“The pleasure is ours,” Lena said with a smile for Harriet.
She nodded. “We are so happy you agreed to attend—we have hoped you would.”
“I’ve meant to before, since I first received your invitation a few months ago, but the timing has never aligned. I am thrilled it did tonight.” He glanced around the room. “It’s quite a crush. And such a wonderful mix of people.”
It was true. Men and women of all corners and walks of life mingled in the room. There was no exclusion here for race or creed or rank. The only requirement was intelligence and an interest in the wider world.
“Yes, with Jeremy Bentham here to speak about his principle of greatest happiness, we knew it would be a popular night.” Harriet smiled. “But you are not alone—there is a friendly face in the crowd for you.”
“Who is that?” Nathan asked.
“Mrs. Montgomery,” Lena said, motioning across the room delicately.
Nathan followed the motion, and through the crowd he saw Abigail. She was standing in a small group of mostly younger men, save for one who was older. She was chatting and smiling and laughing. She looked beautiful, with her dark hair pulled back simply and then adorned with a bejeweled band. Her dress was a dark blue, the skirt also stitched with a few sparkling elements.
“Your Grace?”
Nathan blinked as he realized he was being addressed. He smiled at Harriet and Lena again. “I’m sorry, I must have become distracted,” he said, letting his gaze flit back to Abigail. “Is that Mr. Bentham, himself, speaking to Abigail?”
“It is, indeed,” Harriet said. “And he looks charmed, as do all in her group. Though how could one not be? I’m so glad Mrs. Montgomery’s mourning period is at last at a close so we could invite her. She will be a delightful addition to the salon, I can already see.”
“Yes, delightful,” Nathan mused.
Harriet and Lena excused themselves then, and Nathan managed to pull his gaze away from Abigail to say his farewells so they could go speak to more of their guests. He watched Abigail a little longer, and when Mr. Bentham had shaken her hand and drifted away, along with a few of the others at her side, Nathan moved toward her.
She noticed his approach within a few steps. He knew it by the way she stiffened, even though she didn’t look his way. She said something to her remaining companions and left them, moving in his direction and abandoning mooning men in her wake.
Her gaze lifted to his, at last, as they met in the middle of the room. It was not her usual disdain there to greet him. No, tonight she seemed…nervous. Her cheeks were pink, her hands gripped at her sides, her throat working as she swallowed.
“Abigail,” he said softly.
She pinched her lips. “I thought we said we were only doing that in private.”
He looked around. “No one is listening. But I can call you Mrs. Montgomery if it would please you.”
“I don’t know what would please me,” he thought he heard her mutter beneath her breath, but she gazed off into the room and didn’t address the question to him directly. “I didn’t know you were a member.”
“You don’t think me an intellectual?” he teased, and her gaze came back to him sharply. He arched a brow. “Go ahead, you may sling your barbs. I am strong enough to take them.”
She pursed her lips, but it seemed like she was genuinely struggling with a response. “I may not always…appreciate you, Your Grace, but I do not think you a stupid man. You very likely belong in a room like this, as much as anyone else.”
He drew back a fraction. “Was that a compliment? Toward me? From you? That might be the first sign of the apocalypse.”
She was trying to maintain a hard countenance, but he saw the corners of her lips twitching. He took it as a good sign, at least, and leaned a little closer. “And what would you wager on tonight, madam? If you would allow me to try to win again.”
She worried her lip and the hint of a smile fell away. “I…I think we entered dangerous territory with our wagers, Your Grace. It might not be the best idea to continue them.”
It wasn’t a cruelly said statement, but for some reason it stung Nathan in a far deeper place than he would have imagined it could. He smoothed his hands along his jacket front and shrugged one shoulder with more nonchalance than he felt.
“As you like, Mrs. Montgomery. I can see why you would not want to break your winning streak.” They were quiet a moment. Not a comfortable silence, but not an adversarial one, either. He glanced at her. “I have noted you did not yet respond to my invitation to the ball in a few days.”
Once more her gaze darted to him, and she suddenly looked a little trapped. She shifted, almost as if she were planning her escape. He realized in that moment he actually wanted her at the ball. He’d acted like it was because Rhys suggested it a few days before, but that wasn’t true. He wanted her there only for himself.
“Nathan,” she began softly.
He pivoted to face her fully and caught her hand. Even through two layers of gloves, the act moved him. “Please,” he said softly. “For Pippa and Rhys, if not for me.”
Her gaze narrowed slightly, but her words contained no heat when she said, “That isn’t fair.”
He nodded. “No. It was badly played by me, for certain. But I think you and I both know that a lot of things aren’t fair in this world.”
She bent her head. “Yes.”
She had hardly answered when there was a tinkle of a bell. The crowd began to take their seats, settling in for the presentation. Abigail looked up at him, holding his gaze firm for a beat.
“I-I’ll be there,” she said softly. “I’ll come.”
Nathan was shocked by his reaction. It was like someone had given him wings. He had the oddest urge to shout out with this triumph and let the world know he’d won. Instead, he kept his expression impassive and nodded. “I’m pleased. Now, would you be opposed to sitting together for the presentation?”
She rolled her eyes, and there they were, back to their usual adversarial banter. “I don’t see a way to refuse you. So yes, I’ll join you.”
He motioned her to two of the few remaining seats in the hall, and they sat. But though she didn’t look at him for the entire speech, nor during the questions afterward, he still felt like they’d moved forward tonight. Toward what, he wasn’t certain, but he wasn’t opposed to it.
And that was the oddest thing of all.
As those who had attended the salon began to make their way back to the street, buzzing about the gathering in small groups, Abigail felt more energized and happy than she had in years. She clasped her hands together and turned toward Nathan.
“It was wonderful, wasn’t it? So fascinating to hear Mr. Bentham talk about his thoughts on happiness and improving Society. I will be thinking about it for weeks to come.”
He nodded as they maneuvered through the milling crowd, down the stairs and through Mattigan’s Bookshop. When the group jostled them, he placed a hand briefly on her back, and she felt the weight of every finger against her spine as he managed to keep her from being bumped by excited patrons.
They exited onto the street and found a line of attendees waiting for their carriages. Nathan waved, and she saw her driver catch his eye from the group of those waiting for their masters. The driver hustled off to fetch her rig, and that left them waiting in front of the shop.