by Abby Ayles
His cousin, Lord Edwards, likely earned more attention at functions, but if Mr. Edwards went along with him as he had this time, he likely met a great many people from London’s famed ton.
After safely folding up the letter and placing the gentleman’s name upon the outside, Noelle turned around in the chair with a grin on her face. “Now it’s your turn,” she said to Catherine.
She got up from the chair and waited as her sister came over and sat in her place. For extra fun and awkwardness, she pushed Catherine’s chair a bit closer to the desk.
“I wrote that I wished to see him again,” she said to her. “But I left it at that. You mustn’t make it too flowery or you’re likely to scare Lord Edwards away.”
“Really,” Kitty said with a laugh. “I don’t think that he was so very shy and fragile as all that.”
Rather than looking over her sister’s shoulder and reading what she wrote onto the parchment, Noelle sat down upon the bed. They hadn’t even sent the letters yet, but still, she was giddy with anticipation.
I wonder what Mr. Edwards will make of it, she thought with a smile. I hope that he doesn’t think I’ve forgotten about him, as Mother probably hopes I shall…
That was another thing altogether: she was not sure how her mother would react if Noelle and Catherine were invited to a party at Mr. Edwards’ home. There was a chance that they could avoid finding out, though, if Lord Edwards had the good sense to invite them personally to his own manor.
Noelle thought that she should be quite content to just pay a visit to the gentleman’s modest home, though. She never expected anything quite so grand as her mother. She really only wished to see the man himself again.
Chapter 10
Several days had passed since the ball at the Duke of Salisbury’s London home, and yet Rodrick found that he could not stop thinking about it. In truth, it had been a party like any other, all except for the beautiful and friendly Lady Noelle Fletcher.
It seemed now as if they’d only had a few minutes together, but in reality, they had spent most of the ball in each other’s company. He had been relieved that his friend Alphonse neglected to come along to the ball, even if he pretended to be annoyed at him.
Really, he had been bothered only because Lady Noelle seemed so downtrodden about the marquess’s absence. And, to be sure, the one who was really downtrodden about it was her mother, the duchess.
“Confound it, the man could have an absolute peach of a girl for his wife, and what does he do? He doesn’t even show up to be polite and make her acquaintance!”
James chuckled softly, shaking his head. He was sitting comfortably on the couch in Rodrick’s sitting room, visiting his cousin after a long morning of doing his old father’s bidding.
“I know that you liked her, Rodrick, you old devil,” he said. “And you do know by now that Lord Drake is not the sort of man who follows rules or does what is expected of him.”
Rodrick sighed and nodded in agreement. He leaned against the wall by the window looking out on his expansive garden. “Indeed, I know him only too well to be surprised by his behavior.”
He only wished that he could convince his friend to attend another ball wherein Lady Noelle was also in attendance. He wanted to live vicariously through his friend for as long as possible, but he had a terrible feeling that the chances of that were diminishing by the day.
The Duke and Duchess of Salisbury were not likely to invite Lord Edwards and his cousin to another party if it was known that Rodrick continued to dance with Lady Noelle against their wishes, either. Still, he prayed that they might see each other again soon.
“Gods, I wish that we lived in a time or place where titles were not so damned important!” he opined, pushing off from the wall and going to sit in a dark green wing chair beside the couch. “I am not a bad man; I’m intelligent and polite and noble, in my own way…”
“And quite modest,” James added with a wry smile. “Really, Rodrick, you mustn’t trouble your mind with it. I am convinced that we shall be seeing the fair ladies of the Grosvenor Square crescent again.”
Rodrick arched an eyebrow at his cousin. “Oh?” he asked. “Have you been plotting in your absence?”
James continued to smile deviously, but shyly, at Rodrick. “I may have been gone off to my own abode, but dear cousin, I am never absent.”
“But what have you been plotting?” Rodrick asked, ignoring his platitudes. “I know that expression of yours. You mean to cause a bit of mischief.”
“Why no, sir,” James replied with a laugh. “I merely mean that I have been thinking the same such thing as you have. I think that it might be a good idea to invite the Salisbury family here to return their gracious favor.”
Rodrick’s mouth fell open in astonishment. Then he gave James a smile of appreciation and relief. “Oh, how fine an idea is that! My own manor should be a suitable location for it – for I have my mother here who can be a chaperone and companion for them in their stay…”
He chuckled a bit then, raising his eyebrows at his cousin. “I think it may be a fine time to make your feelings known to Lady Catherine, eh?”
James blushed, smiling from ear to ear. “Perhaps,” he said quietly. He was such a shy young man that Rodrick had to wonder how long it would take before he’d propose marriage to Catherine.
He wondered briefly if they might wish to extend an invitation to Alphonse, in order to finally unite him with Lady Noelle and please her mother the duchess, but Rodrick quickly thought better of that. It was perhaps not a good idea to continue to push the meeting, especially if the lady wasn’t so keen on it.
There’s no need to rush that, after all, Rodrick thought. They surely will cross paths eventually…
He couldn’t believe that he was thinking such a thing. He was being so impertinent lately on the subject of the Fletcher girl. And he was not being the best friend to Alphonse.
“Do you really think that another ball so soon after the last one…?”
James scoffed and shook his head. “I daresay, no. We shan’t have need of another ball; but rather, I thought that we could invite only the Salisburys as a means of getting better acquainted.”
Rodrick could imagine exactly which member of that family with whom he wished to become acquainted. He smiled knowingly. “I see.”
He was grateful that his cousin was on his side. He knew that he was going to need to remain by his side if there was ever to be any chance of his meeting a lady for his own wife. Not that Rodrick was attending these parties for the purpose of such a thing, but he wasn’t counting it out either.
Not since meeting Noelle. Something about her had ignited within him the idea that he was worthy, just as worthy as his cousin or the marquess or the Viscount of Kent.
Oh, it meant a great deal to him to be able to recall the way that the lady had looked at him. For a brief moment in his existence, he felt like he was her equal. And it had thrilled him greatly.
He’d never expected to feel like that at one of those stuffy balls, surrounded by dukes and lords who were full of port and pomposity. And Rodrick was crazy enough to dare dream that he might feel that way again, soon enough.
When his cousin had gone and he was left alone with his thoughts in his study, he could think of no one else but Lady Noelle. Wars are fought, lands are explored and conquered for ladies less lovely than her. No one ever in all of existence has been worthy of her.
Only when he was alone did he allow himself to think such thoughts. He knew that he was infected with a poison most strong and oftentimes deadly, but he didn’t care. If Lady Noelle could stir such thoughts and emotions within him, then he knew that it couldn’t possibly be wrong.
“I am determined,” he said softly, to no one. “I am determined, Noelle, to love you most passionately until my last breath.”
He knew that there would be other balls and other women, and eventually a wife would surely come into his life, but still, he was determined and he meant what
he said. No one else needed to ever know. No one else would ever understand.
Rodrick went to bed in quite a rapturous state, and he dreamt fitfully but happily. When he awoke and dressed the following morning, he had a singular goal. He knew that he had his cousin’s blessing, which made it all the better.
“You seem in a good mood,” his mother greeted him at the dining table for breakfast. She smiled as he stooped down and planted a kiss upon her cheek. “Sleep well, did you?”
“Oh, the best sleep I’ve had in ages,” Rodrick replied, smiling back at her. He sat at the head of the short table and his plate was swiftly filled with porridge and biscuits by his cook, but he didn’t imagine he’d have need of any of it.
“Has something happened?” his mother asked him curiously.
He looked at her and shook his head a little. “Not yet,” he told her.
This enigmatic response caused her to giggle slightly, but there was some nervousness to it. She knew her son well enough to know that when he had an idea in his head, then there was going to be no end to it until he’d seen things completely through.
Despite not wishing to eat very much, Rodrick still ate his fill of the offered breakfast. Then, as soon as he was finished, he was back off into his study.
His mother was not content to simply let that be it, however. She followed him into the room and sat on the divan chair near his desk. “Really, Rodrick, what is this about?”
He gathered some pieces of paper and a pen and was about to hastily write a letter when she intercepted him. “Oh, nothing, Mother,” he replied aloofly. “James simply gave me an idea yesterday and I wish to see it come to fruition.”
Eleanor blinked a bit. “Does this have anything to do with that Fletcher lady?” she asked him. “Darling, you know that it’s best that you let Lord Drake have his say with that. It isn’t proper to press the issue yourself.”
Oh, but you misunderstand, he thought good-naturedly He didn’t presume to press the issue. He merely wished to be friendly. Especially as James was interested in courting Lady Catherine.
“James has decided that he wishes for a reunion between us and the Ladies Noelle and Catherine,” he replied to his mother. “And who am I to object to that? So, I thought I had best write to them at once and invite them here to Wildhill.”
This explanation quickly changed his mother’s expression entirely from one of doubt to one of sheer delight. “Oh!” she cried out, smiling at once. “That is a capital idea indeed. How smart your cousin is.”
Rodrick laughed. “Yes, I told him that he was quite clever to come up with this plan.”
Right as he was about to bring his pen to the page, however, there was a knock upon the front door. Smyth, the butler, went to answer it right away. After but a moment, the man came into the room, bowed, and handed Rodrick a note addressed to him in a most lovely hand.
Rodrick smiled as soon as he touched the paper. There was only one person from whom a letter such as this could come. Could it really be?!
Carefully but swiftly, he tore the seal open and read the letter. It was indeed from his lovely partner from the recent ball – Lady Noelle! “Oh! It seems that I’ve been beaten to the punch.”
“What is it?” his mother asked, rising from her seat and peering over his arms at the letter on the desk before him. “Who is it from?”
“Upon my word, it’s from Lady Noelle,” he replied with a grin. “She and her sister wish to see myself and James as soon as we’re available!”
He looked at his mother then, realizing that he indeed must ask for her help if this plan was to work. “I wonder, Mother, if you would be willing to act as a chaperone and keep the ladies company in their activities?”
She smiled at him as if it was a silly question. “Of course, I shall,” she replied at once. “What did you think I should do? Lock myself in my room for the duration?”
He let out a laugh and then nodded his head happily. He gently set the lady’s letter aside and began to feverishly write back to her in the most exalting tones that he could manage whilst still being proper.
Dear Lady Noelle Fletcher,
Receipt of your letter could not have occurred at a more opportune moment. My cousin – Lord Edwards – and I had only just finished making plans to write and invite you to come to my home at Wildhill.
I do so hope that you and your sister, Lady Catherine, will be able to part from your family for a few days. I think that it will be a splendid respite from the city.
My gracious mother shall be a chaperone and confidante for you both during your stay.
I also have it on good authority that there’s a chance of Lord Drake stopping in while you are here. He is rather fond of doing that. He is a dearest friend of mine and he is welcome whenever the occasion arises.
Please write to me and tell me that you shall stay here with us. I feel that we have only just begun to get to know one another, and my cousin James can speak of no one else but your dear sister.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rodrick Edwards
He would have kissed the letter before it was sent off with the postman were it not for his mother’s continued presence there in the room. Soon he would see the lovely Lady Noelle again! And, even better than that, she wished to see him just as readily!
Chapter 11
Noelle was elated upon receiving the letter from Mr. Edwards. She quickly rushed into Catherine’s room to inform her that they were invited – by his mother as well as Rodrick himself – to stay at their home for a few days.
After some considerable squealing, Kitty took her by the hand and took on a most serious expression. “But do you think that Mother will agree to it?”
This was something that Noelle was a bit concerned about as well. Their mother was usually the first one to say that her girls must go out and get acquainted with gentlemen but staying with Mr. Edwards was another matter. Not least of all because of his lack of proper status.
“I don’t think that Mother would want to turn down an invitation from a gentleman like Lord Edwards,” she replied. “And since Mr. Edwards is a cousin to the viscount, I see no reason that the lord wouldn’t be included in this visit.”
“He did mention him in his letter,” Kitty said with a hopeful smile. “And he mentioned the marquess as well!”
Yes, Noelle thought. That’s the only part of this invitation that I’m not looking forward to. I know that Mr. Edwards is just trying to be a help to me, but I don’t think that the marquess’s presence will be quite as enjoyable as the presence of our hosts.
She knew that everyone in her family hoped that she would be a dutiful daughter and marry Lord Drake, but Noelle didn’t think that she really had to. There were a great many other titled men in England, after all.
And some great untitled men, too.
Bringing the gentleman’s letter downstairs, she went in search of her mother and father. It was true that she and Catherine were going to need their approval before they could even respond in acceptance of the invitation. She hoped that her mother would accept, knowing that Lord Drake and Lord Edwards would be there to keep the young ladies properly entertained.
Noelle found her mother in the sitting room, on the large couch, deeply focused on her needlework. Without looking up, however, the duchess knew that her daughter was there in the doorway. “You have something you wish to speak to me about?” she asked, pulling the thread taut through the fabric.
She had this way about her that made her seem regal and somewhat perturbed. Noelle hadn’t even said anything to her about it yet, and already she was beginning to have doubts that her mother would approve…
She took a deep breath. “Catherine and I have been invited by the Viscount of Easton, his cousin Mr. Rodrick Edwards, and his aunt Mrs. Eleanor Edwards to stay at his home for a few days. They wish to get to know us better.”
Noelle couldn’t stop herself from smiling as she said this, even though she feared that her mother would bristle a
t the mention of Mr. Edwards. Dancing with the man at one ball had been quite a grievous offense, it seemed.
The duchess arched one perfect brow. She lowered her needlework to her lap as she gazed at her daughter thoughtfully. “Will you be staying at the viscount’s Westwood estate?”
Noelle shook her head. “No, we will stay at Wildhill, the home of the Edwardses. But we’re assured that both the viscount and the Marquess of Fairfax will be in attendance as well.”
Her mother continued to appear thoughtful. She hasn’t said ‘no’ yet, Noelle told herself. If she was really against it, she would’ve already said ‘no.’
