Raw, unfiltered emotions rushed through Rafael like a train rolling downhill at full speed when he saw Willette enter the ballroom. The shape-fitting, fashionable gown she wore was the same shade of light blue as her eyes. Her beauty and grace were enough to stun him, but his shock came from her appearance there at all.
When he’d left her cousin’s garden this morning, he’d been convinced he’d never see her again. Though he’d tried everything, including teasing her, and begging her to sing tonight for him—claiming he had to attend because it was Nora’s party and would never be forgiven if he didn’t make an appearance—she’d maintained her resolution of not singing. She’d thanked him for all he’d done and said it was time for her to return to her father’s house.
Now, despite his disbelief, his feet swiftly carried him across the room to where Nora and others were greeting her. Waiting his turn was excruciating, but worth the smile she cast his way.
‘You changed your mind.’ It was a fatuous remark considering the circumstances, but his normal ability to think was absent.
‘I did,’ she replied. ‘Nora’s been a dear friend for years and it was selfish of me to deny her request.’
He understood, but couldn’t stop a flare of jealousy from forming at the idea that her attendance hadn’t been inspired by him. There was no help for him when it came to her. ‘May I introduce you to a few people?’ he asked while gently clasping her elbow.
‘Yes, I won’t be singing until after dinner.’
As they walked towards the crowd, he said, ‘Which you won’t eat.’ Another thing he remembered from Turnbill.
The blush on her cheeks and the way she shrugged tickled him. The idea that the same woman who had popped a man hard enough to break his nose and blacken both eyes was too nervous to eat didn’t seem to coincide. He was proud of the way she’d taken control of the situation with Barr and had told her as much this morning.
‘There’s no reason to be nervous,’ he whispered, and then proceeded to introduce her to his family, friends and acquaintances with a great sense of pride filling him.
That pride remained and peaked hours later when he sat in the front row, mesmerised by her performance. As was everyone else in the room. The praise had no end, long after her singing had ended.
Later, he found himself outside a circle of women clustered around Willette and was feeling no impatience in waiting for her to return to his side, when his sister approached and laid a hand on his shoulder.
‘Congratulations,’ Gladys said.
‘For what?’
‘On finding her.’
He shook his head. ‘I didn’t find her. I met her at Turnbill a few months ago.’
Gladys sighed. ‘I mean on finding the perfect wife.’
His thickening throat made it impossible for him to feign disagreement.
There was nothing wrong with Gladys’s voice. ‘She sings like an angel and requests for her to perform at events will come from all over, including Buckingham Palace. You, dear brother, are going to make us all so proud by being married to such a refined lady, fulfilling her role as the Honourable Mrs Rafael Williams and mastering the ranks of Society by sharing her gift of singing for the betterment of others.’
For the second time tonight, Rafael was stunned.
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