All the while, Lord Hereford made her aware of every step of her foot, every lift of her hand and ever smile on her face. That awareness made her long for his company. Dash it all. She grinned at her own Regency thought. But felt powerless to her situation.
At great length, the dance ended and they clapped for the musicians. Before another man could come and take their spot, Lord Grenville approached, his eyes full of expectation, but Lord Hereford approached more quickly and was at her side with her hand on his arm before she could say another word.
“Hello, my lord.”
He didn’t respond, though his face was stern, his eyes were full of adventure.
“Might I ask where we are going?”
He glanced at her and then kept walking, nodding here and there as they passed what she assumed were his acquaintances. When they had moved far enough to be out of earshot, he sighed. “Where are we going? Out of that blaggard’s reach.”
“Who?”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Lord Grenville?”
“Yes, Lord Grenville. Don’t think I don’t understand what you’re doing.”
She wished he’d never seen her bucket list. But as her eyes wandered around to make certain the man in question was truly nowhere nearby, her eyes caught one of the patroness’s. She pointed, subtly. “Is that—”
“Lady Jersey. Yes.”
“Perfect. I need your assistance. I know you wish to discuss my extreme lack of propriety and even perhaps your concern about my moral compass, but right now, I need to steal that lady’s feather.”
“P-pardon me?”
“Yes, or her handkerchief. Oh, or her fan. Something on her person that I could easily conceal on my person.”
“And you wonder why I have concerns about your moral compass?”
“She has a dozen at least, I’m certain. If it appeases your own sensibilities, I’ll ask the duke to buy her another to replace it.”
“Then why this crazy—is this too on your list?”
She nodded. “There is another page you haven’t seen.”
He shook his head then eyed her, and he must have overcome an internal battle because he smiled. “What do we need to do?”
“I think, first of all, we must be in conversation with her. With perhaps some others? And you would need to be the distraction, while I work some kind of trick to get her to part with her items.”
“Distraction? In what way?”
“You don’t know how to distract a lady?”
His face turned red, and Eva found him even more adorable.
“I am quite adept at distracting. Perhaps you’ve noticed?” He held her gaze, and though she tried to look away, she couldn’t manage.
“Yes, I’ve noticed.”
“But she’s not the distracting type, if you know what I mean.”
Eva tried not to think about what that meant for his opinion of her own distractibility. “Oh come now, let’s give this a go.”
“After you.”
“No, you. I have to cling to your arm in obvious fawning over your lord-ness and your money and position in society, and you have to do something unique and intelligent.”
“The things you say.” He glanced down at her upturned and adoring expression. “Though I will admit to liking this look on you.”
She blinked, then tugged on his arm, her expression unchanging.
“Oh, bother. Whatever you do, don’t drag me into your thievery.”
“You will be an innocent bystander.”
They approached the woman, surrounded by other women, mostly. Everyone with the same look of reverential awe. As he moved closer, they all stepped aside so that he could bow before her. Eva curtseyed and Lord Hereford introduced her.
“I’m so pleased to meet you.” Eva dropped her eyes in the most demure expression she could muster.
Lady Jersey nodded regally. “And I you. I’ve been most intrigued by our newest arrival here in the ton. Your friends cannot speak highly enough. I do hope you do their name and estate credit while you are among us. As they’ve staked their reputation on your supreme acceptance here.”
Eva nodded. “I would never dream of doing anything but bringing honor to my friends.”
Lord Hereford stepped on her toe, just the tiniest nudge, but she couldn’t believe the audacity.
And then he began the longest stream of small talk she’d ever heard. They discussed the weather, the balls, the gowns, even the hairstyles. When she began a discourse on the flavors of ice available, Eva knew that nothing in this conversation would be distracting enough for her to take even the smallest token.
Lady Jersey had four feathers coming out of the top of her turban. But those sat rather tall on her head, and Eva had no way of knowing how they were attached. Perhaps plucking them out would be much more difficult than she imagined. What else did Lady Jersey have on her person? A small reticule that was slipped over her wrist. The woman seemed aware of it and touched it often. Oh bother, what else? Perhaps her fan which she seemed to hold, absently, now and then waving it about for emphasis.
Eva had an idea.
“Lady Jersey.”
She stopped mid-sentence and rose her eyebrows in Eva’s direction.
“I was wondering. Have you been inside Carlton house?”
The woman’s mouth pursed in such a supreme expression of dislike that Eva wondered if perhaps she’d chosen the wrong topic.
“I have, and the whole house is such a monumental waste, I’m unsure why the king allows it.”
Eva wanted to mention that perhaps the king was incapable, but Prinny was not yet the regent and they were unaware of the king’s state. At any rate, she continued. “I was wondering if you could explain the artwork for us?”
“Oh, I suppose I could. It was the most redemptive part of the house, to be sure.”
As she began talking, Eva held out her hand. “I fear you cannot be doing it justice with this fan in your hand. Would you mind describing the sculpture’s size, show us with your hands perhaps?”
Lord Hereford snorted and then coughed in to his hands. “Excuse me, yes, I too am most interested.”
“Oh, well, indeed. I am pleased to find two young people so interested in the great art and artists of our day.” She proceeded to hand the fan to Eva and began the longest discourse on artwork Eva had heard, indeed it rivaled that of the museum docents. And true to Eva’s request, Lady Jersey used her hands with great proficiency in every description. In the meantime, Eva tucked the fan away in her own reticule.
The music started for another set, and Lord Hereford bowed. “Oh, my dear Lady Jersey. if you’ll excuse us, this is the very dance I’ve asked Lady Eva for.”
“Oh, why certainly. Do return if you’d like to hear more.”
“We will.”
They parted, and Lord Hereford swung her into his arms.
“What?”
“The waltz.”
“Oh, so many haven’t been given permission yet.”
“But I assume you have.”
“Certainly.”
“I would dance it with no other.”
As he led her about the floor, her feet gliding and then almost flying as effortlessly as she had ever danced, the air between them seemed to shimmer. Without thinking, she melted into him, the distance shrinking, her heart longing to feel the beat of his. He spun her and they twirled and moved. “You are meant to be in my arms. Can you not feel it?” His words warmed her and sent a thrill down her core.
“Yes.” She breathed then started, shocked at her response. “I mean, I don’t know.”
“No, stop. Go with your first answer, for that was the very language of your heart telling your brain to be still.”
His words rang through her. But her brain definitely needed to have a say in this conversation. Her heart might find a happy home in this man’s arms. But her brain knew what staying here would lead.
But as he stared into her eyes, as they danced the fl
oors at Almack’s, as she realized she’d never met a man she trusted more. For a moment, she let herself go and just enjoyed their dance. For it would end all too soon and she would dance with another and another. But she knew always, in the back of her mind, Lord Hereford would be the standard she sought. And she didn’t think anyone in this time, her time or any other time would ever compare.
14
Lord Hereford returned Lady Eva to the duke and duchess but was loathe to leave her. He knew she’d be scooped up by her next partner, knew he’d taken some man’s place as her partner, but he didn’t care. Every moment spent with her seemed worth the agony of those moments apart.
Her list fascinated him and filled him with dread. Would she leave with that scoundrel Grenville? Would he enjoy the taste of her lips on his? The thought caused his blood to boil. And how could he respect a woman who had as her goal to kiss a lord? How could he let her kiss another? He was a lord. He could be the one. But as a man of honor, he knew what such a gesture would mean.
He couldn’t explain his attraction, but somehow, coming from her, the pursuit to kiss a lord seemed less villainous and more adventurous. As had stealing Lady Jersey’s fan. Was he an accomplice now, to the thievery? He supposed not since the lady had willingly handed over her fan. At least the duchess had agreed to replace the item.
“Have you both been enjoying yourselves? I must say, I’ve rarely seen the waltz danced so well.” Jane smiled at the two of them and Oliver appreciated her friendship.
“Yes, we are well suited.” Oliver dipped his head.
But Lady Eva didn’t respond, her attention was elsewhere.
He followed her gaze and nearly growled. Grenville. The man danced by them and had the audacity to wink in her direction. She smiled and then turned back to their group. “I’ve had a lovely time. Almacks is everything I thought it would be.” She stepped closer to Oliver and whispered. “Do you know I’m well on my way to crossing off four things on this list?”
His dread increased. “Oh? Which ones?”
Her eyes danced with the adventure he knew she felt in her wild plan. “Well, you know about the fan.” She patted her reticule. “I’ve had the lemonade. I’ve danced a quadrille with a boring partner.” She made a face. “And of course, you know who might humor me with the item we mustn’t discuss in public.”
He grimaced. Then eyed her. “And the fourth?”
“Oh.” She looked away. “Well, it’s um…”
Jane saved her. “Shall we sit? My feet ache and I’m certain Lady Eva’s suitors will find her no matter where she is.”
“I would enjoy a rest, myself.” Eva moved with the duke and duchess to chairs against the wall. Lord Hereford followed and glanced around the room.
“Who were you with earlier?”
A victorious smile lit his face, and she almost rolled her eyes but knew the expression meant nothing during this time period.
“Oh please, who is she?”
“I’m just counting my victories as they come. You noticed.” He nodded and folded his arms.
“And I still don’t know who she is.”
“That, is Lady Everly. We’ve recently become acquainted, and our mothers are much in favor of the match.”
Lady Eva’s face pinched for a moment and then cleared. And Oliver wanted immediately to squelch that worry, but what could he say? As certain he was that Lady Eva was the woman he most preferred, he was unsure as yet if she was the correct woman to be his wife. She certainly had no plans to stick by his side as of yet. He had not won her over in any way. So he left the explanation as it stood. Would he live to regret the choice?
Lady Eva returned to the dance floor within minutes, and she was on the arm of one gentleman or another for the rest of the evening. At one point, he lost sight of her and had a growing suspicion she might have been with Grenville, for he was out of sight as well.
Several hours later, the room was distracted by a strange object floating above them. It looked to be a parchment, folded into the shape of a bird with wings soaring through the air above their heads. He watched it, astounded, then in great suspicion, and found Lady Eva eyeing it with a victorious expression. He caught her eye and she made a checking off motion with her finger. He couldn’t help but laugh and marvel at her ingenuity.
Lady Everly had returned to his side, and he did his best to go through the motions of showing interest in the woman, but a part of him knew it to be hopeless. He was not interested in her. So did he make a decision based on matters of the mind or the heart? That would be the question he most desired to answer.
Oliver meandered down the street in the late afternoon the next day, enjoying a bit of solitude. The weather was lovely. The streets were dry, and few people were out promenading so he had space in which to breathe and to think.
Up ahead, a carriage pulled in front of a shop, and Lady Eva and Her Grace stepped out and hurried in.
He picked up his pace, all designs of solitude gone. He arrived at the shop door, opened it and stepped inside. Strong scents filled his nose. As his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, he recognized tables and shelves of the familiar oils and waters they used to scent their baths or to wear on their clothing or other places. He’d never actually been in a store that sold the items. His valet handled the purchase of his.
Lady Eva stood in the corner, lifting the different vials to her nose and laughing with her grace. “This one would never fly. Smell this.”
Her grace took one smell and said, “Oh that’s all the rage here. Prinny wore it once and now all the men think it makes them smell like Drakkar.”
“Oh, Drakkar. They could use some Drakkar around here.”
“I brought some back with me last time.”
“What! You did!”
She giggled. “Totally. And a bunch of other stuff. Regency’s not so bad when you can cheat a little bit.”
Oliver could not make sense of anything they said, but as he moved closer, his hip jiggled a table and rows of vials jingled and clanged together.
Lady Eva’s eyes widened and she nudged her grace. “Hello, Lord Hereford.”
“Hello.” He bowed and they curtseyed. “Oh, what are you speaking? I could scarce understand a word.”
Lady Eva laughed. “Oh, you know, we women have our own language sometimes.”
“And what is this Drakkar?”
They eyed each other, and then he knew one would try to hedge. They were hiding something, something they seemed to share in common. “Are you two from the same place?” Her grace too had come and joined the ton from a distant family estate.
Lady Eva nodded. “We are. And it has been so enjoyable to talk again of things from home.”
Something still seemed odd between the two of them, but at last a portion of the mystery was explained. “And now, here we all are together. Shall we pick a new smell for the other?”
Lady Eva’s eye lit. “How perfectly spontaneous of you, Lord Hereford.”
“You approve of spontaneous?”
“Certainly.” She rested a hand on his arm and her grace joined him on his other arm. “Now, let’s see what we can choose for you.”
They headed to the men’s section of the store, and after smelling four or five vials, Lady Eva breathed in one and her smile of enjoyment made him grin. He peered over her shoulder immediately to see what had cause such a reaction.
Her grace smelled it next. “Ooh, I like that one. Perhaps I’ll get it for his grace.”
Lady Eva handed it to him next. He lifted it to his nose. “Earth. Woods. Rain.” He turned eyes to her. “This smells good to you?”
“So good.” She lifted it to her nose again. “When I smell this, I think of beautiful nights with the man I love holding me, his hand, here.” She placed his hand at her hip. “And the fire warm, a slow dance, and a soft kiss…” She sighed.
He closed his mouth after his lips went dry. “I’d like to purchase a few, if I may?” He reached around her and picked up
the desired vials.
“And now, shall we find one for you?”
Eva nodded. “This is fun.”
They led him to another section of the store. He picked up vial after vial and none of them would do. One was too sweet, one too strong, one too much like the one he held. He moved down the aisles, one after another until at last, he smelled one that matched Lady Eva. “This. Jasmine. To me it smelled of flowers I’d only encountered in a green house or conservatory.”
She lifted it hesitantly to her nose. “Oh. Mmm. I love this.” She checked the label. “Jasmine. Of course.”
“You like it, then?”
“I do.”
He waited, hoping she would buy it. For he most desperately wished to smell it on her. She was about to place it back on the table when he moved to reach for it.
“So I should buy it, then?” Eva lifted it closer.
“Absolutely. The thought of this smell right here.” He ran a finger from the base of her ear down to the base of her neck. “Sounds delicious to me.”
She stood back in complete pleased surprise. “Lord Hereford.”
He shrugged and handed her two vials. Perhaps he was bold, but she seemed to welcome his sincerity, or perhaps her own boldness brought out his.
Then she laughed and they both moved to the counter to make their purchases. The women had to leave soon after, and as he helped them up into their carriage, he could only smile at the expectant looks Lady Eva sent his way. Perhaps there might be hope for them after all?
The next few days were full of senseless and dull activities of his mother’s choosing and mostly involving the accompanying of Lady Everly here or there. They took a ride in his phaeton. They walked along the paths of Hyde Park. They went together to see the artwork in the museum. And he began to be concerned as the more his mother arranged for them to be together, the greater the expectation that he would soon make his intentions known. Of which he had none at the moment. His intention had been to decide if he had an intention. And as yet, he had no further plans where Lady Everly was concerned.
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