“I shall return,” Mrs. Ridge said once again as she patted Lydia’s hand. “Mind yourself, and be sure to keep on your gloves.”
When the woman had left, Lydia opened the card. As she read it, her eyes went wide.
For hours, I thought of writing words of poetry, but I was advised to simply tell you what is on my heart. If you never believe another word I say, believe this. I have great feelings for you. In all honesty, I must admit that I have fallen in love with you.
The power of those words was so strong that Lydia had to take a deep breath to keep back tears that threatened to fall. She read over the card once more before placing it into her reticule just as Lady Matilda called for everyone’s attention.
“I want to thank you all for attending my party,” the woman said in a loud voice that carried around the room. “It is my great pleasure to announce that I now ask those of you willing to be a bit more…let’s say, bawdy.” She laughed at her own words as did a few others. “Please join me in the steps of a waltz.”
With steps of determination, Lydia made her way to the middle of the ballroom. Quite a few people retreated lest they be judged as willing participants in such a lewd dance, but Lydia cared nothing for what people thought of her—not any longer. She refused to judge herself by their standards, for she would be happy in the manner in which she chose.
However, she could not find William, and as the people around her began to dance, she fretted that she had lost him forever.
Then she turned and there he was. “I believe this is our dance,” he said as he put his hand out.
“I wanted to tell you first that I believe you,” she whispered as he pulled her close, “because I love you, too.”
William smiled as they separated once again, their hands still clasped together above them. Moving in the same manner as those around them, they stepped in close together again and then moved away. A moment later, she twirled, her skirts flowing around her. It had been the perfect gown for the Waltz, just as she had suspected when ordering it, and she realized that the old her—the wallflower—had disappeared. The words her mother had spoken to her long ago came to mind as the love for William beat within her heart. Her mother had promised she would dance in love, and now those words had proven true. With each step, each twist, each turn, the old Lydia broke away and the new emerged. And for the first time in her life, she felt whole.
As the music came to a stop and couples lined up to begin the next dance, William escorted her to the drinks table. Lydia looked around, her head held high with pride, and she noticed something in the eyes of the other women she had not made note of before. Just as Helen had once told her, Lydia saw their appreciation.
For years, she had seen judgment, disapproval, and for nothing more than her timidity. Some, perhaps, looked at her with awe simply because she was in the company of the Duke, but she knew she had a part in how others saw her, for she had looked at other women—women of confidence—in much the same way. Now, it was her inner strength, that of which Helen and Mr. Lancing had spoken, and she had no doubt that true love was the power behind it.
“Lydia,” William said, “I must explain about Alice.”
“There is no need,” Lydia replied. “Lord Egerton called over today and told me everything.”
“Barnard?” William asked, clearly shocked.
“Yes. He apologized for his past behavior and also explained how you thought he told me about your friend. The truth of the matter is that I overheard Mrs. Pendleton myself at the dress shop, and…well, none of that matters, for it was a clear misunderstanding and nothing more.” She looked down at the floor as she remembered the unfairness she had inflicted upon him. “I am sorry. To assume such a thing without giving you the chance to explain was wrong. Forgive me.”
“There is nothing to forgive,” he said. “We love one another and shall move on in that love. Would you agree?”
He grinned, and Lydia felt her heart soar. As the party around them continued, they spoke of everything and nothing, their laughter and whispers in unison much like the dance in which they had shared earlier.
“I beg your pardon,” a woman no older than eighteen wearing spectacles said. “That dance? How does one find the courage to do such a thing?”
Lydia gave the woman a warm smile. “It is not easy at first, I must admit. However, do not worry, I can help you.”
***
Though love for Lydia filled his heart, worry continued to cloud William’s mind as he made his way through the crowd to where Barnard stood, a drink in his hand. He was disgusted with himself for his accusations against the man who had been his friend for so many years, and he was unsure if what they once had could be revived. The first step was to apologize, and it was the most difficult step he could take.
“William,” Barnard said as he raised an eyebrow. However, he said nothing more as he took a drink from his glass.
“Barnard,” William answered back. Then he gave a heavy sigh. “I do not know how to apologize for my actions earlier. They were horrible, to say the least, but I am sorry. I do hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Barnard pursed his lips. “When you told me how I needed to move on from Alice, to allow her to love and to be happy, I did not welcome your words of wisdom at first. However, upon reflection, I came to realize that you are right in so many ways. Alice has found a man to love her, and I must be willing to move on with my life. I have done just that, and I wish her all the best. As to your actions,” he pushed himself off the wall on which he had been leaning, “they were understandable. I was pigheaded and my actions were not of a gentleman but rather a child. I am finished with tantrums.”
“Still,” William said, “I had no reason to…”
“You had every reason to give me a good tongue lashing, if not the beating I received earlier,” -he touched his lip tenderly- “after you learned I exchanged your card for mine. Yet it was because of your kindness and friendship that I had another chance. I was not about to ruin that.” He clasped his hand on William’s shoulder. “The mercy you showed me I will return to you. We are friends, the three of us,” -he glanced toward Clancy, who, of course, was focused on choosing a tart- “and I believe we shall remain so for a long time to come.”
William felt pride erupt in him as he and his friend moved the conversation to other topics, including Clancy, and then to Lydia, and finally back to Barnard.
“You will find a woman,” William said. “I have no doubt about that.”
Barnard snorted. “How many know me as the arrogant one of our trio?” he asked with a laugh. “Though I have changed, it may take some time for word to travel to members of the ton.”
“You may be right on that,” William said with a laugh of his own. Then they both laughed as Clancy followed the line of servants carrying out more food. “But some things will never change, will they?”
“As you said before, there are things—like Clancy’s behavior—that should not change. I see that now, and it is because of you. Thank you for that, the greatest advice I have ever received.”
As the conversation moved on, William could not help but feel a need to return to Lydia, and when the time was right, he said, “Well, I believe I leave you to your own devices. Now, make yourself available. There is a woman here tonight who I am sure would want to speak with you.”
“You are kind,” Barnard said, “but I doubt any woman…” his voice trailed off as the Dowager Duchess approached them.
She might have been a dowager, but she was still a young widow. She gave them each a nod in greeting before she turned her attention to Barnard. “Lord Egerton,” she said with a tiny smile playing on her lips, “I have been meaning to speak with you…that is, if you are not currently occupied.”
William gave a nod. “I must be off anyway, so he is all yours.”
Barnard did not seem to notice when William stepped away, for his full attention was on the woman before him.
“Ha
ve you worked out everything with Lord Egerton?” Lydia asked when he returned to her side.
“Yes,” William replied. He noticed Barnard’s blush as he spoke to the Dowager Duchess and smiled. “I believe Barnard, Clancy…in fact, everyone will be just fine.” He turned back to the woman who held his heart. “I hope he finds what I have found.”
“Oh?” Lydia asked, a mischievous smile on her face. “And what is that?”
“Why, love, of course.”
Epilogue
Lydia had never known time to move as quickly as it did over the year following the party at the home of Lady Matilda. She had returned with her father to their country home, and William had called as often as he could, and when he had asked for her hand, her father had been more than ecstatic.
Now, they had returned for the London Season, but this year, she was not searching for love, for she had already found it, and her husband of three weeks was the source of that love.
They walked side by side in St. James Park with Alice, who had become a dear friend to Lydia. Beside Alice was her husband, Charles, who was a kind man with wheat-colored hair and a ready smile. It was no wonder that Alice had fallen in love with him, for he was a kind soul who had dedicated his heart to the woman he loved.
Just ahead of them walked Lord Egerton—now known to Lydia as simply Barnard—and his fiancée. Lydia had been surprised when she got the news that Barnard had asked Elizabeth Osbourn to marry him. He would be taking on a son, a young boy of only four years, far too young to resume to duties of his father, the former Duke of Charlesbridge, but Barnard seemed as taken to the boy as the boy was to him. Yet, not as taken as he was with the Dowager Duchess herself.
“I knew I would marry up one day,” Barnard had said playfully as they all sat sharing in a game of cards together.
“I cannot believe I will be marrying down,” she had said with a derisive sniff, though a smile played at the corner of her lip. Watching them with their heads close together, Lydia could see they were meant for one another. Barnard with his flagrant ways and Elizabeth with her foreword thinking, they would be the perfect couple. And what trouble they would cause together! The ton had no idea what was coming!
Even Clancy had found love, and if what he said was true, he and Lady Matilda would soon be wed. Lydia remembered the day he had asked at the party if she would put in a good word, but somehow he had gotten up the courage on his own.
Although her father remained at Beachwood Manor on his own, he spent many hours in the company of one Lady Meyers. It seemed that once Helen had mentioned the woman, he had found a fascination with her and had asked her to dance not once, but trice at the last party of the Season. Since then, they had become close friends, neither looking for romance but enjoying each other’s company, nonetheless.
With each day that passed, Lydia found her confidence grow. She still enjoyed reading and she had already attended one meeting at the home of Mr. Lancing. When she had asked William for his permission, he had simply told her, “You do not need my permission, but you must take the carriage there directly. I will not have you traipsing through alleyways to get there. And be sure Helen accompanies you.” As promised, Helen had been offered a place with Lydia and William, and she was as much a part of the family as any of them.
“Do you realize that we have not danced the waltz in some time?” William asked, bringing her back to the present. “Perhaps tomorrow we can do so at the party Clancy’s parents are hosting.”
“I would like that,” Lydia replied. “Though, I believe we dance in our own way these days, do we not?” She giggled when William’s smile widened, for he understood her words.
Yes, it was a year ago when Lydia had considered her dance with William, The Waltz of the Wallflower; it had been the first of many. That dance was followed by a dance greater than the waltz, a dance that broke the confines of society, one that made a woman realize that she was not a wallflower or a spinster or any other term society put upon a woman who did not fall within the stringent ideals of the time. In fact, it was the greatest of all the dances, for it broke through all barriers to bring together two souls.
And that dance was love.
Read More from Catherine Mayfair
Other Titles by Catherine Mayfair
Stranded with the Marquess
Duke of Chance
The Baron’s Charade
Waltz 0f The Wallflower (Delicate Hearts Book 1) Page 16
