The orchestra was playing the most beautiful operettas as the couples moved across the dance podium. The evening was filled with joy and celebration, laughter and love.

Grace was smiling happily, exhilarated from dancing and warmth of Lucas' arms around her, his palm half hidden by her dress as his fingertips brushed over her skin, his lips kissing her hair every now and then, making her laugh with joy.

She was beyond reprimanding him about it and, honestly, she didn't want to. She knew that the memory of his touch will keep her awake for many nights, but she was ready for it. It felt too good to tell him not to do it. It was delicious. And she trembled in anticipation of what was to come in about a month…

The first notes of "The Blue Danube Waltz" snapped Grace out of her daydreaming and she looked up at Lucas as the memories flooded her mind…

The first time they danced it was to "The Blue Danube Waltz". The first time he kissed her was to "The Blue Danube Waltz".

And as Grace looked at Lucas' eyes, she saw that he remembered it too. His eyes were gazing at her with so much love that she wanted to sing and cry at the same time. He pulled her closer to him and as she leaned her face into his neck, she heard him whisper:

"Do you remember?"

She nodded slightly as she took a breath in.

"I do. Both times", she whispered and let out a sigh as she felt his lips touch her hair.

Her palm pressed gently into his shoulder as she looked back up at him with a soft smile.

"I love you", she whispered.

Lucas' fingertips brushed against her skin, his eyes sparkling with love and passion.

"I love you too", he murmured gently as he moved them across the dance podium. He twirled her away only to twirl her back, making her giggle sweetly as the music climbed up to the crescendo.

And as the music ended Grace let out a squeal as Lucas dipped her.

She giggled happily as he pulled her back up and hid her face in his neck as the applause erupted in the dancing room.

A few songs later they decided to take a break and walked through the dancing room, talking with their guests, both glowing from happiness.

Grace was placing their empty glasses at the table and took a small cookie when she heard a female's voice whispering.

"Look at her dress! Scandalous! They are not even married! And I saw her touching his thigh as I talked to Mrs. Stevenson!"

Grace slowly bit in a small cookie, her ears perking up.

"What do you want?!", another female's voice was heard "They are in love, young, engaged. They will be married next month. You keep your jealousy to yourself because if the Governor hears you badmouthing his fiancée, it won't end well for you!"

Grace chewed slowly, her lips curling up as she glanced at the two women to see who they were.

I am going to ask Lucas later.

She turned back to take another delicious cookie and saw Lillian coming toward her.

"It looks like you got a rival, Gracie", her sister said as she took a sip of champagne and smiled.

Grace smirked.

"You heard her?", she asked.

Lillian nodded.

"Mhm. Carson and I were talking with the Minister of health and his wife when I heard that dreadful woman. She was green with jealousy", she winked at Grace, bringing a champagne tube back to her lips "Apparently, she was carrying a torch for Lucas ever since he came to the Capitol City. Her dearest husband is much older than she is and so she is always after the influential, young men."

Grace grimaced.

"Now I feel sorry for her", she deadpanned and the sisters laughed, huddling close to each other.

Grace bit a cookie as she and Lillian watched the people mingling and talking. Grace caught Carson's gaze and smiled at her friend across the room. He was talking to some people and smiled back at her before returning to the conversation.

"Carson seemed to be doing well", commented Grace.

Lillian smiled as she nodded.

"Yeah, the Minister of health was eager to meet the man whom the Governor chose for his Board of Health", said Lillian "They are already discussing some improvements for the hospital here."

Grace's smile widened.

"I knew he was the right person for the job", she mumbled quietly.

Lillian glanced at her sister, slightly squeezing her eyes.

"Yeah, you were the one who suggested him to Lucas", at Grace's warm smile Lillian looked back at Carson just in time to see him laugh at something the Minister of health said.

Lillian smiled as she turned back to Grace and said:

"Anyway. The older lady who defended you is a wife of a Parliament member and it appears that she and her husband support and adore Lucas. They said that he did way more in these few months than Balfour did in his entire mandate", as Grace smiled proudly, Lillian quipped "And here I was, thinking that you are biased in your praises of him!"

Grace gave her sister a light kick on the upper arm and both of them giggled.

Lillian took two glasses of champagne and said:

"Well, I am going back. Carson and I started to talk about the New Hope orphanage to the Minister of health and he is interested to help. Might try to ask for free-of-charge medical care for the little ones", she playfully toasted to her sister "See you later, Gracie."

Grace smiled as she watched Lillian go and rejoin Carson, Minister of health and his wife. She had no doubt that Lillian and Carson will have a few new benefits for the little ones at the New Hope orphanage by the end of the night.

She swayed slightly on her heels, looking around the dancing hall, searching for Lucas.

He was nowhere to be found.

Grace playfully pursued her lips as she thought about where could he go.

And all of a sudden, a hand holding her favourite cookie appeared in front of her lips.

She smiled as she felt him behind her and heard his deep, velvet whisper:

"If I remember right, this one is your favourite."

Grace opened her mouth and accepted a cookie and turned around to see Lucas smiling at her.

Grace chewed the tiny chocolate cookie and swallowed it, before she playfully leaned her face closer to Lucas and murmured:

"I have to tell you that I got a rival", at his puzzled look she quipped "Apparently the lady standing with Sonya right now carries a torch for you."

Lucas nearly choked on his own cookie.

"What?! She is married to a member of the Parliament!", he whispered "I never even met her!"

Grace stifled a laugh.

"I heard her droning on and on how scandalous my dress is and how inappropriate I behaved since she saw me touching your thigh during the dinner", she saw Lucas' face darkening with anger and he straightened his suit jacket, ready to storm over there and give that woman a piece of his mind. Grace quickly caught his arms "Lucas, no! She is just a pathetic, jealous woman. And besides, that older lady standing with Lillian right now defended us", she smiled warmly "I appreciate you wanting to defend my honour, but there is no need", her eyes sparkled with dangerous glint "I can handle the witch myself", she shrugged nonchalantly "She simply won't be invited to our next events. And if they ask why, we will tell them."

Lucas took a deep breath in and shook his head.

"Her husband is one of the most annoying members of the Parliament. That's him, right over there", he secretly showed the odious man to Grace.

Grace frowned in shock.

"He is old enough to be her Grandfather!", she hissed.

Lucas nodded.

"He left wife and two kids because of her. And she is lured by his money. Apparently he has a few houses in Europe. He was quite an important member of the Parliament during Balfour's mandate", said Lucas.

Grace snorted.

"And she says that WE are scandalous!", she commented and shook her head in disbelief "It's like Lillian said: 'First look WHO is telling you something and then WHAT is that person saying'."

Lucas' lips curled up in approval.

"Touché, Lillian!", he said and winked at Grace "What do you think that we give them something to talk about? After all, we have a scandalous reputation to hold up to."

Grace giggled.

"Sssshh, Lucas!", she playfully kicked his chest and both of them chuckled "As much as I would like that there is no need for you to go in the bad books with the ones who support you!"

Lucas sighed in mock annoyance.

"You are right", he squeezed her side and gently kissed her hair and she snuggled into him, letting out a sigh.

—--

The last guests were leaving the mansion and Grace and Lucas breathed out in relief as the doors closed. Grace stretched her hands a bit behind her back, her head falling back as she tried to ease the aching in her back.

"Oh, that was fun!", she said with a smile "But, I have to say that I am beaten."

As silence greeted her Grace creased her eyebrows slightly and turned to her left.

"Lucas?", she called him, wondering where did he go.

Only to hear him slightly clearing his throat on the right side. She turned around and gasped as she saw him holding a bouquet of dozen breathtakingly beautiful roses.

Her favourite flowers.

His eyes shone with a warm glint as he handed a bouquet to her.

"A small thank you for tonight", he gently said.

Grace smiled tearfully.

"Thank you", she took the roses and inhaled their sweet scent "They are gorgeous, Lucas."

Lucas smiled at her.

"Not as gorgeous as you. You were magnificent tonight, my love", he said as he gently brushed his fingertips over her fingers that held the roses.

Her smile widened at his loving words.

"Thank you. To tell you the truth, I was quite nervous how would I do", she nervously chuckled "But, now I am looking forward to hosting all the upcoming events with you."

Her words tugged at Lucas' heartstrings. His heart felt like it climbed up in his throat.

I don't want you to leave.

Grace took another inhale of the sweet roses' scent and whispered:

"I should get going."

Please, don't go.

His breath got hitched in his throat, his lungs constricting in pain at the mere thought of her leaving. So when she started to move, Lucas gently took her forearm and stopped her.

"Grace…Please stay", as she looked at him with eyes wide open, he swallowed hard to try to calm his emotions down, but to no avail. His heart was too affected by the sight of her this evening, acting as his future wife and mistress of the Governor's mansion. He wasn't ready to let that go "I can't imagine this house without you now."

Grace's eyes softened and she slowly took roses in one hand while she took Lucas' palm with her other hand.

"Alright", she whispered "Alright, I'll stay."