He couldn’t imagine any woman of his acquaintance walking boldly among those who appeared they’d not bathed in a while or whose clothing was frayed and tattered while smiling at them, greeting them as though they were long-lost friends.

“Do you know these people?” he finally asked.

“I’ve never seen them before, but they aren’t so different from all the people I do know. Struggling to make ends meet, doing the best they can with what they have, hoping for something better for their children, enjoying a night without cares.” Earlier, she’d entwined her arm around his to ensure they weren’t separated, and now she gave it a squeeze. “Don’t you love how much fun everyone is having?”

He loved how much fun she seemed to be having, completely free of cares, giving no thought to what she might be facing tomorrow night. As the wife of a lord, she would host affairs, and he couldn’t imagine that anything under her command would be staid or dull. She would find a way to make everything interesting and exciting.

“Oh, look, there he is! Come on!” She grabbed his hand, and while they both wore gloves, it seemed far more intimate a joining than her arm intertwined with his.

He found himself closing his much larger hand around her smaller one. So tiny. He was beginning to understand why her family was taking such extreme measures to see her well situated—whether within the nobility or not. They felt a need to protect her, to ensure no harm ever came to her. Yet, he wasn’t certain she was deserving of their worry. Here she was wending her way between people, causing others to step aside as though the Queen were barreling through them. No one took offense, no one reacted in anger. She had the ability to be soothing even as she made people feel guilty for being a barrier to her destination.

With a great deal of poise and confidence, she worked her way to the front, tugging him along behind her. It was packed here, people scrunched up together, stretching their necks, striving to get a better view of what was happening within the circle they’d created. He slid in behind her, putting his arms around her, much as he had when they’d flown the kite, but there was no spindle to hold so he simply folded his hands over her stomach. He had little doubt that if she objected, she’d have elbowed him in the gut or stomped on his foot. Instead, she merely settled against him as though she belonged there.

And damn if he didn’t feel that she did.

Turning her head slightly, she fairly yelled in order to be heard above the cacophony. “Isn’t he marvelous?”