A Season for Love (Completed)

Chapter 4. 1813

James was frozen where he stood, staring at the most beautiful woman before him. He couldn't take his eyes away from her, not for a single moment.  She was an angel, that was for certain.  Her hair was fixed into a lovely chignon, a pair of lush golden curls hanging beautifully on either side of her temples.  Her skin was cream, mixed with a little pink in her cheeks. And her eyes, a pair of beautiful bright blue diamonds staring him straight in the face. 

James allowed his eyes to move from her angelic face down to her body, and he felt his own body respond immediately. Her curves were accentuated by the cream silk gown she was wearing. He knew just by looking at her that she was much more beautiful than Melinda ever was. And her voice when she had spoken to him... that nearly brought him to his knees. Stepping towards her, he extended his hand, not wanting to remain silent for much longer. "Good evening, I do hope I wasn't disturbing you."

The beautiful angel gave him a soft smile, shaking her head. "No, not at all. I was just coming out for some air, it's been quite a stuffy evening."

James returned her smile. "I can understand that, it's been quite the evening for me as well. Are you one of the debutantes for this evening?"

Olivia smiled again, nodding. "Yes I am. Sadly I've had four dances so far that have been absolutely horrible. I have one slot left on my dance card, but no gentleman has asked me to dance."

James Glanced down at the dance card in question, which was attached to her wrist with a lavender silk ribbon. Instinctively, he picked it up and signed his initials into the last slot. Then he brought her right hand to his lips and brushed her knuckles with a gentle kiss. "I don't believe your dance card has an empty slot now."

Olivia couldn't breathe, couldn't even think. The gentleman before her, the sweet beautiful gentleman before her, signed his initials into the last slot of her card. That meant the two of them had the final dance of the evening, a waltz. The most romantic dance of them all, she realized. Her face became bright pink, but she gave him a tender smile. "Thank you very much."

James returned her smile. "You're very welcome. And, I don't mean to pry,  but what is your name?"

Olivia gazed deep into his ravishing dark green eyes and realized that she could trust this gentleman with all of her secrets. Well, almost all of them. She wasn't quite ready to tell him about that night, especially because she didn't even know this gentleman. Her voice became soft. "Lady Olivia Tristan."

James brushed his lips against her knuckles once again, sending shockwaves through them both. "Pleasure to meet you Olivia, I am James Abernathy, the Duke of Norfolk."

Olivia. "Pleasure to meet you your grace. Again, thank you for signing the last slot on my card. I was beginning to fear that no one was going to dance with me and believe that I was a terrible dancer."

James chuckled. "You're very welcome, and I don't believe you are a terrible dancer. I believe you are going to be quite the envy of everyone here."

Olivia's smile faded, and she turned her eyes towards the sky once again. "I don't believe I am going to be the envy of everyone here. Quite the opposite."

James moved towards her. "What do you mean?"

Olivia bit her lip, not sure what she should tell him. She had no idea if James Abernathy new George Churchill, wasn't sure what his reaction would be if she told him that the Duke of Cornwall ruined her a year ago. She swallowed hard. "Well... I simply mean that I don't believe I am perfect like the rest of the debutantes."

James instinctively took her hand, sending another wave of electricity through them. "I believe you to be very beautiful. And very well mannered, unlike the other ladies here that I've spoken with this evening. I can't tell you how self-absorbed some of them can be."

Olivia giggled, the tension leaving her body. "Really? It seems you and I have the same fate. The four gentlemen who I've had the displeasure of dancing with for the last two hours don't even know the quadrille. And the waltz? They are atrocious at that dance!"

James started laughing, the sound peeling off the walls like church bells. "I can only imagine your discomfort! But let me tell you, the young women I've had the misfortune of dancing with this evening have tripped over their skirts the entire time!"

Olivia was laughing by this point, the sound cascading across the walls like wind chimes. "My word, we have both been unlucky this evening haven't we?"

James beamed. "I believe we certainly have. However, I don't believe we are going to have the misfortune of stepping on one another's toes."

Olivia giggled. "I don't believe so either."

Smiling, they walked back into the ballroom just as the final dance of the evening was beginning to cascade throughout the room. As they started dancing together, they realized they felt a connection like no other. Their eyes remained fixed on one another, and they smiled as if they had known each other for longer than 20 minutes. They could feel everyone watching them, but they didn't care. It was quite clear that the Duke of Norfolk and LadyTristan would become quite the match for that season.