Loveology
CHAPTER 111
"A-alright." Malcolm grins broadly, his face lighting up at your answer.
"Excellent!" He kisses your cheek, giving your hands a warm squeeze. You smile in return, hoping the blush in your cheeks isn't too obvious. You don't think you'll ever get used to his flamboyance. "I'll see you here at eight," Malcolm says as he pulls you from the couch, leading you to the door. "And not a second later! Now, go. Get dressed." He opens the front door, shooing you out.
"I'll see you tonight," he gives you a wink before closing the front door behind you. You roll your eyes at his antics but head home, intent on changing into that silken dress he bought you.
***
The party is in full swing when you arrive at eight. You wonder if Malcolm gave you the wrong time - you wouldn't put it past him. Still, nobody seems put off when you arrive at the mansion late wearing your elegant red gown.
And even if they were, you're too caught up in Malcolm's presence to notice.
The host of the party is wearing a simple suit with dark pants, a red vest, a white shirt, and a cream cravat. A silver tie pin pulls the look together. It takes you a moment before it hits you that his outfit coordinated perfectly with your own. You wonder if he planned it that way.
Not that it matters much when the man in question is coming towards you in confident strides, his signature grin in place. You smile back slyly, feeling pretty confident yourself in your new dress.
"Carol!" Malcolm greets you with a warm embrace, his eyes sparkling. "You look marvelous tonight."
"Thank you," you respond cheekily. "So do you."
"Don't I always?" he says with a wink. Your laugh is interrupted when another group arrives to the ball. Your relief at not being the only one late is short-lived. Malcolm strings your arm through his own, tugging you to the entrance.
"I have to greet guests, don't I?" he whispers in your ear.
"Yes, but I don't," you hiss back, fighting his grip. But it's no use. You've reached the entrance already, so you put on your best smile for the new arrivals.
You recognize the two women as the ladies who were with Malcolm when you saw him in town - the day he bought the very dress you're wearing. The blonde one is wearing a pink gown that accents her freckles perfectly, while the brunette is wearing a shade of purple that flatters her companion's dress perfectly.
You swallow down a sudden wave of jealousy and cling a little tighter to Malcolm's arm.
"Deanna, Samantha." Malcolm greets the pair with bow. You curtsy as well, trying to remain polite. "Thank you for coming." The girls merely nod in response. You fight the urge to roll your eyes.
"Oh, you've met my fiancée, Carol, haven't you?" Your eyes grow wide as Malcolm's words register. Deanna and Samantha are congratulating you, but you can't hear anything they or Malcolm are saying. The only thing you can hear is the word fiancée ringing in your ears over and over again.
"Carol?" Malcolm's hand is stroking your cheek. You swallow painfully, your heart pounding in your chest.
"I-I'm fine," you answer, breathing deeply. "You just... startled me, that's all. Why did you call me your... your fiancée, Malcolm?"
"I know it's not the most conventional method of proposal," Malcolm smiled nervously and even shuffled his feet a little bit. "But I hope you'll accept anyway."
A million thoughts run through your head, most of them reasons why you should say no.
"Of course," you say instead, laughing. "Of course, Malcolm."
He grinned and leaned in for a kiss.
"A-alright." Malcolm grins broadly, his face lighting up at your answer.
"Excellent!" He kisses your cheek, giving your hands a warm squeeze. You smile in return, hoping the blush in your cheeks isn't too obvious. You don't think you'll ever get used to his flamboyance. "I'll see you here at eight," Malcolm says as he pulls you from the couch, leading you to the door. "And not a second later! Now, go. Get dressed." He opens the front door, shooing you out.
"I'll see you tonight," he gives you a wink before closing the front door behind you. You roll your eyes at his antics but head home, intent on changing into that silken dress he bought you.
***
The party is in full swing when you arrive at eight. You wonder if Malcolm gave you the wrong time - you wouldn't put it past him. Still, nobody seems put off when you arrive at the mansion late wearing your elegant red gown.
And even if they were, you're too caught up in Malcolm's presence to notice.
The host of the party is wearing a simple suit with dark pants, a red vest, a white shirt, and a cream cravat. A silver tie pin pulls the look together. It takes you a moment before it hits you that his outfit coordinated perfectly with your own. You wonder if he planned it that way.
Not that it matters much when the man in question is coming towards you in confident strides, his signature grin in place. You smile back slyly, feeling pretty confident yourself in your new dress.
"Carol!" Malcolm greets you with a warm embrace, his eyes sparkling. "You look marvelous tonight."
"Thank you," you respond cheekily. "So do you."
"Don't I always?" he says with a wink. Your laugh is interrupted when another group arrives to the ball. Your relief at not being the only one late is short-lived. Malcolm strings your arm through his own, tugging you to the entrance.
"I have to greet guests, don't I?" he whispers in your ear.
"Yes, but I don't," you hiss back, fighting his grip. But it's no use. You've reached the entrance already, so you put on your best smile for the new arrivals.
You recognize the two women as the ladies who were with Malcolm when you saw him in town - the day he bought the very dress you're wearing. The blonde one is wearing a pink gown that accents her freckles perfectly, while the brunette is wearing a shade of purple that flatters her companion's dress perfectly.
You swallow down a sudden wave of jealousy and cling a little tighter to Malcolm's arm.
"Deanna, Samantha." Malcolm greets the pair with bow. You curtsy as well, trying to remain polite. "Thank you for coming." The girls merely nod in response. You fight the urge to roll your eyes.
"Oh, you've met my fiancée, Carol, haven't you?" Your eyes grow wide as Malcolm's words register. Deanna and Samantha are congratulating you, but you can't hear anything they or Malcolm are saying. The only thing you can hear is the word fiancée ringing in your ears over and over again.
"Carol?" Malcolm's hand is stroking your cheek. You swallow painfully, your heart pounding in your chest.
"I-I'm fine," you answer, breathing deeply. "You just... startled me, that's all. Why did you call me your... your fiancée, Malcolm?"
"I know it's not the most conventional method of proposal," Malcolm smiled nervously and even shuffled his feet a little bit. "But I hope you'll accept anyway."
A million thoughts run through your head, most of them reasons why you should say no.
"Of course," you say instead, laughing. "Of course, Malcolm."
He grinned and leaned in for a kiss.