Read The Bride Behind the Curtain for Free Online Page B

frowns.”
    Before she could answer this, the music drew to a close and they had to let go of each other in order to join the general applause. James held out his arm again, and Adele smiled up at him as she laid her hand in place. His heart stirred to see it. So did several parts far lower down. He ignored the unruly beast and concentrated on steering Adele through the crowd, but soon it was his turn to frown. Patience had joined the Delacourte sisters, and they were all waiting to pounce.
    â€œHave you a friend to whom I can escort you?” he asked.
    Adele hesitated. “No . . . Wait, yes. Helene Fitzgerald. She’s over there, in the gray.”
    â€œ
Bon.
” He put their backs to Patience and guided Adele through the crush.
    ***
    I want to die, right now. I want waltzing with James Beauclaire to be the very last thing I ever do. Nothing could possibly be more wonderful.
    Except maybe the look on Patience’s face as she watched M. Beauclaire lead her dumpling sister about the dance floor. That, however, was wicked and unkind, and she must not think it. Except she had, and she probably would again.
    Usually about this time, Adele would be trying to work out how to sneak something from the refreshment table without earning a lecture from her aunt, or perhaps just sitting in the corner, watching the gathering and waiting for dinner. For just this one time, things were different, and she meant to savor each delectable minute.
    She knew herself to be a terrible dancer. Her masters had carped and criticized until she felt barely able to try. So she’d suffered a moment’s panic when James’s arms folded around her. But somehow, looking into his eyes and feeling his hands on her, she’d been comfortable instead of awkward, and even though she was nervous, she was also glad. This devastatingly handsome man, who had half the fashionable world sighing after him, looked at her and smiled like he saw past the bad dress and unflattering hairstyle. He remembered their secret. He even joked about it and made her relax. What was more, in these few moments, she not only felt she could really be herself, but that she wanted to be.
    But those moments were quickly over. It seemed to take them only a heartbeat to cross the ballroom and reach the place by the wall where Helene Fitzgerald stood in a plain, gray satin gown. Beside her, and partly behind her, hovered a petite girl with strawberry blond hair, who gazed at Adele and James with a look somewhere between awe and abject terror.
    James bowed to them both with perfect aplomb. “Good evening, Lady Helene. James Beauclaire, at your service. We met last year, at Lady Pritchard’s, I think it was.”
    Helene met his gaze with an arctic air, but curtsied politely. James smiled and turned to the red-haired girl beside her. “I do not believe I have had the pleasure?”
    â€œMonsieur Beauclaire, may I introduce my friend Miss Madelene Valmeyer,” said Helene.
    â€œ
Enchanté, mademoiselle
.” He bowed over her hand, but something clearly caught his eye. His mouth moved silently, and Adele had the distinct feeling that what he said was not a polite word.
    â€œWell, Monsieur Beauclaire, there you are!”
    Adele suppressed her own impolite exclamation, because it was Patience, at her sparkling finest, bearing down behind them, and Aunt Kearsely with her right on her heels. They’d noticed that Adele was dancing, and that near-unprecedented occurrence clearly required a timely intervention.
    â€œI told you he had not abandoned us, Aunt.” Patience smiled up at James, all eyes and teeth and glitter, and, incidentally, stepping right between him and Adele.
    â€œHow are you enjoying yourself, Monsieur Beauclaire?” Aunt Kearsely fluttered her fan, clearing the air for more flattery.
    M. Beauclaire looked over their heads, and Adele saw him wink. “Wonderfully, Madame,” he said to her aunt.