Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

B eth had considered every aspect of how she looked for the ball.

She looked into the mirror, her lady’s maid fastening the final buttons on her gown. The silk fabric of the dress brushed against her skin. Her hair was done up perfectly, not a thing out of place. She gazed at her reflection, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. Everything had to be right, or else she wouldn’t hear the end of it.

“You look wonderful, my lady,” the maid said with a small smile.

Beth’s lips curved in a polite, faint smile.

“Thank you, Mary,” she murmured, though her mind was already racing ahead to the evening that lay before her.

Behind her, the door opened, and she saw Adam’s reflection in the mirror. He entered the room with the easy confidence that seemed to follow him everywhere, and she wished she could have felt the same. Instead, she had to admit that even though this was what she wanted, her nerves had gotten the best of her.

“You look perfect,” he nodded, that word repeating over and over in her mind.

Perfection. That was what she needed.

“Thank you,” she replied, “You look rather presentable yourself.”

Adam chuckled as he crossed the room to her.

“High praise, indeed, coming from you.”

He reached out, adjusting the clasp of her necklace. His touch lingered a moment longer than necessary, and Beth’s breath caught as his fingers brushed against her skin. When he stepped back, his smile had softened.

“You’ll be the most beautiful woman in that room tonight, Beth. I hope you know that.”

She turned away, pretending to fuss with her gloves to hide the heat rising in her cheeks.

“Flattery doesn’t suit you, My Lord,” she replied, “It is strange to hear it from you.”

“It’s not considered flattery if it’s true,” Adam pointed out, offering his arm, “Shall we?”

Beth hesitated, glancing one last time at her reflection before placing her hand on his arm.

“You’ll be fine,” he assured her, leading her to the carriage, “There is no need to fuss. It shall only make you feel worse.”

Everything made her feel worse, but there was no use in saying that.

Beth sat stiffly on one side of the carriage, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Adam sat across from her, his hands resting on his knees. He studied her, chuckling when she noticed.

“Are you still nervous?”

“Whatever makes you think that?”

Adam raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching.

“Well, you’re wringing your gloves to death. Fear not, they shall not jump off of your hands.”

Beth glanced down, realizing he was right. She forced her hands to still, folding them neatly in her lap.

“It’s just… I know what they’ll say about us. About you.”

“And?”

“And?” she echoed, “Isn’t that enough? They’ll be cruel, Adam. I’ve seen how they treat those they consider different.”

“Let them,” Adam said firmly, his voice steady, “I’ve dealt with their gossip before, Beth. It doesn’t matter to me anymore, not after ten years of it.”

“But it matters to me,” she admitted, her voice trembling, “They’ll talk about you, but also me. They’ll say that I don’t belong there, that I’m just a penniless widow that married the first man that expressed interest in doing so.”

Adam reached across the space between them, taking her hand in his.

“Listen to me, Beth,” he said firmly, “You are my wife, and that alone makes you belong. If anyone dares to say otherwise, they’ll answer to me, and I can promise you that nobody will be brave enough to do that.”

Beth’s breath caught at his words. He believed them, and it made her believe him too. She looked down at their joined hands and took a breath.

“You make it sound so simple,” she said softly.

“Because it is,” Adam replied, “Those people there, they don’t matter, Beth. What matters is us, and that we have a wonderful evening.”

The carriage jolted to a stop. Adam released her hand, sitting back as the door was opened and the steps were lowered.

“Are you ready?” he asked, his voice gentler now.

Beth drew in a deep breath, still completely unsure of it all but steadied by his presence.

“I am as ready as I’ll ever be, and I suppose that is enough.”

“Precisely, now let’s give them something to talk about.”

The Winchester ball was a spectacle, just as Beth had expected. It was the height of society, and Beth wanted to belong to it, but she did not dare walk into the middle of it all. Instead, she stood at the edge of the room. Her eyes flitted nervously over the guests’ faces, all turned towards her and Adam. Some were openly staring, others merely whispering behind their fans or over the rims of champagne flutes, but all of them seemed to be talking about the same thing.

The Earl of Colton and his new English wife.

Her heart pounded. She tried not to pay it any mind, just as Adam had told her, but it was easier said than done.

“They’re staring,” she murmured.

Adam, standing at her side, glanced around the room.

“As we expected. Let them.”

Beth glanced up at him, her brow furrowing. Unlike her, he was utterly unbothered by the attention, and she couldn’t comprehend his indifference to it all. It was exactly as she wanted to be, but she couldn’t quite make herself so.

“How can you be so calm?” she whispered.

“Because, quite frankly, I don’t give a damn what they think, Beth, and neither should you. We are not here for their entertainment. We are here for our own, and so we ought to act accordingly and do what pleases us.”

She craved his confidence, his ability to brush off the judgment. She wondered if it was simply because any fear he had once felt left him and joined her instead.

“I know it isn’t easy,” Adam said, “That is why I left all that time ago, but tonight isn’t about them. It’s about us.”

Before she could respond, Adam extended his hand toward her.

“Come,” he said. “Dance with me.”

“Here? Now?”

“Where else?”

He laughed at her, but it was kind. She knew that she was being quite ridiculous, and that this was precisely what she had wanted, but even so it was not what she had been expecting.

“Trust me,” he said gently, and she lost all defenses.

Slowly, hesitantly, Beth placed her hand in his. His fingers closed around hers, steadying her, and then he led her toward the center of the ballroom. The crowd watched them join, their whispers growing louder as they took their place among the other dancers.

Beth heard all of them and none of them all at once, but Adam squeezed her hand as a reminder of who they were truly there for.

The music shifted, beginning a waltz. Adam’s hand settled firmly on her waist, his other hand lifting hers as he guided her into the first steps.

“Focus on me,” he said softly, “This is the dance we hoped for, and now here it is.”

He led her effortlessly, his movements smooth and confident. Beth followed, her feet finding the rhythm instinctively. For the first time all evening, she felt herself give into it all, following his lead.

“You’re doing well,” Adam murmured, his voice low and approving.

“That’s because you’re leading,” she replied, “Besides, I am supposed to be the one complimenting how far you have come with all of this.”

“I told you, I was already fine enough with dancing. Now, is that what it takes to make you relax? A strong lead?”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t reply, her focus slipping back to the dance. For a moment, she allowed herself to forget the stares and the whispers and looked steadily into her husband’s eyes. She allowed herself to be lost in the moment, in the warmth of Adam’s hand on her waist and the way his presence seemed to shield her from the ton.

When the music ended, Adam led her to the edge of the dance floor, his hand still resting lightly on the small of her back. Beth’s heart swelled with gratitude and something else, something she couldn’t quite name.

“See?” Adam said, “That was not so bad, was it?”

Beth opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, a voice interrupted them.

“Lord Colton,” a woman’s voice called.

Beth turned to see yet another stately matron approaching. She carried herself with the practiced grace of a seasoned member of the ton, her fan fluttering idly in her hand as she fixed Adam with a pointed smile. She knew what was coming, and she longed to be back on the dancefloor.

“Good evening,” Adam greeted.

“How delightful to see you back in London,” she continued, “We were beginning to wonder if you’d abandoned us entirely.”

“I would never do that,” Adam replied kindly, unaffected by the matron.

Beth, on the other hand, most certainly was.

“No, of course not. I see you’ve brought your charming new bride with you. Lady Colton, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” she managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I must say, it’s quite the surprise. After all, we’d all assumed… Well, no matter. It’s wonderful to see Lord Colton settling down at last.”

Before she could respond, Adam stepped forward.

“Your concern is touching,but I assure you, my wife and I are perfectly content. Isn’t that what matters, when all is said and done?”

Lady Worthington blinked, taken aback. She recovered quickly, her smile faltering only slightly.

“Of course, My Lord. We are all so happy that you have found happiness. I simply meant to–”

“To what?” Adam interrupted, “Remind me of my reputation? Gossip about my choices? Forgive me, but I have no interest in entertaining your little hobby, for I have more important ways to spend my time.”

Beth’s eyes widened, her pulse quickening at the force of his words. The surrounding crowd had fallen silent, their attention fixed on the confrontation. Somehow, though it was not made worse by them watching.

“You misunderstand me, My Lord. I meant no offense.”

“Good. In that case, we’ve nothing more to discuss.”

He turned, his hand returning to Beth’s as he guided her away from the stunned matron. Beth followed in silence, her heart pounding. When they reached a quieter corner of the room, she finally found her voice.

“Adam, you didn’t have to–”

“Yes, I did,” he said firmly, “No one speaks to you like that, Beth. Not while I’m here. Soon enough, you will know to speak for yourself in these instances.”

Beth did not know what to feel, just that whatever she felt was a lot. She wasn’t used to being defended, nor having someone stand between her and the judgment of the world. It was overwhelming, almost too much to comprehend, and it would have been if she did not have Adam beside her to keep her in place.

“You didn’t have to embarrass her,” she said softly, though the words lacked conviction.

In truth, she was quite glad that he had done so; it might serve as a warning.

“I was merciful, believe me. She deserved worse.”

Beth stared at him. For all his rough edges, Adam was fiercely loyal, and utterly protective, and in that moment she realized she didn’t mind his at times necessary bluntness. She didn’t mind at all.

“Thank you,” she said finally, to which he laughed.

He reached for her hand, his fingers lacing through hers and his eyes holding her together.

“There is no need to thank me. I will always protect you, Beth.”

They continued on, Beth determined to enjoy her evening. The whispers hadn’t stopped, but for the first time in her life, she didn’t care.

She had Adam by her side, and that was enough.