“I do not care where you spend your time, Nicholas. It is of no consequence to me. If a lady cannot see through the mask of falsity you wear then she isn’t fit to be my countess,” I replied.
Nicholas was not one to show any emotion. He was the master at appearing jovial at all times, even when he was at his lowest. Our father had not condoned weakness and this had been the way Nicholas had learned to mask his own. I understood him more than I believed he understood himself.
“Very well, Brother. If you have no time to visit with me, I will be on my way. Do have a lovely evening. I presume I will see you again at this evening’s festivities,” he replied.
I did not reply. It would mean I was playing along with his games and I was not participating. Nicholas was damaged and although I had tried to protect him at a young age, I had failed. I couldn’t protect either of us. Turning, I left him there for Charles to see out. The sooner her left, the safer Emma would be. Although she was meant to be resting that did not mean at any moment she wouldn’t come flying down those stairs, creating another mischievous deed in her wake.
Chapter Eighteen
Miriam Bathurst
Were they all so much the same? I was growing low on adjectives to describe the balls of the season. Soon Whitney would be in London with me, but even then, how would I find more creative ways to give her the details of yet another ball much like the last?
Gowns seemed to become grander and more elaborate as the ladies wanted to outshine the others. Favorite ladies had become very clear; some never sat out a single dance and others stood off to the side with lemonade and the gossip of the matrons to keep them occupied. Mothers had become even more aggressive as it became quite obvious that many gentlemen were openly seeking the hand of a particular lady.
My feet ached from the dancing and my mouth was so very tired of the smiling as I listened to Lord Briar speak of his days spent traveling abroad. Truly he had been to many exotic locations, but his talking never ceased and after a while, one’s ears became tired.
As the song came to an end, he walked me over to my aunt, not once stopping his incessant chatting. If only he would be silent but for a moment. His voice was beginning to grate on my nerves. He was his own biggest fan and felt no shame in going on and on about his achievements.
“And I do so hope to have the pleasure of your company again,” he was saying then, and I realized at some point he must have stopped telling me of the foreign transport industry and moved on to our farewell.
“Indeed,” I managed to say, hoping that was the last dance I would experience with Lord Briar. I cared not that he was a viscount or how ‘very successful’ he was. My ears had never been so weary from so much chatter. Plus, he was also old enough to be my father.
My smile was forced and my aunt covered her mouth to conceal a fake cough. When he had finally walked away, I sighed in exhaustion. “Do you have any idea the different silks they have in India? Or perhaps you know about the unparalleled beauty of the beaches in Spain?” I asked my aunt and she stifled a giggle.
“Lord Briar is well traveled I take it?” she replied.
I nodded. “Oh yes and ever so successful. He is quite impressive. Just ask him.”
Aunt Harriet grinned as she began to fan herself. I would regale her with more quips about Lord Briar over breakfast in the morning.
“Here comes a more appealing partner,” my aunt whispered beside me and I followed her gaze to see Lord Ashington headed in our direction.
“Please don’t turn down a dance with him this time,” Aunt Harriet whispered. “He did treat us to such a wonderful night at the opera,” she added, as if I needed reminding.
“I won’t,” I replied, feeling slightly ashamed that she felt she must plead with me.
“Oh, that’s good to hear,” she said with relief in her voice.
“He’s next on my dance card.” I turned to meet her gaze then and smiled.
“Of course he is,” she replied.
“Good evening, Lady Wellington, Miss Bathurst.”
Aunt Harriet did a small bow. “Good evening, Lord Ashington,” she replied, and I didn’t correct her for the bow. If her mishap was noticed by others, they could all very well get over it.
Lord Ashington smiled and bowed his head back to her.
He then turned his attention solely to me. “I do hope you survived your dance with Briar. I dare say he never once stopped talking the length of your time together. I was worried for your ears and peace of mind by the end,” he said with a teasing lilt in his voice.
The simple fact he had been watching me made me feel flutterings inside and I was taken aback by the sudden reaction. This was the second time Lord Ashington’s attention had brought me such a reaction. It was so new to me I wasn’t sure how to categorize it at all.
“He is very… informative,” I replied.
“If you should ever venture farther than Paris then he will be the man you should refer to for information,” Lord Ashington said with a full grin this time. He looked younger and not at all the earl when he smiled like that. He reminded me of… his brother.
“Indeed,” I agreed.
“Shall we,” he asked then as he held out his arm.
I returned his smile and stepped forward, taking his arm. Unlike Lord Briar, who smelled of moldy wood and ointment, Lord Ashington smelled of mint and spice. It was an appealing scent I wanted to draw closer to. Tonight, it had taken great will power not to watch his every move. He had danced once with Lady Ramsbury, and I would be lying to say I hadn’t been slightly jealous. I knew his name was on my dance card and that was the only reason I was able to continue smiling and dancing with Mr… Mr… Oh I forgot who I had been dancing with at that moment. I’d been rather distracted. Lydia Ramsbury was wearing a beautiful gown of ice blue and with her pale blonde hair and skin, she did look like a princess this evening.
I was becoming like all the others. Measuring up the competition. When had this happened and when had I decided I cared who Lord Ashington danced with? Before I could think too much further into the matter, Lord Ashington took my hands and we were dancing. Nothing else seemed to matter at that moment.
“It has taken me three balls to secure a dance with you, Miss Bathurst. I do hope you live up to the expectation,” he said.
I felt my face heat up and I knew I was blushing fiercely. “I’m afraid I may disappoint you, Lord Ashington. You may find that our first encounter was more of a blessing.”
He laughed then and the light in his eyes made my heart squeeze a little, that is if a heart could squeeze. I wasn’t sure that was a possibility, but it did, in fact, feel as if it had. “I believe you are unaware of your many favorable traits,” he replied.
“It would seem. Unless one acknowledged my sharp tongue as a favorable trait.”
He smiled at me softly. “Let me be the one to enlighten you, Miss Bathurst. Your sharp wit, kind heart, measure of decency, belief in what is fair, love for family, and, of course, your unsurpassable beauty are all favorable traits.”
My heart was back to doing that funny thing again that I had no real explanation for and for once in my life, I truly had no words. My sharp wit had failed me, and I continued our dance unsure what the proper response was to such a description. It was more than a thank you could cover yet that was all I knew to say. Finally, after a few moments of thought, I replied.