A Timeless Romance Anthology: European Collection (26 page)

Gina’s gaze moved to Mr. Edmund Donaldson, who stood on the other side of the room. Observing him in such a formal setting was quite different than in the wilds of the gardens. First, she felt more comfortable with social norms keeping them at arms’ length and dictating their conversation and actions.

With so many people around, surely she couldn’t say something embarrassing or do anything foolish like scale a wall. They could talk about their homes, their families, the French countryside— all very tame topics. Mr. Donaldson seemed to converse easily with those around him. He stood with two other gentlemen, both of whom appeared very interested in what he had to say. A blonde woman joined them, linking her arm with one of the men— her father, perhaps?

Mr. Donaldson smiled at the blonde, and the lady blushed. Something in Gina’s heart twisted. The blonde was about Gina’s age, with none of the awkward laughing Gina found herself in the middle of all too often. By the way the lady kept her gaze on Mr. Donaldson, it was plain she considered him a catch— and available.

Gina knew more about Mr. Donaldson than she’d first believed. The more she thought back to what was said in the newspaper and what her father had spoken about, the more she remembered. He’d recently been widowed.

She remembered one morning when her father read aloud from the paper over breakfast. Her mother had admonished her father to perhaps hold back on the lawsuit out of respect for Mr. Donaldson’s mourning.

But her father had pressed forward, with no thought but to see his business continue to grow, no matter who he pushed out of the way in the process. It was why he was such a successful business owner, Gina supposed.

The lady with Mr. Donaldson twittered… was it possible for a person to truly twitter? It fit the blonde perfectly. Gina’s neck warmed, and then the warmth traveled to her face. What was wrong with her? How could she be affected by some strange woman speaking to a man she’d officially met only moments ago?

She must do something to stop herself from watching, like refilling her punch glass. Before she could turn, Mr. Donaldson’s gaze locked on hers from across the room, and Gina found she couldn’t move.

Surely now her face was a decent pink, perhaps cranberry red. Just when she realized she hadn’t breathed for several seconds, Mr. Donaldson’s gaze slid from hers and locked onto something else, changing into a cautious gaze.

What ever could he be looking at?

Gina turned to see her father standing beside her, with her mother hanging on his arm. Her father was also staring across the room at one Edmund Donaldson.

“What is that man doing here?” her father said in a low voice.

“Who are you talking about, dear?” Her mother hiccupped. “Oh. Pardonnnn me.”

Gina felt mortified. Her mother was drunk, and the evening wasn’t even half over, which meant that it would be Gina’s duty to take her mother back to their rooms. Her father would likely stay throughout the ball and play cards or chess with some poor opponent. He was a skilled gambler, although he’d scaled back somewhat due to his wife’s threats of tying up her money.

Her father said nothing to his wife’s question, his jaw tight.

“Is that… weren’t youuuu speaking to that man earlier, Gina?” her mother said. “He is handsome. Mmm-hmm.” She giggled. “I think he’s… ohhhhh, he’s coming over to talk to ussss.”

Gina snapped her head to look. Mr. Donaldson made his way through the crowd, his eyes still locked with her father’s. Not only were the two rivals about to meet face to face, but her mother had started to giggle uncontrollably.

Chapter Six

It took only a few seconds for Edmund to assess the situation. Gina looked ready to flee to the nearest window and shimmy off a balcony. Mr. Graydon appeared as startled as Edmund felt when he’d learned Gina’s identity, and Mrs. Graydon… well, she was a socialite with little to do but fret over her husband and only child, but the boredom had gotten to her, so she dulled it with excessive drinking.

She leaned forward, and Edmund almost blushed at the display of her spilling bosoms. The woman laughed, and by the look of her flushed cheeks and glistening eyes, one more drink would do her in— if she wasn’t done in already. Unfortunately, he was well-acquainted with this situation, due to his own marriage to a pleasure-loving wife.

He extended his hand to the man who looked like he was about to draw a pistol on him. “Mr. Graydon, I wanted to introduce myself. I’m Edmund Donaldson.” If it hadn’t been for the comedic woman at the man’s side, Edward might have felt intimidated. But Mr. Graydon was human after all, and had his own difficulties. Ironically, that meant the two of them had something in common, or at least
had
.

As it was, he felt Gina’s gaze, and the tension in the air thickened.

Mr. Graydon said nothing for a moment, but kept his narrowed eyes on Edmund. Finally, Edward dropped his hand. Would Graydon refuse to speak with Edward after all? Had the bold introduction infuriated him?

“Father,” Gina’s said, her voice cutting through the thoughts whirling in Edmund’s mind. “This is Mr. Donaldson, out of New York.”

“Yes, I know,” her father muttered.

“My dearrrrr,” Mrs. Graydon said, her voice trilling an octave too high. Edmund was familiar with that as well. “Don’t be rrrude. He’s a fellow American, even if you are suing himmm.” She burst into laughter.

Edmund glanced at Gina; her face flushed scarlet with mortification. He wanted to tell her he understood her embarrassment, that he didn’t hold her accountable for either of her parents’ actions.

“Strange meeting you here, of all places,” Mr. Graydon finally said, his hand remaining at his side.

“I was surprised to learn that you were staying at this hotel.” Edmund’s gaze strayed to Gina. When it moved back to Mr. Graydon, a marked frown creased his face.

Mrs. Graydon lurched forward, and Edmund caught her arm to steady her. She laughed. “You
are
handsome. I’m glad you’ve chosen my daughter.”

“Anne!” Mr. Graydon said in a tight voice.

Edmund released the woman’s arm and slipped his hand in hers, squeezing it. “I don’t know if your daughter will choose me, but I hope she’ll dance with me.” He could almost feel darts jab into his skin— ones Mr. Graydon would have thrown if he’d had them on hand.

Mrs. Graydon smiled sloppily and leaned so close that Edmund caught a full whiff of her flowery scent mixed with wine. “Oh, she’ll dance with you.”

With that, Mr. Graydon couldn’t really protest unless he wanted more people watching than already were. Edmund turned to Gina, holding out his hand and ignoring her father.

Her eyes widened as she glanced from him to her parents. But when her gaze met his again, something passed between them— an understanding, a camaraderie, as if they were in this together. Whatever
this
was.

“I’d be happy to dance with you, Mr. Donaldson,” Gina said in a surprisingly steady voice. Not that Edmund thought she’d be nervous, or drunk, like her mother, or anything other than the elegant woman she was tonight. 

Then she said something most extraordinary. “As I promised earlier.”

Edmund heard the unmistakable intake of air from Mr. Graydon as Gina placed her hand in Edmund’s outstretched one. He felt the eyes of the older man on his back as he led Gina onto the dance floor. Edmund guided her around several couples, her hand light in his, until they reached the center.

They were soon surrounded by other couples and out of the direct view of her parents. It was the best he could hope for. He took her into his arms, settling into the waltz position, and as they started to move together, he made the mistake of looking into her amber eyes.

Which made him forget everything he’d planned to say.

Chapter Seven

Gina was on fire. And she wouldn’t be surprised if she burst into actual flames. First, the embarrassment with her mother’s drunkenness and how she’d practically shoved her bosom against Edmund Donaldson. Second, even from dozens of paces away, Gina could feel her father’s vehemence. Although he was no longer standing next to her, his anger wove through the crowd and struck her to the core.

The only thing keeping her from leaving this ruined ball was the man looking down at her with his deep blue eyes. At the moment he’d held out his hand out to her stubborn father, and her father had refused to take it, she’d decided that Mr. Donaldson was better than any hero she’d read about in any novel.

And she wanted him to kiss her.

That might provide a third reason she was on fire, but she couldn’t ask him to kiss her. Not after he’d endured such a cold reception from her parents. Rather, from her father. Gina wished her mother’s greeting had been less exuberant. Especially since her father was suing him, and apparently hated him as well. Couldn’t a person sue another, yet be civil and friendly?

Not likely.
It was too bad, really. She was enjoying her time with Edmund, and she couldn’t stop the smile that appeared on her face.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Edmund said, his tone warming her further. Winter couldn’t come soon enough.

“Better? I haven’t been ill.”
What am I saying?

“I meant…” He hesitated as if unsure, or perhaps even at a loss for words. “I meant that you didn’t seem happy while standing by your parents, but now you’re smiling.”

“I hadn’t realized it, but you’re right.” A small laugh escaped her. “Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh. I often don’t mean to; it just happens.”

His eyebrow lifted, and Gina hurried to say, “It’s a trait I share with my mother, I suppose— the only trait we share.”

“With the exception of the red hair and a few freckles?” he teased.

“Don’t ever let my mother hear that word.” She tried to keep her laughter at a minimum.

“
Freckles
?”

Gina gave a mock gasp. “She’d be mortified to think she has even one.”

“But she—”

“Hush.” Gina placed a finger to his lips. Then, realizing what she’d done, she quickly dropped her hand to his shoulder again.

He looked as stunned at the bold move as she felt. His recovery was much quicker, however. “What else should I know about your mother?” he asked.

Gina narrowed her eyes. “Why? What are you planning?”

“Nothing.” But the sides of his mouth quirked. “I thought if I could impress your mother, perhaps I could impress her daughter.”

Gina’s heart nearly stopped. Edmund Donaldson wanted to impress her? Certainly it had something to do with the fact he was trying to save his company from an ugly lawsuit. Her feet floated back to the ground. She exhaled. “She enjoys her wine.”

Edmund didn’t flinch or act surprised in any way. “My wife enjoyed her wine as well.”

His eyes stayed on hers, and Gina caught a glimpse of their depths. For a moment, their gazes held, saying what didn’t need to be said.

“I’m sorry about your wife’s passing,” Gina said. “I realized after talking to you at the beginning of the ball that I’d read about it in the paper a few months ago.”

Edmund looked past her for a moment, and when their eyes met again, he said, “It was a tragic accident.” He let out a sigh.

Was he grieving deeply? Did he miss her?

They continued to dance in silence for a few more moments. She edged closer to Edmund at the same time he moved toward her. It was as if they’d shared something intimate— an understanding that drew them closer.

“So, Miss Graydon, what were you reading in the garden this morning?”

Gina inhaled. Surely if he knew the truth, he’d see her as some silly girl. Perhaps she should tell him that she was reading… “Shakespeare.” Her lie made her blush. She needed something cold to drink, but the waltz wasn’t over yet.

One of his eyebrows arched. “Which play?”

She did not want to say
Romeo and Juliet
, although it was the one she was most familiar with if he should want to discuss it with her. “
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
.”

Amusement filled his eyes. “Are you sure?”

A small jolt of panic swept through her. “What do you mean?”

“You seem a bit hesitant.”

Gina laughed, if only to cover her embarrassment.
How does he know? He doesn’t. He couldn’t
. “Some may not think reading Shakespeare is entirely proper, so I didn’t know if I wanted to confess it—” She cut herself off when she realized he was stroking her hand.

“Are you afraid to tell me what you were really reading?”

She fell silent as her thoughts tried to organize themselves for an answer.

“Ah. So you weren’t reading Shakespeare this morning.”

Gina opened her mouth then shut it.

“Don’t worry. I won’t reveal another of your dark secrets,” he whispered. “Would you care for a stroll in the gardens?”

Gina’s heart thundered. What might it be like to walk in the gardens with only the moon to light their way? She had never been alone with a man before, at least a man this handsome and intriguing. One whom she wanted to kiss her.

But if Edmund learned even half her fantasies, he’d think her a silly school girl. She absolutely had to turn him down. She was about to come up with an excuse when her father strode toward them.

“I’d better not.” She stepped out of Edmund’s arms.

He turned his head, and she felt him stiffen before releasing her. But he didn’t back down or step away. He stayed close as her father stopped in front of them.

“Gina,” her father said. “Your mother wishes to retire for the night.”

Which meant Gina would have to leave the ball. Her father hadn’t asked whether she wanted to stay. It was understood that Gina would help with Mother. Without a glance at Edmund, her father turned and strode away. Gina wanted to disappear. Her father could be abrupt, but she’d never seen him so outright rude.

She turned to Edmund. “Mr. Donaldson, I—”

“Call me Edmund.”

His voice was so low, she wasn’t sure she’d heard him right. But then he spoke again. “Perhaps I’ll see you tomorrow… morning. In the garden?”