to her bedchamber. Jonathan could never be anything to her, so she needed to stop thinking of him as if he had a place in her life.
As her maid set about fixing her hair, Catherine’s enthusiasm for the evening wore off. She could lie to everyone else, but she couldn’t lie to herself. She still wanted Jonathan Alastair, even after all these years. Every fiber of her being screamed the simple fact.
With the curse upon her, she could never marry him, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy his company. Besides, as she thought over his life, he never married or made any indication his intentions leaned in that direction. That is, after she rejected his suit. If neither of them wanted marriage from each other, she didn’t see any harm in stolen kisses.
By the time she and her uncle arrived at Lady Laramie’s, her spirits had brightened. Excitement bubbled inside of her, not only from the event but also from the possibility of dancing with Jonathan. Uncle Toban didn’t question her overly exuberant self, for which she felt grateful.
Entering the ballroom took her breath away. The sea of gold women moving across the dance floor with their partners emulated sand blowing across the ground. In addition, the shimmering gold fabric covering the walls and the tables seemed to have a life of its own as it danced along with the music. Exotic animals also decorated the space. The effect was incredible.
After they greeted Lady Laramie and merged further in the crowd, the heat enveloped her. Judging by the amount of candles placed around the space, Catherine imagined Lady Laramie attempted to recreate the temperature as well as the look.
The first notes of a waltz filled the air, bringing the glittering couples together. Turning from the dancers, Catherine began to look for a place to situate herself when goose bumps ran up her arms. Twirling around, she saw Jonathan coming toward her. Heart hammering in her chest, she stood immobile, waiting for him.
“You look incredible.”
His voice was sensual, bringing as much heat to her as the desert air. As his gaze flowed down to her toes, her breath caught. His dark eyes devoured her as they ascended back up her body.
“I believe this is my dance.”
Without a word, she allowed him to sweep her into his arms. Although she’d danced the waltz many times before, with Jonathan the dance became something more. It felt indecent to move with him in such a sensual
“Yes. I will be wearing gold.”
Catherine couldn’t keep the excitement from her voice. From what everyone claimed, Lady Laramie hosted extravagant events centered around her travels. She heard the lady never had a guest leave her ball less than satisfied. The theme this evening was to be the desert.
“I’ve attended her gatherings for years, and I’m always surprised by the amount of money she spends on this one night.” His eyes took on a faraway quality. “When I amass my fortune, I would never waste it on silly parties.”
Unsure of how to respond, Catherine smiled and nodded. She couldn’t be sure if he referred to gambling or if the conversation in the hallway was his next scheme to acquire funds. Either way, she didn’t want to have anything to do with it.
“Well, I should probably begin preparing myself for the ball.”
He nodded, and his laughter followed her out of the room. Thinking about his odd conversation made her uncomfortable, but she refused to allow thoughts of her cousin to ruin her enjoyment tonight. Her uncle had paid handsomely for her costume, and she couldn’t wait to wear it. The delicate gold material had shimmered in the light and flowed behind her as she walked. In addition, strips of the same material would be woven in with her golden ringlets.
Everyone would be attired similarly, but she hoped Jonathan would still notice her. The thought stopped her halfway up the stairs, then she stomped the remainder of the way to her bedchamber. Jonathan could never be anything to her, so she needed to stop thinking of him as if he had a place in her life.
As her maid set about fixing her hair, Catherine’s enthusiasm for the evening wore off. She could lie to everyone else, but she couldn’t lie to herself. She still wanted Jonathan Alastair, even after all these years. Every fiber of her being screamed the simple fact.
With the curse upon her, she could never marry him, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy his company. Besides, as she thought over his life, he never married or made any indication his intentions leaned in that direction. That is, after she rejected his suit. If neither of them wanted marriage from each other, she didn’t see any harm in stolen kisses.
By the time she and her uncle arrived at Lady Laramie’s, her spirits had brightened. Excitement bubbled inside of her, not only from the event but also from the possibility of dancing with Jonathan. Uncle Toban didn’t question her overly exuberant self, for which she felt grateful.
Entering the ballroom took her breath away. The sea of gold women moving across the dance floor with their partners emulated sand blowing across the ground. In addition, the shimmering gold fabric covering the walls and the tables seemed to have a life of its own as it danced along with the music. Exotic animals also decorated the space. The effect was incredible.
After they greeted Lady Laramie and merged further in the crowd, the heat enveloped her. Judging by the amount of candles placed around the space, Catherine imagined Lady Laramie attempted to recreate the temperature as well as the look.
The first notes of a waltz filled the air, bringing the glittering couples together. Turning from the dancers, Catherine began to look for a place to situate herself when goose bumps ran up her arms. Twirling around, she saw Jonathan coming toward her. Heart hammering in her chest, she stood immobile, waiting for him.
“You look incredible.”
His voice was sensual, bringing as much heat to her as the desert air. As his gaze flowed down to her toes, her breath caught. His dark eyes devoured her as they ascended back up her body.
“I believe this is my dance.”
Without a word, she allowed him to sweep her into his arms. Although she’d danced the waltz many times before, with Jonathan the dance became something more. It felt indecent to move with him in such a sensual
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