His Most Suitable Bride (22 page)

“She’s come into her own.” He caught Callie’s eye across the dance floor. She smiled at him over Ferguson’s shoulder.

The tautness in his chest lightened as he returned the gesture.

Fanny followed the direction of his gaze. “I hadn’t realized you and my sister...” She broke off. “That is, I hadn’t considered that you two would form an...an affection in my absence.”

He rolled his gaze back to her. “We don’t need your permission.”

“No, you don’t. I meant what I said the last time we spoke, Reese. I wish you nothing but the greatest happiness in life. If my sister makes you smile like that, more the better.”

His feet paused, the barest of seconds, before sweeping them into a series of fast turns that left no opportunity for further conversation.

Fanny broke the silence between them as the music hit the final chords. “Reese?”

He guided her through a simple, three-step turn. “Yes?”

“I’m glad we never married.” She angled her head and studied his face. “I believe you are equally relieved.”

He nodded. “We would have had a comfortable life together. But I have recently discovered I want more out of marriage.”

He glanced over at Callie and saw his future unfold, a future full of laughter and happiness, children and family, freshly baked cookies and battles with toy soldiers.

He turned his gaze back to his dance partner. “I should have never proposed to you, Fanny.”

“I should have never said yes.”

The waltz came to an end, as did the remaining threads of uneasiness between them. They’d needed this final confrontation. Had needed to meet again and say their proverbial farewells.

Reese could go forth into the future confident his relationship with Fanny was firmly in the past. He offered his ex-fiancée his arm.

She took it without hesitation. “Thank you for the dance.”

“The pleasure was all mine.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

“T
he evening is an unqualified success.” Mrs. Singletary made this pronouncement from the edge of the dance floor.

Callie stood restlessly by her side, wondering when the ball would come to an end. Not for several hours at least. The clock had just struck midnight and the crowd showed no signs of thinning. In fact, the heavily populated dance floor seemed to have grown denser in the past half hour.

She stifled a sigh and struggled to arrange a pleasant look on her face. “Everyone seems to be having a marvelous time.”

“Of course they are, dear, we left nothing to chance. The decorations are lovely, the food superb, the music divine.” As if she were a queen and the party guests were her beloved subjects, the widow cast a fond smile over the room. “I am quite pleased with the turnout. I predict the new hospital wing will be fully funded by the end of the night.”

A blessing, to be sure. Yet Callie couldn’t shake the terrible sense of foreboding that tugged at her. She hadn’t spoken with Reese since he’d danced with her sister. There’d been no real opportunity. Fanny’s sudden arrival seemed to have sparked even more female interest in Reese. He was the most desired dance partner at the ball.

For the past hour he’d wound his way through hordes of smiling admirers. He barely took a step away from one woman when another appeared by his side. They each received a word or two, some a request to dance. He was so gallant, so handsome, so
sought after.

“...and despite the brief scene your sister’s arrival created.” Mrs. Singletary continued the conversation, ignoring Callie’s lack of response. “Or perhaps because of her ill-timed appearance, tonight’s ball will be talked about for months to come.”

Though Callie had missed most of the widow’s words, she couldn’t argue that last point. Fanny had made quite the memorable entrance. Hours later, people were still whispering about her return. Many openly wondered what the estranged couple had said to one another during their sole dance together.

Callie would like to know the answer to that question herself.

The widow clasped her hands together in glee. “I believe this year’s ball has proven even more eventful than last year’s, when your brother accomplished quite the coup d’état.”

Callie’s smile came easily as she remembered how Garrett had dropped to one knee right in the middle of the dance floor. A hush had fallen over the crowd as he’d taken his childhood sweetheart’s hand and uttered seven simple heartfelt words.
Molly Taylor Scott, will you marry me?

Of course, Molly’s answer had been yes.

Wistfully, Callie wondered if Reese would utter similar words to her.
Callie Anne Mitchell, will you marry me?

Perhaps he wouldn’t propose at all now that Fanny had returned. There’d been no chance to discover how he really felt about her sister’s appearance.

For the past hour, Callie had been relegated to watching him take a turn across the floor with seven different partners. She’d counted every one of them. Now he was dancing with Temperance Evans.

“Speaking of your family...” Mrs. Singletary turned her head to Callie, a question in her gaze. “Where is Fanny?”

Though her sister had danced nearly as many dances as Reese, with as many different partners, she’d gone missing in the past ten minutes.

“I’m not sure,” Callie admitted. “Perhaps she’s at one of the buffet tables.”

“Perhaps.” Something came and went in the widow’s eye, something a little sneaky. “It would seem Mr. Hawkins has gone missing, as well.”

Before Callie could respond, Reese’s father appeared.

He greeted the widow first. Then turned and bent over Callie’s hand next, giving her curled fingers a polite kiss. The gesture was very smooth and perfectly executed.

“Miss Mitchell.” He straightened. “May I have the honor of this dance?”

“Oh, I... You wish to dance with me?” She’d assumed he’d come over to ask the widow.

“Other than your exquisite employer—” he winked at Mrs. Singletary “—you are the most beautiful woman in the room.”

The compliment warmed her bruised heart. Until he’d uttered those kind words Callie hadn’t known how much she needed to hear them.

Shielding her gratitude behind lowered lashes, she took his offered hand. As they pirouetted across the floor, Callie allowed herself to enjoy the dance,
another
waltz, with a partner she liked and admired a great deal. If Reese did ask her to marry him, if he truly loved her as Mrs. Singletary claimed, Callie would take great pleasure in having this man as her father-in-law.

He effortlessly took her through a series of turns then smiled into her eyes. “I trust you are enjoying yourself this evening?”

Her gaze caught hold of Reese and Miss Evans twirling together just off to their left. Why did he have to look so...pleased with his dance partner?

Callie forced a tremulous smile on her lips and focused her full attention on her own partner. “While tonight has had its special moments—” the loveliest when she’d danced with Reese “—to say I’m enjoying myself might be a bit of an overstatement.”

“Ah.” His eyes took on a sympathetic light. “Your sister certainly caused a stir with her arrival.”

“I believe that was her aim.” Now that she’d had time to consider Fanny’s behavior, Callie thought she understood her motives. “She probably assumed it would be best to face the bulk of the gossip all at once.”

Even as a child, Fanny had tackled the worst of any situation first, saving the less challenging tasks for last. Her favorite saying had always been
Let’s get this over with, shall we?
The more Callie chewed on the notion, the more she thought she understood why Fanny had arrived at the ball unannounced.

Had her sister explained her actions to Reese? Callie’s gaze sought his. He wasn’t looking at her. He was too busy smiling at something Miss Evans said.

Sniffing in irritation, she swung her gaze back to her partner.

Another gleam of sympathy sparked in Mr. Bennett’s eyes. “Do not despair, my dear. My son can be slow on the uptake, but he’s a very smart man. He will come around, given time.”

Did she want Reese to
come around?

No, she wanted him to love her without reservation. She wanted him to give her his heart freely. She wanted him to ask her to marry him without having to “come around” to the idea after the elimination of other potential brides.

If Reese continued to hold on to his determination not to love again, they could never be happy together. One, or both of them, would grow to resent the other.

Hopelessness filled her very bones, but Callie refused to allow her misery to show on her face.

“Have faith, Miss Mitchell.” Mr. Bennett gave her another kind smile. “The Lord has the particulars of your future already worked out. When the time is right, you and Reese will find your way to happiness.”

“How can you be so certain?”

“I have prayed on the matter.”

“You...have prayed for Reese and me?”

“I have, and I’m fully confident all will turn out well.” The waltz ended. Mr. Bennett stepped back and dropped his hands to his sides. “Smile, Miss Mitchell. Here comes my son to claim the next dance.”

The moment after she thanked him for his kindness, she was swept into strong arms and spun in time to the strains of yet another waltz. It was a glorious moment, one she never wanted to end.

Callie let the music pour over her as Reese skillfully guided her across the floor. Clutching breathlessly at his broad shoulders, she gazed into his eyes and simply allowed herself to enjoy this time with him.

He smiled down at her with a look of admiration, affection and something else. Something she didn’t dare name.

Dimly, she heard someone mention how wonderful
they
looked together. Was the comment directed at her and Reese?

“You look happy.” His deep voice was like a soft, warm caress across her cheek.

“I am. Oh, Reese.” She opened her eyes and smiled up at him. “At this moment, here in your arms, I am very, very happy.”

“You’re beautiful, Callie. You take my breath away.” He spoke the words reverently, with a look in his eyes that denoted deep emotion, the kind that would endure a lifetime. But was it love he felt for her? Or something closer to affection?

He pulled her close. “Before the night is over,” he said near her ear, “I wish to speak with you alone.”

Oh, my.
She experienced a small flutter of anticipation. “What’s stopping us from finding a private spot now?”

“What, indeed?” He spun her to the edge of the dance floor and released his hold. His eyes were filled with a question, and just the barest hint of nerves.

He’d never been more attractive to her than in that moment.

He took her hand.

She let him lead her out of the ballroom, through the attached drawing room and, eventually, into the main corridor. “Where are you taking me?”

“To the place where my bride search officially began and where I hope—” he smiled over at her “—it shall end.”

The sweet pain of hope filled her heart. And she knew in that moment that not only did she adore this man, but she would also love him with all her heart for the rest of her life.

He stopped outside the blue parlor and peered inside. “Excellent. No one here but us.” He pulled her into the room with him and shut the door behind them. “At last, I have you all to myself.”

This was it, Callie realized. He was going to propose.

But would she say yes?

* * *

Now that he had Callie alone, Reese felt a roll of apprehension slide along the base of his spine. He’d planned for this moment. Had carefully considered the exact words he would use.

He wanted Callie for his wife—no one else would do—but he was no longer sure how to introduce the subject of marriage. His proposal would be something he and Callie would retell over and over again, sharing the particulars with their family and friends, their children and grandchildren.

The list.

He should start with the bride list he’d tucked in his jacket before leaving his house earlier this evening.

He reached his hand inside the pocket. At the same moment, Callie turned to face him fully, and he balked at the look of vulnerability he saw in her gaze. “Will you tell me what you and Fanny discussed during your dance?”

Of course she would want to know. Moreover, she
deserved
to know.

He thought back over his conversation with her sister—it seemed a lifetime ago—and chose to give Callie a brief summary rather than a word-for-word retelling. “She explained why she showed up here tonight without warning.”

“I think I can hazard a guess.”

He lifted a brow.

“She decided it would be best to confront as many people as possible rather than suffer endless individual meetings over the coming weeks.”

“You know your sister well.”

She continued staring up at him. “Was that all you discussed?”

“Mostly that. We also both agreed we should have never become engaged.”

“But, Reese, you were engaged.” She sat on a nearby settee, her posture still and erect. “We both know you would have married Fanny had she not begged off.”

Refusing to begin their life together with a lie, he made no attempt to disagree. “I won’t deny that I once thought your sister and I would suit. We were well-matched in many ways.”

Callie lowered her head. “Yes, you were.”

He came to stand next to her. She didn’t look at him, but kept gazing down at her slippered toes. “That’s not to say I would have been happily married to her.”

“You once told me companionship in marriage was more important than happiness.”

“I was wrong. Callie, because of you, because of our time together, I can no longer settle for a comfortable marriage with a suitable bride.”

She lifted her head, hope shining in her gaze. “Truly?”

“I want more.”

He wanted the dream he’d only glimpsed in his youth. A dream lost to him in a split-second riding accident.

Now that he’d put the past behind him, and the grief, Reese wanted something different for his future, something new and real and lasting. A deep, abiding relationship. With Callie, only her, no one else would do.

“The woman who meets these requirements is the one I hope to marry.”

He retrieved his most recent bride list and thrust it toward her with a surprisingly shaky hand.

She drew back from the paper as if it was a poisonous viper.

“Go on, take it.” When she continued to recoil, he placed the list gently in her hand. “Once you read what I’ve written, I believe you’ll understand everything.”

He hoped.

For the first time in years, he lifted up a prayer to the Lord.
Please, Lord, let her see the contents of my heart in the list I’ve created.

“Oh, Reese, I can’t go through this with you anymore.” She spoke in a quiet, even voice that sent a chill up his spine. “I just can’t.”

She attempted to return the paper to him, unread. He clasped his hands behind his back. “Read the list, Callie.”

She blew out a breath.

“Please.”

Some of his desperation must have sounded in his voice, because she lowered her head and began to scan the paper in silence.

He waited as she perused the front of the page. Over half of the thirty-seven items were written there. The rest were on the back.

Some of his requirements were intentionally vague.
She should sing hymns in church with a clear, bold voice.
Others were incredibly specific.
She must have blond hair, green eyes and have worked as Beatrix Singletary’s companion for at least two months.

For levity, he’d even included a few items that bordered on the silly, yet would hopefully mean something to Callie. Items such as
her name must begin with the letter
C. And...
she must be prepared to battle with toy soldiers on a weekly basis.

Eyebrows scrunched in concentration, she flipped over the page.

When her lips pressed into a grim line, Reese felt the first stirrings of concern. Callie should be smiling by now. Surely, she recognized that he’d made the list with her in mind.