The evening air was crisp, sharp, and completely dark by the time Delaney’s carriage pulled smoothly onto the busy cobblestone street. The country theater was much smaller than the grand, towering opera houses of London, but it was incredibly lively and full of bright energy. Warm, glowing oil lanterns hung over the wide entrance, casting long yellow shadows across the stone pavement. The narrow street was completely filled with the busy, loud sounds of arriving carriages, snorting horses, and the excited, happy chatter of the gentry.

Rowan was already there.

He had arrived very early, standing tall, still, and incredibly handsome near the main entrance. He wore a sharp, formal black evening coat that fit his broad shoulders perfectly. His crisp white cravat was tied with absolute, flawless precision, glowing brightly in the warm lantern light. He ignored the passing crowds completely. He watched the dark street carefully, waiting specifically for the proud Kingsley crest to appear on a carriage door.

As soon as her carriage came to a complete, smooth halt, Rowan stepped forward immediately. He did not wait for her uniformed footman to open the door.

Rowan reached out and opened the door himself. He stretched out his right hand to politely, carefully help the two women down onto the uneven cobblestones.

Aunt Renee, wearing a beautiful, dark purple velvet evening cloak to ward off the evening’s chill, stepped forward first. She placed her gloved hand firmly into his as she stepped carefully down from the carriage.

"Welcome, Aunt Renee," Rowan said warmly. He offered her a highly respectful, polite nod of his head.

Renee smiled brightly. She was clearly completely charmed by his excellent, flawless manners.

"Thank you so very much for the kind invitation, Your Grace," Aunt Renee replied happily, adjusting her warm cloak over her shoulders. "It has been absolute ages since I attended a proper play. The fresh country air and a night of theater are doing absolute wonders for my spirit."

"I am very glad to hear it," Rowan smiled back.

He turned his full attention back to the open carriage door. He waited patiently, holding his hand out again.

Delaney stepped forward into the warm lantern light.

She was wearing a beautiful, deep sapphire blue evening dress that Rowan had purchased for her from the London modiste. The rich, dark blue silk shimmered slightly as she moved. She wore long, elegant white silk gloves that reached past her elbows, and a small, stylish dark blue evening hat adorned with a single, delicate white feather.

She looked absolutely breathtaking.

She placed her white-gloved hand gently into his open, waiting palm. She stepped gracefully down from the carriage, her soft leather shoes touching the stones lightly.

Rowan did not immediately let go of her hand. Instead, he lifted her hand up very slowly. He bowed his head slightly, his blond hair falling forward, and pressed a very warm lingering kiss directly to the back of her white silk glove. He kept his lips pressed to her knuckles for a long second.

He looked up at her through his lashes, his brown eyes burning with awe.

"You look entirely beautiful, my lady," Rowan murmured softly. His deep voice was a low, intimate rumble meant only for her ears, completely ignoring the busy street around them.

Delaney felt a warm, sudden blush rise rapidly to her pale cheeks. Her heart fluttered happily against her ribs.

"The same goes for you, Your Grace," Delaney replied smoothly. She offered him a sweet, deeply affectionate smile that reached her bright hazel eyes.

She moved her hand and placed it politely onto his offered arm, resting her fingers lightly against the fine black wool of his evening coat.

Together, with Aunt Renee walking proudly just half a step behind them, they walked slowly inside the busy theater.

The main lobby was heavily crowded with the local society. Wealthy farmers, local squires, and village merchants were all dressed in their very best clothes. When the Duke of Ford walked through the double doors with the newly restored Lady Kingsley on his arm, a sudden hush fell over the entire crowd.

People stopped their conversations immediately. They stared openly, whispering rapidly behind their gloved hands or painted fans. The gossip pamphlet had spread the news of her wealth, and now their very public appearance together completely confirmed it. Delaney could hear the quiet murmurs around them.

"Is that the Kingsley heiress?" a woman whispered loudly.

"She is with the Duke of Ford! Look at her silk dress," an older gentleman muttered to his wife.

Rowan completely ignored the staring crowd. His expression remained a calm, polite mask of aristocratic indifference. He simply held Delaney’s arm a little tighter, keeping her close to his side. He kept his head high and led her smoothly through the crowded lobby, acting as an absolute shield against their curious, greedy stares.

They walked up a short flight of red-carpeted stairs and entered their private, expensive viewing box.

The box was absolutely perfect. It was situated high above the main floor, offering a completely clear, unobstructed view of the large stage below. Three velvet-covered chairs were arranged neatly in the front row, resting directly behind a polished brass railing.

Rowan stepped forward and gently held a chair for Aunt Renee. After she sat down and arranged her velvet skirts, he pulled out the center chair for Delaney. After the ladies were comfortably seated, he sat down in the chair right beside Delaney, his broad shoulder brushing lightly against hers.

A few minutes later, the bright oil lamps lining the wooden walls of the theater were slowly dimmed. The loud, chattering audience grew completely quiet.

The dark red velvet curtain covering the stage slowly began to rise. The play officially began.

The play was a lighthearted romantic comedy. It followed the complicated, funny story of a poor but very clever young farmer named Andrew, who was trying desperately to win the heart of a wealthy, highly stubborn squire’s daughter named Miss Clara.

The stage performers were highly energetic. They wore bright, colorful costumes that caught the stage lights beautifully.

In the very first scene, the actor playing Andrew walked onto the stage, waving his arms widely. He stopped in front of the actress playing Miss Clara, dropping dramatically to one knee on the wooden floorboards.

"Oh, Miss Clara!" the actor playing Andrew shouted loudly, pressing his hand over his heart in a grand gesture. "My pockets may be entirely empty of gold, and my boots may be covered in dirt! But my heart is completely overflowing with absolute, undying devotion for you!"

The actress playing Miss Clara turned her face away, snapping her painted fan open with a loud crack.

"A heart cannot buy fresh bread, Andrew!" Miss Clara replied, her voice high and purposefully dramatic. "Nor can a heart buy fine silk dresses! My father demands a gentleman of high standing, a man with a proper carriage and a large estate! You have nothing but a single, stubborn mule!"

The audience erupted into loud, happy laughter at her sharp words. Aunt Renee leaned forward eagerly in her velvet chair. She was completely, entirely immersed in the lively play. She laughed softly at the jokes and watched the performers with wide, fascinated eyes. She was so entirely focused on the bright stage that she completely forgot her chaperone duties. She did not notice Rowan and Delaney at all.

Under the cover of the dark box, Rowan leaned slightly to his left, closing the small distance between his shoulder and Delaney’s.

"What do you think about it?" Rowan asked.

He kept his voice to a very soft, quiet whisper, making sure not to disturb Aunt Renee or the other theater patrons sitting in the nearby boxes.

Delaney turned her head slightly toward him, her hazel eyes catching the dim light from the stage.

"It is absolutely wonderful," Delaney replied, her voice equally low and soft. "The actors are very funny, and their costumes are beautiful."

A small, slightly sad smile touched the corners of her lips as she looked back at the brightly lit stage.

"The last play I attended was with my parents," Delaney confessed quietly. "It was years ago, in a grand theater in London. I was just a little girl. After they died, my uncle Cole never allowed me to attend the theater, or go to the market, or visit anywhere else for entertainment. I had almost forgotten what a play looked like."

Rowan felt a sharp pang of sympathy ache in his chest. He reached his hand out in the darkness. He found her white-gloved hand resting quietly on her lap. He covered her hand completely with his own warm hand, lacing his fingers gently through hers. He gave her fingers a gentle, highly reassuring squeeze, letting her know she could do anything she had ever wanted.