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"Where did you get it?" Cecilia asked

"I have ly, she did not pursue the question Instead she pulled the gown fro to her feet so that she could hold it in front of her "We have no looking glass," she said, still sounding rather dazed

"You shall have to trust my eyes, then," he said "You are radiant"

In truth, Edward did not know aret had warned hioas not quite au courant, but to hi he had ever beheld in a London ballrooain, it had been several years since he had seen a London ballrooaret Tryon, fashion was ot two parts," he said helpfully "The, ehrm, inside and the out"

"Petticoat and robe," Cecilia whispered "And a stomacher Three parts, actually"

He cleared his throat "Of course"

She touched a reverent hand to the silver eth of the skirt "I know that I should say it’s too fine," she murmured

"Absolutely you should not say that"

"I’ve never owned anything so beautiful"

That, Edward thought, was a tragedy of epic proportions, but he sensed that saying soit on a bit too thick

She looked up, her eyes snapping to his with an abruptness that signaled a sudden clarity of thought "I thought eren’t going to the governor’s ball"

"Why would you think that?"

Her lips ca to wear"

He smiled, because she so clearly realized the absurdity of her words as they passed over her lips

She sighed "I s?" He leaned down, settling his erously close to her ear "What does that say about s on you?"

Or off her Dear God, when he’d watched the dressown into its box, he could not help but keep a close eye on the fastenings This would not be the night that he finally made love to his wife, of that he was sadly certain He was still too weak, and far too vain to risk doing a bad job of it

But he wanted her all the same And he vowed that one day he would peel this dress fro her like his present He would lay her down on the bed, part her legs, and

"Edward?"

He blinked When she caone a bit red," she said She touched his forehead with the back of her hand "Have you a fever?"

"It’s been warm today," he lied "Don’t you think?"

"No, not really"

"You’re not wearing a woolen coat" He unbuttoned his scarlet jacket and shrugged it off "I’m sure I’ll feel better if I sit down next to the "

She watched hireen dress in front of her When he was settled in the chair, she asked, "Don’t you want to open the ?"

Without a word, he leaned over and pushed it open

"Are you sure you’re all right?"

"Fine," he assured her He felt like a fool He probably looked like a fool too, but it orth it to see her face when she looked at the pale green gown

"It really is beautiful," she said, gazing down at it with an expression that was alht

"Is so?" he asked