Play along? She decided to greet the old man and extended her hand. ‘Good morning, my lord. My name is Regina.’
‘Well, now. Come aboard, lassie, and try not to fall in the water when you do.’
She was beginning to realise what Dalton had meant. The earl was lost in a dream world of his own making. And although it was only his fantasy, he was caught up in the vision.
‘Where are we sailing, Grandfather?’ Dalton asked, stepping on to a chair. He held out his hands to her, and Regina joined him to stand on another chair. She could hardly believe what they were doing, play acting as if they were children. For a moment, she felt foolish, pretending to be on an invisible ship.
‘To India, laddie. We’ll seek our fortunes and bring back our ship laden with diamonds and rubies.’ The earl turned his spyglass towards the wall. ‘We’ll fight off the pirates on our journey. I hope you’ve brought your sword.’
Regina suppressed a smile as she watched her new husband listening to his grandfather’s imaginary world. The old man’s face held joy as he wielded his cane like a weapon. Dalton steadied his grandfather when he nearly lost his balance. ‘The waves are rough tonight.’
‘Aye, so they are. But you’ve a fair maiden to keep you on the right path. Your wife, is she?’
Dalton hesitated, but Regina answered, ‘I am,’ before Dalton could speak.
He put his hand upon his grandfather’s shoulder and ventured a smile at Regina. She returned it, and a silent understanding passed between them. He believed that she was humouring his grandfather...but the truth was, she didn’t know what she wanted any more.
‘I wish I could have attended your wedding, laddie. Was there dancing?’
Dalton eyed her with a questioning look. ‘There was no time.’ But he held out his hand. ‘Will you dance with me now, lass?’
‘How?’ she asked, staring at the chairs. With a glance towards his grandfather, she added, ‘Won’t we fall in the water?’
‘Nay. I’ll keep you safe.’ Dalton held out his arms, and she went to stand before him. Though she knew this was only for his grandfather’s sake, she felt the tension rising between them. He placed his hand upon her waist, and she welcomed the simple touch. The warmth of his palm made her feel closer to him. She held his other hand while they swayed gently atop two chairs. His grandfather’s face broke open with joy, and he clapped to the beat of a silent song. Dalton met her gaze, and she understood.
There was no reason to shatter his grandfather’s dream by refusing to participate. The man had lived a long life, and if these elaborate visions brought him happiness, what was the harm?
But more than that, during this spectacle, she recognised Dalton’s empathy and inner strength. He never belittled his grandfather or told him that there was no ship in the middle of the parlour. Instead, he gave the old man a moment of joy. And seeing his compassion utterly crumbled her heart.
You could fall in love with him, her head warned.
His green eyes held warmth and amusement, and he held her close as they danced.
You have to distance yourself. It will only be worse if you get too close.
Dalton would despise her if she ever told him the truth about that night. Instead, she forced herself to let go of his hands. She turned away and shielded her eyes from an invisible sun. ‘Is that another ship I see?’
When his grandfather began singing a sailor’s tune, Dalton said, ‘I think it’s time we went ashore, Regina.’ His tone was calm, and she tried to push back her regrets. She was making the right choice for both of them, though it hurt.
He set her down from the chair, and the puppy ran to them, wagging its tail. Dalton was about to offer his arm, when suddenly, Lord Cairnross stepped off the piano bench. He pulled her into a fast-paced step, spinning her around until she began to laugh. The old man was surprisingly spry, and her skirts whirled as he danced with her down to the end of the room and back. When he’d finished dancing with her, the earl bowed, and Regina curtsied.
Lord Cairnross kissed her hands. ‘Laddie, if I were fifty years younger, I’d steal her awa’ from you. You’re a lucky man.’
‘I am indeed.’
Regina was about to take Dalton’s arm, but he lifted the dog and handed it to her instead.
Her cheeks were burning, and she veiled her disappointment. Instead, she braved a smile and told the older man, ‘It was a pleasure to meet you, my lord.’ Then, to avoid Dalton, she took the dog with her and departed.
Dalton followed Regina as she set the dog down upon the gravel pathway leading from the house. She kept up a swift pace, and the animal appeared eager for the exercise. He watched as she kept up with the dog and wondered if he was doing the right thing by giving her the space she wanted. Right now, she seemed eager to escape him.
He trudged through the grasses, wondering what the hell he was doing. He’d tried to rescue Regina, and she had gone along with it. Yet, he had no idea how to win her heart. He didn’t really know her any more, and she didn’t know him.
They were strangers, bound by a false marriage that could dissolve at any moment. All his life he had put Regina up on a pedestal, imagining a future with her...but what if the young woman he’d loved was a dream? Like his grandfather, he’d been building up his life around shadows and images, wanting to believe that he could make Regina love him in return. Yet, love couldn’t be forced.
He was struggling to be patient, to give her the freedom she wanted. But he didn’t know if that would diminish her fear of marriage. He also didn’t know
