Secret Brides [3] Secrets of a Scandalous Marriage by Valerie Bowman Page B

my life, before I was married. It was so beautiful and perfect. It was the last time I can remember being happy. Wearing beautiful clothing and enjoying myself. Dancing and laughing and not having a care in the world. I know it’s winter and I know we cannot have guests and moonlit gardens and champagne on the balcony, but oh, James, I want to dance.”
    James gave her a conspiratorial grin that made her heart beat faster again. “If it’s a ball you desire, my lady, a ball you shall have.”

 
    CHAPTER 15
     
    When Mrs. Hartsmeade and two maids arrived in Kate’s bedchamber that afternoon armed with pins, scissors, thread, and fabric, Kate didn’t know what to make of it.
    “His lordship has instructed us to make you a ball gown,” Mrs. Hartsmeade announced.
    “A what?” Kate asked, turning in a circle while Louisa measured her waist.
    “A ball gown, your grace,” Louisa replied with a bright smile.
    “His lordship says he regrets he couldn’t have the finest seamstresses from Bond Street come to work on your gown, but he couldn’t risk the … well, you know.” Mrs. Hartsmeade glanced away.
    Kate nodded. “It’s certainly very nice of him and all of you, but I don’t need a real ball gown—”
    “No, your grace, he insisted upon it. He picked out the color himself. This gold.” She handed the swath of lovely satin fabric to Kate. “‘It’ll bring out the highlights in the duchess’s hair,’ he said. Though I doubt he’d like it if he knew I repeated such a thing to you.” Mrs. Hartsmeade smiled, and Kate swallowed and pressed her hand to her belly where butterflies had just taken flight.
    “He said that?” she asked, feeling like an eighteen-year-old about to make her debut again.
    “He did,” Louisa reassured her. “I heard him.”
    Kate bit back her smile. She reached out and gingerly touched the gold satin. It was the most beautiful fabric she had ever seen. Why, she couldn’t have picked better herself. “Then, by all means, let’s make me a ball gown.”
    By the time the afternoon was over, Kate and the three servants had giggled themselves silly deciding upon all the details of the gown including the décolletage. “Lower,” Kate had insisted, making Louisa blush. She was being improper, no doubt, but this might well be her last chance to dance with a handsome man at a ball in a low-cut gown. And she wanted to live after all.
    By the time Mrs. Hartsmeade ushered Louisa and the other maid from her bedchamber, the gown had been entirely designed, was well on its way to being made, and Kate had smiled more than she had in an age. She threw herself on her bed and hugged her pillow. A ball. She was going to attend a ball. And with the ever-so-dashing Lord Medford. She kicked her legs against the cool sheets and squealed into the pillow.
    *   *   *
    It was two days later before the gown was complete. Kate had spent those two days in a completely unsuccessful attempt to write the pamphlet. She’d spent time reading Lily’s and Annie’s pamphlets over and over again, hoping one or both would spark some idea for her. Make her come up with some formula for success. Both of their pamphlets hinted at scandal and had a bit of a warning tone, but Kate couldn’t imagine how hers ought to be. It would not be a confession. Nor a plea for mercy. She just wanted it to be … honest. Just what James had asked of her. To tell her story, in her words. But what if no one believed her? What if the pamphlet was not a top seller as James had predicted? What if copies were burned in the street? Burned … She gulped. She couldn’t think about that. She must do her best.
    Mrs. Hartsmeade came into the study on the second afternoon to announce the ball gown’s completion. She and the girls had worked day and night to sew the fabulous garment and after a few fun fittings, they were ready to declare it finished.
    “It’s beautiful,” Kate said, touching the wide skirt reverently, tracing her