“Thank God,” the relief was palpable in his voice.
“You were nervous,” She laughed. The thought of him being nervous about something like this was ridiculous, and yet it was endearing at the same time.
“Terrified,” he admitted. “I was not sure if you had changed your mind. And now that I was sure, I was worried that I would not be able to handle the disappointment of you refusing.”
“You asked well,” she said. “And I want the same thing.”
He touched her cheek again, only briefly.
“I have not ever been one to break a vow, but this one needs to be broken,” he said quietly.
“I know,” she said. “And I will not let that memory rule us. We will rewrite the story that your father tarnished.”
He nodded once. They stood together a minute longer.
A few couples stepped out onto the terrace at the other end, laughing.
Stephen turned, shielding her from view with his body, and kissed her again, a little longer this time.
Her fingers curled in the front of his shirt, and his hand found the small of her back and settled there.
“We should go now,” he said at last.
“Now?” she laughed. “But we can have one more dance.”
“You want to tease me?” he said, laughing now. “Well, I have always liked your fiery side. Another dance it is. I want to show you off to the world.”
“I won’t mind,” she said.
They went back in, and Stephen led her to the floor again. When the waltz turned them past a knot of ladies, Maria saw two familiar faces watching with a new sort of interest. A little envy, perhaps. She met their eyes, smiled, and kept dancing.
How things had changed for her.
But after the dance was over, Stephen was once again possessed with a certain kind of impatience.
“Time for us to go,” he said, already leading her out of the room.
Maria was laughing.
“But I have not even said goodbye to my friends properly.”
“They will understand,” he shrugged his shoulders.
In a rush, they exited to their carriage. Maria was laughing, feeling more carefree than she had in years.
Inside the carriage, Stephen took her hand and didn’t let go.
“You were very sure tonight,” he said at last. “And I find that I love this version of you the most.”
“For once, I didn’t hear every voice in the room in my head. Only mine,” she smiled. “And well, occasionally yours.”
“I heard yours, too,” he said. “It’s my favorite sound.”
“You are getting better at this,” She shook her head, amused and flustered.
“At what?”
“Saying exactly what you mean,” she said. “Who knew you were such a romantic at heart?”