‘It was sudden.’
Her friend pouted and her mother sighed. ‘I will go and pay my respects to Lady Richmond, do keep an eye on her for me, Georgy?’
‘I will. Two of them.’
Frederica patted her friend’s hand that was on her arm. ‘I am sorry, Georgy. It was very small and private. Nothing at all like tonight. It looks like every officer in the Continent is here, including General Lord Wellington. What a triumph for your mother.’
She saw that her friend’s eyes were filled with unshed tears. ‘I sat by your duke and the Duke of Wellington at dinner, and the duke gave me an original miniature of himself painted by a Belgian artist.’
‘Which duke?’
Her small jest made Georgy release a watery laugh. ‘Wellington, of course.’
Frederica nudged her friend with her elbow. ‘I am so relieved. I was about to call you out for a duel.’
Her friend rubbed her already red eyes. ‘How can you jest at such a time?’
Frederica let out a shuddering breath. ‘What else can I do? If I do not smile, I will weep. If I do not dance, I will drop to the floor.’
More tears fell down Georgy’s cheeks. ‘I do not think I can dance. All the troops, saving my father’s regiment, which is to guard Brussels, have orders to be ready to march before first light.’
Frederica gulped. It was exactly what she expected, but the reality overwhelmed her. If she did not find him at the ball tonight, she might never see Samuel again. She checked her own tears, but others could not or would not. All around her fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, wives, and husbands openly wept and embraced their loved ones with a final goodbye. She watched them leave the ball and prayed that Samuel had not already gone.
She pulled Georgy around the room, searching for Samuel. They passed the Duke of Wellington, who lacked his usual composure. A matron asked him about the rumours.
‘Yes, they are true, we are off tomorrow.’
The matron began to sob. ‘Oh, my sons! God protect them!’
Frederica steered Georgy away from Wellington and to the door, where several officers were already leaving the ball to change out of their dress uniforms. At last, she saw the broad shoulders and strong back of Samuel.
She dropped her friend’s hand. ‘I am sorry, Georgy. But I have seen my husband, and I dare not waste another moment in conversation.’
Frederica practically ran to Samuel, ignoring the throb of pain in her side. He turned around at her approach and without a thought to their surroundings took her in his arms and soundly kissed her. He held her in his strong arms, so tightly she could barely breathe. She wished that she could stay encircled in them for ever.
His hands moved to cup her face. ‘What are you doing here? You ought to be in bed. How is your wound?’
‘I had to see you again,’ Frederica explained. Her eyes on him, oblivious to everyone around them. ‘I began to worry that I’d missed you. So many officers have already left the ball for the front.’
Samuel dropped a kiss on her hair. ‘Wellington requested I remain with him. I suppose I shall fight tomorrow in my evening costume. Now turn around and let me look at you.’
He gently released her. Frederica smiled wistfully and slowly circled. Her nerves felt like pistols all firing at the same time.
Samuel whistled. ‘Beautiful. You look like a princess. Like a proper Cinderella. You should always wear white, like a bride.Mybride.’
But she had no time for flattery. Clutching the lapels of his shiny red coat, she stared resolutely at the top brass button. ‘I wanted to tell you that I love you and that I do not hate you even a little bit.’
He lifted her chin with his finger so they were eye to eye. ‘I could not quite hear that. Could you say it again?’
Frederica grabbed his finger on her chin and kissed it. ‘I love you.’
Samuel gave her a roguish grin and her heart hammered in her chest. ‘I still couldn’t quite hear that over the din of the crowd.’
With a sobbing laugh, she spoke in a voice loud enough that everyone standing within six feet could hear her. ‘I said, I love you!’
Samuel gave an exultant laugh and kissed her brow. A feeling of euphoria settled upon her as he gently pressed her head against his chest, calming her tense nerves. ‘I heard you all three times, but I couldn’t resist the pleasure of having you repeat it.’
‘Be careful, won’t you?’ Frederica begged, pulling herself tighter against him as tears began to spill down her cheeks. ‘Do not take any foolish risks.’