Mary Balogh - Dark Angel 04 by The Plumed Bonnet

Author:The Plumed Bonnet [Bonnet, The Plumed]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-02-05T12:00:09+00:00

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

Yes, he had. She had seen approval in his eyes when she was coming down the stairs. When he had taken those few steps toward her as she reached the bottom and stretched out his hand for hers, all had seemed worthwhile. She had been like a child waiting for a parent's coveted praise.

Miss Gray. I almost did not recognize you.

Praise would follow. He would applaud her taste in dress and hairstyle—both were slightly plainer than Her Grace had wanted, though her own wishes had been respected.

You have performed a miracle.Mama.

Yes, Stephanie thought now, staring ahead of her, oblivious to the beauty of the exotic plants about her.

Yes, she had forgotten. But that was what had prevented her from enjoying the evening—just that—long before they had even arrived at the Marquess of Hayden's mansion. She felt hurt all over again, as she had felt hurt then.

It was his mother who was to be applauded. Just as if she, Stephanie, was an object.Just as if everything had been doneto her and nothingby her.

You look magnificent. If you remember everything that I am sure she has told you during the past week, you will do very well this evening.

Now she could not stop remembering.

If you feel a little uncertain at any time, remember who you are. Remember that you are my betrothed and that soon you will be the Duchess of Bridgwater.

Was that her identity, then?Her sole identity? She was his betrothed, his future duchess. But yes, of course. That was what the past week had been all about, had it not?Erasing everything else about her that was not that one thing. All her lowly and embarrassing past was to be blotted out as if it had never been.

And she had concurred in the transformation.

Did she regret it, then?

She sat for a long time without knowing the answer. She lost track of time. Although the music from the ballroom was clearly audible in the conservatory, she failed to notice when the one set ended. It was a voice that finally startled her back to the present.

"Miss Gray?" the voice said.

He was alarmingly close. Of course he would have to be. From the doorway he would not have seen her. He had come right inside, looking.

"Miss Gray?" the Duke of Bridgwater said again. "You have been gone from the ballroom for a long time—since well before the start of the last set. I grew concerned. So did my mother. This is not quite the thing, you know."

She drew a deep breath and looked down at the fan she had been clutching unconsciously in her lap.

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