Once Upon a Wicked Night Read Free Page A

those society matrons and gentlemen who suddenly seemed to be observing them with speculation in their narrowed eyes.
    Lord Fenwicke said they were envious. If this was envy, she’d prefer to be a poor dancer, tripping all over her partner’s feet and having them laugh at her idiocy instead.
    “Yes,” she told him, ignoring them all, “let’s find them.”
    “Are you sure you want to go up there?” Serena had asked in the middle of the waltz, in a voice so low no one besides Jonathan could possibly hear her.
    His blue eyes blazed down at her in the way that made heat flush over her skin. “I do.” His voice was low and soft, his tone confident.
    The mere simplicity of the way he said the words washed away all her doubts and fears. They were married now. Nothing could possibly tear them apart like it had so many years ago. Not even an upstairs alcove at the Dowager Duchess of Clayworth’s ball. She took a deep breath and smiled up at him.
    He leaned toward her and whispered in an undertone. “Don’t look, but the dowager’s blade-like gaze is focused upon us. No doubt she believes it uncouth for a husband and wife to spend as much time together as we already have. Let’s escape her inevitable attempt to skewer us and go upstairs.”
    Serena didn’t dare look. She cut a glance up to him. “No doubt she’ll march over here and bodily thrust us apart.”
    Jonathan nodded sagely. “No doubt,” he said on a sigh.
    God, how she’d missed him. Serena’s lips tingled with the desire to kiss him. Reuniting with him here, where they could hardly touch for fear of societal reprisal, was torturous. She wanted to take him home and to bed, where they could spend long, languorous hours together making love… But that wouldn’t be fair to Olivia and Jessica, who needed this exposure to the
ton
. And surprise of surprises, Olivia seemed to be having
fun
.
    She took his arm, and together they walked up the vast, winding staircase. They were both silent as they made their way to the top. No doubt Jonathan was remembering, as Serena was.
    That night… so long ago. To be so in love with someone that you lost all common sense—that was how she’d felt about Jonathan. Nothing had mattered to her. She hadn’t given a fig what anyone thought of her. Except Jonathan. He’d meant the world to her, and she’d just known he felt the same way.
    She drew in a shuddering breath. It was all in the past. She loved him equally now, but with a more rational sensibility. At least, she hoped so.
    They reached the grand landing at the top of the stairs and stood at the polished wooden rail near the musicians, looking down over the ballroom below. The chords of the waltz swelled clear and sweet around them.
    “It’s still magnificent, but somehow… well, it seemed bigger then,” she mused.
    He raised a brow at her. “Did it?”
    She nodded. “I remember feeling like I was swimming in some grand, foreign ocean of elegance and beauty. Now”—she gestured at the crowd of dancers swirling in pairs below them—“it’s just a room.”
    Jonathan gave a low chuckle. “Just a room filled with silk and gold and diamonds.”
    She smiled at him. “You must be spoiling me indeed if I’m beginning to see all these riches as commonplace.”
    “They are commonplace, Serena. What are jewels without someone to wear them?”
    She didn’t need to answer. She knew what he meant. While she’d been struggling in poverty in the West Indies, Jonathan had remained among these people for years. Surrounded by riches but empty inside.
    He slipped his arm around her, but she didn’t stiffen as would probably be appropriate. There were still people wandering this way and that on the landing behind them, and even though the orchestra was busy with the waltz, most of the musicians had a clear view of them.
    She leaned against him and let her eyelids sink until they were half shut. She caught a glimpse of Olivia, her blonde beauty ethereal from this