The Wallflower Wager - Tessa Dare Page 0,73
hands along the sheer silk netting that overlaid an underdress of ivory satin. The gauzy fabric was patterned with tiny pink roses connected by curling tendrils of green. The cap sleeves were fashioned from satin petals layered over creamy lace. A wide band of green velvet cinched her waist, and the daring neckline revealed the perfect amount of cleavage.
“Emma works miracles,” she said.
“The beauty is all in the wearer,” Emma said graciously.
“Let’s hope that undeserving man shows up to appreciate it,” Nicola grumbled.
Penny stood on her toes and scanned the growing crush of guests.
No sign of Gabriel. No sign of her brother yet, either.
Nicola shook her head. “I’ve been saying all along that he’s not good enough for you. What sort of person fails to appear at his own ball?”
“He’s here somewhere,” Emma said. “Most likely occupied with hosting duties. He’ll make an appearance before long.”
A wandering servant offered flutes of champagne. Penny, Nicola, and Emma accepted eagerly. Alexandra declined, in favor of food.
“A toast to the three of you.” Penny raised her glass. “You didn’t have to come, but I’m grateful you did. Especially you, Alex. You should be at home with your feet propped on a cushion.”
Alexandra balanced a plate of refreshments atop her immensely rounded belly. “We’d never abandon you to face this alone.” She nibbled at a sandwich. “Besides, the food alone is worth the effort of attending. You’ve improved on this recipe remarkably, Penny.”
“What do you mean? Which recipe?”
Alex held up a half-eaten finger sandwich. “The sham. It’s not bad.”
Nicola grimaced. “Surely that’s the pregnancy speaking.”
Alexandra offered a sample from her plate. “Taste for yourself.”
“I’ll try.” Emma took a sandwich and sank her teeth into it, then chewed with caution. As she swallowed, her eyebrows rose in surprise. “That‘s almost tasty. What did you change, Penny?”
“I didn’t change anything. Gabriel’s chef must have made it. I had nothing to do with the refreshments.”
“That’s odd,” Alex said. “I assumed you planned the entire menu. There’s not a scrap of meat to be found anywhere.”
“Truly? No meat whatsoever?”
“Not that I could find, and I did search.” She looked down at her swollen belly. “This baby is quite the carnivore. It’s all delicious, though. Onion tartlets, pastry puffs stuffed with cheese, a terrine of mushroom and hazelnuts. There’s a pharaoh-sized pyramid of exotic fruits. The pineapples alone must have cost a small fortune. And, of course, there’s the sham.”
“Oh, Penny. He must truly love you,” Emma said. “Ash and Chase ate the sham. Gabriel made more.”
Penny couldn’t believe it. He must have arranged the menu. Of course, he would have done so days ago, well before their argument today. Nevertheless, she was touched by the gesture. He truly had planned this evening for her, down to the last detail.
Just as Emma had worked tirelessly to create her gown, and Nicola and Alexandra were here to support her, despite the fact that they’d rather be anywhere else.
Yet here Penny was, tucked in a corner.
A wallflower, as always.
Tonight, she vowed, she would be different. She would leave the dancing to those who enjoyed it, but she would mingle, converse, make her rounds of the guests—if only to say that she had done it. Not for Gabriel, and not for Aunt Caroline. For herself.
Penny drew a deep breath and stepped away from the wall.
“Wait.” Nicola grabbed her by the arm, yanking her back. Her voice was frantic. “Don’t go.”
Penny turned to her friend. “Heavens, Nic. You’ve gone white as paper.”
“Are you ill?” Emma laid a hand to Nicola’s brow, testing for fever in motherly fashion. “Do you need to sit down?”
“You look as though you’ve seen a ghost,” Alex said.
“Worse than a ghost.” Nicola shielded her face with one hand and lowered her head. “I’ve seen a fiancé.”
“A fiancé?” Penny echoed. “Whose fiancé?”
She moaned faintly. “Mine, I think.”
What?
Nicola, engaged to be married? Penny exchanged quizzical glances with Emma and Alex. They each shook their heads, as if to say this was news to them, as well.
Penny turned to look about them. “Where? Who?”
“For God’s sake, don’t look!” Nicola arranged the three of them shoulder to shoulder, making a human fence and then ducking behind it. “I can’t let him see me. He’ll recognize me from the hair alone.”
The orchestra struck up the first strains of a quadrille. The dancing was about to begin.
“Come.” Emma put her arm about their flame-haired friend’s shoulders. “We’ll find a place away from the crowd. And then you must tell us everything.”
“Very well. But you have