Veronica nodded, a surge of happiness and anticipation cascading through her body. They took to the floor and began the one-two-three steps of the waltz. Soon, it seemed as if half the ballroom was watching them, though Veronica barely noticed. She had eyes only for her husband as he expertly led her through the steps of the waltz.

“It’s been so long,” she said under the breath.

“You belong in my arms,” he answered.

When the music ended, Veronica glanced toward a raucous group who were laughing and…clapping?

“What in the worl—?” she began.

When she looked again, she realized. It was her family. There, standing not twenty paces away along the sidelines of the dancing, was…her entire family…save Justin. Mama was there and Grandpapa and Grandmama and even Jessica and Elizabeth.

She hurried over toward them, Sebastian in her wake. Together, they moved away from the crowd to the hall just outside the doors to the ballroom.

“What are you doing here?” Veronica asked. “Especially, you two.” She gestured toward her sisters. “You haven’t even made your debuts.”

“They came with me, and Hazelton wasn’t about to deny me anything,” Grandpapa said with a chuckle, resting his weight on a black cane that perfectly matched the rest of his fine black evening attire.

“And what are you doing here, Grandpapa?” Veronica asked next, turning her attention to the old man. “You should be in bed, resting, and—”

“Yes, as to that,” her grandfather began, a guilty look on his face.

“We have something to tell you, dear,” Mama added, biting her lip.

Veronica narrowed her eyes. “What…exactly?”

“We came to see the two of you made up,” Jessica offered with an unrepentant grin, looking back and forth between Veronica and Sebastian.

Veronica frowned. “What? How did you know we made up?”

“Justin sent word early this morning,” Mama admitted. “We came straightaway.”

“What are you saying?” Veronica asked, her gaze jumping from familiar face to familiar face.

Guilt was written all over Mama’s countenance. She winced. “We waited two long years, darling. You cannot blame us for taking things into our own hands.”

“What do you mean?” Veronica narrowed her eyes on her mother, placing her fists on her hips.

“Don’t blame your mother, V,” Grandpapa interjected. “It was all my idea.”

“What was your idea?” Veronica demanded, frowning at all of them now.

A sly smile popped to Grandpapa’s lips. “To feign being so ill that you and Edgefield would be forced into proximity over Christmastide.”

Veronica gasped. “You were feigning it? Grandpapa!”

Grandpapa shook his head. “You’ve only yourself to blame. If you hadn’t been so stubborn, it never would have come to this.”

“I inherited my stubbornness from you, Grandpapa!” Veronica insisted.

“Well, perhaps it is my fault,” Grandpapa said with a grin and a shrug. “But we knew you were right for each other all along. Your mother and I never would have allowed the marriage if we didn’t think that.”

Veronica raised a hand in the air. “If you knew all that time Sebastian and I weren’t speaking, why didn’t you tell me?”