She jerked Pygmalion’s leash and pulled him back to her side.
‘I appreciate you, Aunt Alice.’ Lily dropped a kiss on her aunt’s wrinkled cheek. ‘I appreciate all of my family.’
It was then Lily noticed the other Rutherfords watching her from different places around the room. Rose and Edgar, Petunia and Charles stood in a group near the large fireplace, casting more than one concerned glance her way. Even Mother and Father, gathered with their botanist friends, kept turning to take her in as did Laurus, despite his being cornered by one country girl after another. Gregor was right; they loved her. Despite their faults and silly ways, she loved them. They were her family and they cared about her. She’d been wrong to think they didn’t.
Aunt Alice patted Lily’s hand. ‘But you need a family and a house of your own, dear.’
‘Such a thing isn’t likely to happen with Lord Marbrook.’
‘It won’t if you keep lingering here like some wallflower. Be brave, girl, and go to him. He looks like the devil and needs a little Christmas cheer. After all, what are you afraid of? Tripping and falling in front of him again?’ Aunt Alice elbowed her in the side.
‘Your tact is extraordinary,’ Lily chided, more amused than upset.
Aunt Alice rubbed Toddy’s back, unaware of the dog fur clinging to her black glove. ‘You’ll find, dear, when you reach my age, you care little for what people think.’
Lily stared at Lord Marbrook, a new determination welling inside her. It was time to face him and her past and conquer them both.
She wrapped her arms around her aunt’s shoulders and gave her a hug. ‘I think I’ve reached such a realisation much sooner.’
‘Good, then be off with you, otherwise I might never get Pygmalion back.’ Aunt Alice gave her a wink and a playful push in Gregor’s direction.
Lily strode off, following the perimeter of the dance floor, her heart pounding in her chest like the feet of the dancers against the floor. She was about to take another chance with Lord Marbrook, not in the late-night darkness of the hall, but here in the ballroom for all to see. Whatever happened next, it would be discussed for ages amongst everyone who saw it. Whether the results were good or bad, it didn’t matter. Lily was tired of worrying about their opinions, of not living her life because she was afraid of what others might say or think. Tonight she would be brave and take a chance.
Rounding the floor, she made for the wall some distance from him, sliding up to him so he didn’t notice her until at last she stepped in front of him.
‘Good evening, Gregor.’
His attention snapped to her, his eyes widening with surprise before settling into the reserved aloofness which had marked them all evening.
All around them the conversation stilled as people began to watch while trying to appear as though they weren’t. Let them see her, she no longer cared about their opinions, only Gregor’s.
‘Miss Rutherford.’ He bowed to her, his formal greeting nearly scaring away her confidence. He’d used her formal name, not her given one. Maybe he wasn’t waiting here for her to come to him, but hoping she wouldn’t, eager for the night and his visit to be over so he could hurry home and forget this folly and the friendship he’d once wanted.
Whispers began to wick through the crowd around her like the silk dresses of the young ladies twirling on the dance floor. Lily moved one foot behind her, ready to flee before she pulled it back and fixed it beside the other one, then stood up straight. ‘I’m sorry for this morning and the things I said. I treated poorly someone who deserved my kindness.’
His eyebrow rose a touch as he recognised his own words repeated back to him. He said nothing, lacing his fingers behind his back as he continued to regard her with a lack of expression meant to conceal from her whatever he thought of this exchange.
Lily wavered on her feet, worry rising like the applause from the dancers as the music drew to an end. ‘I don’t know if my apology is sufficient to make amends for my mistake, but I don’t know what else to do.’
His stoic mask dropped a touch, his piercing green eyes softening as he let go of his hands and allowed them to fall at his sides. It was the subtlest of changes, but enough to give Lily the courage she need to carry on.
She held out her hand to him. ‘Will you dance with me?’
More than one surprised gasp filled the air around them, but it was only Gregor’s reaction which mattered to Lily now.
‘Are you sure you wish to stand up with me?’ he asked, not in disgust, but with a hope as frail as the small patterns of ice clinging to the windows.
‘I’d consider it an honour to stand up with such a dear friend, someone who deserves my respect because he is one of the most genuine, caring and honest people I know.’
A long moment stretched out as she waited for him to take her hand. Around her the whispers increased, but she remained steady, willing to face whatever consequences her boldness brought down on her.
She was rewarded with Gregor’s solid grip as he took her hand. She curled her fingers around his and not even her gloves could prevent the heat of his touch from wicking through her. He hadn’t walked away, but accepted her apology and her, faults and all.
The people parted to let them pass as he escorted her to the dance floor, gaping at them as they had four years ago when Gregor had stood up with her.
‘We’re creating quite a stir,’ he observed as they headed for the top of the line.
‘Good. I’d like this to be as memorable a Christmas for them as for me.’
‘I’m most happy to assist you in the endeavour.’ His lips curled up at the corners with a mischievous grin as he let go of her and backed into his place at the top of the line.
The weight of his hand lingered in hers as they waited for the other couples to take their places. There was a scramble to secure positions close to Gregor and Lily with no one wanting to be too far away from this curious sight. Even the older guests who’d cared little for the dancing before now crowded around the edges of the dance floor. Aunt Alice stood amongst them, tossing Lily an encouraging wink as she pulled Pygmalion back to her side.
The musician struck up a tune, not a Scotch reel, but a country dance so similar in energy Lily nearly skipped as she moved forwards to link elbows with Gregor. As they spun around, the room disappeared in a blur with only his smile remaining. His hair fell over his forehead as he danced, his smile as wide as hers as they twirled and chasséd in time to the music, the clasp of his hands as sure as his regard for her. Once again he was her Lord of Misrule and she his Queen of Folly.
When it came time to sashay down the line, he took both her hands in his and they set off, eyes locked on one another, oblivious to everything, including Pygmalion, who bolted away from Aunt Alice, his leash trailing behind him as he hurried out to meet them.
It was too late by the time Lily caught the flash of brown at her feet. The dog became entangled in her skirts, knocking her off balance and sending her hurtling towards the floor. In an instant Gregor’s arm went around her waist and she curled back against it as though he’d purposely dipped her in time to the tune.
The violinist scraped his bow against the strings and the flutist blew an off note as the musicians went silent, watching her and Gregor as intently as the crowd.
He continued to hold her, breathing as fast as she did, his hand firm against her back. Above him the candles shimmered in the darkness of his hair. She held on to his arms, unaware of anything except the closeness of his body to hers and the laughter making his eyes dance. He shifted and she braced herself, ready to rise with him and resume the dance, but he didn’t set her on her feet. Instead, he leaned down and joined his lips to hers.
She closed her eyes, savouring the strong