Page 40 of The Rake’s Convenient Bride

The receiving line was endless, when all he wanted to do was open the celebration by dancing with her.

Finally, Lord Langston addressed the room, announcing their engagement in his booming voice, beaming with pride when he looked at his daughter.

And casting one of warning to Jasper when his face was turned from the crowd. A message well-received. Again.

“Shall we dance, dearest?” Jasper asked Elizabeth.

Trepidation showed on her face.

He offered his hand to her and vowed in a voice only she would hear, “All will be well.”

In truth, Jasper had been looking forward to dancing with her since their waltz.

In fact, he thought about that waltz far too bloody often.

He only hoped she did too.

Elizabeth accepted his hand as her friends and her parents all exchanged grins with one another. For Bess’s part, she watched them with sparkling eyes, the look of joy on her face such that it nearly broke Jasper’s heart.

This, Jasper realized, this was precisely the reason Elizabeth had gone along with the engagement party she did not want. Every smile turned in their direction came at the cost of her comfort, of her own desires, and judging from the look of love on her face as she regarded them, she had no regrets.

This joy would be short-lived, but at least they could give them tonight.

And at least there was time for Jasper and Elizabeth to enjoy each other until their engagement came to an end.

“Tell your grandmother I said thank you for all the flowers,” Elizabeth said with a side look at him.

“She’ll be delighted,” Jasper answered. “Which have been your favorite?”

“Do you even know which ones have been sent to my home?” She teased.

And he did. Every blossom, every delicate stem, touched first by his own fingertips to be bestowed to her.

Pink roses made him recall the beauty of her sweet blushes. The purple irises that reminded him of the cast of her blue eyes in the moonlight. And red roses for the romance of the evening.

Even if theirs was a fake engagement, he could still be a romantic, could he not?

“The books,” she answered. “Though I believe those might have come from you.”

“I recall you had mentioned when you and my grandmother had spoken at dinner that you had enjoyed Pride and Prejudice.” Jasper recalled every scrap of conversation from their dinner that night. “Once I learned Sense and Sensibility was also by ‘a lady,’ I had to purchase it for you. I do hope you’ve recovered from your illness?”

“I truly loved the books and have already started reading them. And I’m much improved, thank you.” She slid her gaze from his and he had the distinct feeling she was lying.

Had she ever been ill at all?

But would she truly feign it to avoid him?

Before the discomfort of the idea could settle over him, she continued. “The tulips have been my favorite. They’re such lovely flowers. Not that the rest are not. Certainly, the bouquet today was the most impressive.”

As it was meant to be.

Jasper merely smiled as they took their positions on the dance floor.

The crowd went silent.

A waltz.

Of course.