In the Stars

by Ava Stone

  Without waiting even a moment for Mina to reply, however, Lady Elspeth linked her arm with Mina’s and began to direct her around the perimeter of Lady Ridgemont’s ballroom. Everyone in the middle of the room seemed to be having a delightful time, dancing some sort of reel. Normally, the blonde lady beside her would be right there in the middle with the rest of the merrymakers. What was the Scottish girl about tonight?

  “Ye weren’t, by chance, in the park today, were ye?”

  “In the park?” Peggy’s lie echoed in Mina’s ears and she cast the blonde at her elbow a sidelong glance.

  “Mmm.” Lady Elspeth nodded as they made their first turn. “For some reason I thought you might be. I was there today, ye see.”

  “Were you, indeed?” Mina asked, wishing she had some clue what the blonde wanted with her.

  “Mmm,” she said again. “And I happened upon a pair of officers who served under your father. They’re in the King’s Dragoon Guards.”

  Army officers? The King of Swords, the fortuneteller’s voice echoed in Mina’s mind. A most dashing figure. He’s responsible, has the aura of a commander about him. “Responsible commanders?” she breathed out, barely recognizing her own voice.

  “I’ll always think of Captain Reid as the lad who dared me to swim the length of Loch Ericht and tied my braids into knots when we were younger.” Lady Elspeth laughed. “Though I’m certain he is much more responsible these days.”

  So the lady knew one of the officers. Mina wasn’t certain if that made her feel more comfortable or less so.

  “Anyway,” Lady Elspeth continued, “I thought ye might like to make their acquaintances.”

  A bit of panic pierced Mina’s heart. She wasn’t ready to meet whoever Madam Derbardi had foreseen. She might not ever be ready. “Does either of them have only one eye?” she asked before she thought better of her words. The look of confusion that flashed across Lady Elspeth’s face made Mina wish, at once, that she could call the words back. But she couldn’t, and it was better to know now if one of the two men was the one the fortuneteller had seen in her cards.

  “Only one eye?” the Scottish girl echoed.

  Mina nodded. “It is most important.”

  “Honestly, I only gave Lord Healyfied the briefest glance, I was so surprised to see Captain Reid, an old friend of my family, it was difficult to notice much else.” Lady Elspeth shrugged. “I suppose his lordship could have a glass eye or something, but he certainly wasn’t wearing an eye patch, if that’s what ye mean.”

  A glass eye. That thought wouldn’t have ever occurred to Mina. She hadn’t ever seen a glass eye, or at least she didn’t think she had. Would such a thing be very easy to spot?

  “They’re right over there,” Lady Elspeth continued without missing a beat and nodding towards the far wall.

  Mina’s gaze shot in that direction. Two Dragoon Guards did stand near the pair of doors that led out to Lady Ridgemont’s courtyard. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized both men were looking in her direction.

  “Would ye like to meet them?”

  Not on her life. Even from across the room, she could tell the pair had an air of command about them. And the one thing she didn’t need in her life was anyone else with a commanding air. Dealing with Papa was bad enough as it was. Of course, if she did meet the pair, that would probably appease Papa more so than simply walking about the room with Lady Elspeth. But Mina shook her head as soon as the thought popped into her mind. There was no point in making such men’s acquaintances, even if they had both of their eyes and weren’t the fellow Madam Derbardi had foreseen. “I don’t think I would, Lady Elspeth.”

  The lady nodded. “In that case, ye’d better stay with me, Miss Throssell. I’m certain I can keep them at bay.”

  Why did they need to be kept at bay? Were they looking for Mina? Were they angry with her father over something? Before she could ask any of those questions, a joyful smile settled on the Scottish girl’s face and she sighed wistfully.

  Mina glanced in the direction Lady Elspeth’s gaze was trained and her eyes settled on the very handsome Earl of Peasemore who raked his dark blonde hair from his brow. It was no wonder the lady sighed. Half of London’s debutants thought themselves in love with the earl, at least if the number of conversations Mina overheard at these sorts of events was any indication. Quiet as she usually was, no one ever seemed to notice her and said things they might think the better of had they realized they had an audience.

  Lord Peasemore, as though he felt Lady Elspeth’s gaze on him, looked directly at the Scottish girl and then strode purposefully towards them. Lady Elspeth drew Mina to a stop beside her, as though waiting for his lordship to pay her court, which he seemed most intent to do. Perhaps someone had finally caught the earl. Interesting. Girls all across London would be in tears come the end of the season.

  A moment later, Peasemore, bowed low before them, his hazel eyes twinkling as he lifted Lady Elspeth’s hand to his lips. “My lady,” he said softly.

  Under the warm light of the chandeliers, Lady Elspeth’s cheeks seemed to glow. “My lord, what a pleasant surprise.” Then she gestured towards Mina. “Ye know Miss Throssell?”

  “Yes, of course.” His eyes flashed to Mina before quickly returning to Lady Elspeth. “I was hoping I could tempt you to stand up with me for the first waltz tonight.”

  If Mina wasn’t holding on to Lady Elspeth’s arm, she thought it very likely the Scottish girl might float right up to the ceiling. “I would enjoy that, my lord,” she said, her tone remarkably even under the circumstances.

  “Until then.” He nodded and then continued past them.

  As soon as he was out of earshot, Mina said, “I’m certain every girl in Town will be jealous of you tonight.”

  Lady Elspeth grinned from ear to ear. “He does seem very taken with me, doesn’t he?”

  He had indeed, which seemed slightly odd. Listening to girls gush about the very handsome Lord Peasemore wasn’t the only thing Mina had overheard throughout the Season. She’d also overheard more than one suggestive conversation the earl had engaged in with Lady Ridgemont. It was possible, she supposed, that the earl and baroness had gone their separate ways. But if that was the case, it was odd the man should attend the baroness’ ball this evening. Lady Elspeth, however, was most likely not in the know about such things, and Mina had the sudden urge to warn the girl. “Do be careful, Lady Elspeth.”

  The Scottish girl giggled in response, her exuberance nearly shinning from within her. “Careful is for those who don’t go after what they truly want, Miss Throssell.”

  “And what is it ye want, Ellie?” came a baritone Scottish voice from behind them.

  Lady Elspeth gasped and turned on her heel, dragging Mina with her. The two Dragoon Guards that Lady Elspeth had pointed out earlier stood before them. Both were handsome with dark hair, but the captain’s was almost as black as his scowl.

  “Ye should know better than to eavesdrop and sneak up on people, Griff,” Lady Elspeth admonished, the careful, practiced tone she’d used with Lord Peasemore long gone.

  The captain shrugged, unrepentantly. “Answer the question. What is it ye want, Ellie?”

  The Scottish girl heaved a beleaguered sigh. “What I want is none of yer concern, Griffin Reid.”

  He lifted an arrogant brow, then turned his pointed attention to Mina. “Ellie must have forgotten her manners in the presence of the captivating Peasemore.” He touched a hand to his heart. “I’m Captain Reid and this is Lord Healeyfield.”

  Mina’s gaze fluttered to the captain’s friend. Lord Healeyfield. A Lieutenant-Colonel according to the man’s uniform. His dark eyes seemed to assess her and Mina felt it all the way to the core of her bones. Heavens! What was that about? A sensation she’d certainly never felt before.

  “Wilhelmina Throssell,” she said softly, wishing she had somehow been able to avoid meeting the Dragoon Guards. If she hadn’t been on Lady Elspeth’s arm, she would have
blended into the background, like she usually did. No one would have ever noticed her. But she had been noticed and Lord Healeyfield was looking at her as though he’d never seen a woman before. Odd. He must have seen a number of them in his days. Was there something on her face? She brushed a hand across her cheek just to make certain.

  “Miss Throssell.” Lord Healeyfield nodded in her direction, his deep voice rumbling over her like a caress. “A pleasure to meet you. Captain Reid and I served under your father. He is a great man.”

  And with that, Lord Healeyfield’s captivating spell was broken. Colonel Charles Throssell might very well be a great man, but he was far from a wonderful father. At least he hadn’t ever been the father Mina had needed. Still, she nodded her head in return, as it was expected. “He is in the card room, if you would like to see him, Lord Healeyfield.”

  Miss Throssell didn’t look a thing like the colonel. She had the prettiest alabaster skin, dark brown ringlets framed her heart-shaped face, and appeared as delicate a lady as Nathaniel had ever seen. Light blue eyes peered up at him, making his breath catch slightly in his throat. She was nothing short of lovely. Certainly this girl didn’t spend her time conversing with squirrels in the park.

  “I—um—” he stammered “—Well, I’ll search him out later, Miss Throssell. In the meantime, could I persuade you to take a turn about the room with me?” He might very well end up married to the girl. He really should have a grasp for who she was.

  “You don’t have a glass eye, do you, my lord?” She asked softly, her voice almost mystical in tone as she blinked up at him.

  A glass eye? He touched a hand to his cheekbone. Did he look like he had a glass eye? “Um…No,” he said, not sure how else to respond to such a thing.

  She seemed to visibly relax at hearing that, which was odd. “A turn about the room?”

  Nathaniel was rethinking his offer, but he had made it. Besides, he did need to learn more about his intended. A turn about the room would afford him that opportunity. “I would be honored, Miss Throssell.”

  The pretty brunette turned her attention to Lady Elspeth at her side and said, “Is that all right with you?”

  “As long as it’s all right with ye,” Lady Elspeth returned as she met Miss Throssell’s gaze, a concerned expression alighting her face. Though why she should be concerned made no sense at all. It wasn’t as though Nathaniel was going to abscond with the girl. It was just a walk about the damned room.

  After Miss Throssell nodded slightly, Lady Elspeth unlinked her arm with the colonel’s daughter and took a step away from the girl. “We can continue our conversation later, then.”

  Wilhelmina Throssell smiled at Nathaniel and he suddenly abandoned all thoughts that didn’t concern her. He could probably spend half the night just staring at her, honestly. Good God, but she was lovely. Delicate and lovely, if a bit odd. Lady Elspeth had been right on that score, but there was something about her that beckoned to him. Very strange, that.

  He couldn’t recall ever feeling as though a woman beckoned to him before. If one had, he was certain he would’ve remembered it, especially if the pull had been this great.

  Unable to take his eyes from her, he nodded in Griff’s general direction and said over the din of the ballroom, “Do enjoy yourself, Reid.” Then he offered his arm to Miss Throssell, who draped her slightly trembling hand around the crook of his arm and gulped a bit nervously.

  Her trembling hand did give him reason for pause and reminded him, at once, of a frightened wren alone in the world, shaking in the wind. A bird, a damned bird. Of all the things to pop to his mind. Nathaniel shook the thought from his head and tried to focus on something to say that might put her at ease. “So,” he began as he led her around the perimeter of the room. “How are you enjoying the Season so far?”

  “Honestly—” she cast him a sidelong glance “—I’d much prefer to be home.”

  That was a novelty. Didn’t most girls prefer Town merriment, ribbons and flounces, whatever the devil a flounce was, to life in the country? “I’ve heard Cheshire is nice,” he replied evenly as the first chords of a waltz began.

  Miss Throssell’s brow furrowed as she glanced up at him. “Is it? I’ve never been.”

  Damn. He’d gotten that wrong. He’d been so certain the colonel hailed from that particular county. He’d have bet money on it, which was exactly the reason he shouldn’t ever enter a gaming hell. Nathaniel shrugged apologetically. “My pardon. I thought the Colonel’s home was in Cheshire. I must have misremembered.”

  She smiled at his mistake and said, “Oh, no, you are correct, Lord Healeyfield. Papa is from Cheshire, though I’ve never been there. I’ve spent the last few years with my aunt in Gloucestershire. But home, for me, is Cornwall. The Penwith district, where my mother is from.”

  “The Penwith district,” he echoed, wondering what he knew of the place to make any sort of conversation. Nothing popped to mind, however. “I haven’t been there. Is it nice?”

  Her light eyes twinkled with something that could only be described as magical. “It’s wonderful,” she gushed. “There’s no place else like it in the world. It’s a haven for fairies and sprites, you know? You really should visit.”

  A haven for fairies and sprites? Nathaniel frowned at the pretty girl on his arm. “You are teasing me.” She had to be. What a ridiculous thing to say.

  “Why would I do that?” She blinked up at him, all sincerity.

  Dear God she was serious. “Fairies and sprites,” he replied, dropping his voice as he led her around a pair of fellows blocking their path. “You don’t honestly believe in such things.” She couldn’t really. The mere idea was most concerting.

  “Why wouldn’t I believe in them?” she asked, as though he’d questioned the existence of the moon, her own brow now furrowed in consternation.

  Did he really have to answer that question? Exasperated, Nathaniel heaved a sigh. “Because it’s make-believe. Fairies and sprites are nothing more than tales one tells children.” A practice his own father had never indulged in. Honestly, Colonel Throssell didn’t seem the sort to do so either.

  Wilhelmina Throssell giggled, and the musical sound washed over Nathaniel, settling somewhere near his heart, though he tried his best to push it way. Keeping his wits about him was imperative.

  “You should travel to Penwith, my lord,” she said softly. “And then you can tell me that fairies and sprites are simply tales one tells children.”

  He scoffed to even be having this conversation. Completely ridiculous. “I hardly think I need to travel to Cornwall to tell you such things, Miss Throssell. I’ve seen more of the world than most. And there are no such things as fairies.”

  She looked at him as though he was a kind, but naïve simpleton. “I have seen quite a bit of the world as well, my lord. And more than just the battlefields. I would imagine there is a fair amount you’ve missed in your journeys.”

  Such as sprites and fairies dancing their way across France, Portugal, Spain and Belgium? Wilhelmina Throssell was daft. Beautiful. Captivating in her own way. But most assuredly daft. Nathaniel couldn’t imagine spending the rest of his years engaging in conversations such as this.

  No matter that her dowry would more than aptly repair Healeyfield Abbey and provide a nice foundation for the his new viscountcy, no matter that something about her did still beckon to him, and no matter that despite her absurd notions of mystical beings he was certain he’d enjoy sharing her bed as frequently as he was able– one had to be practical about things such as the remainder of one’s life and how it was lived.

  They would not suit.

  There was no way around it.

  He glanced down at the pretty brunette only to find her, staring across the ballroom, anxiety etched across her brow. Before he could ask what was the matter, she retrieved her hand from his arm and stopped in her tracks.

  “It looks like Papa has left the card room.”

  Nathaniel glanced across the room
to find Colonel Throssell standing near the entrance, engaged in conversation with Major Skrewd. Hmm. He never could figure out what the colonel saw in the sycophant. If ever there was a man filled with hot air and not much else it was Ben Skrewd. Miss Throssell must be of the same opinion if her unhappy expression was any indication.

  “Will you do me a favor, my lord?” she asked.

  “A favor?” he echoed, turning his attention back to the pretty girl beside him.

  She nodded quickly. “When you see Papa, will you tell him we had a delightful conversation?”

  He’d hardly call their conversation delightful. Maddening was more apt. Or perhaps disconcerting. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder about her sudden anxiousness. It was almost as though she was terrified of something or someone. A bit of protectiveness flitted about his heart, despite his wishes. “Are you all right, Miss Throssell?”

  She nodded quickly as though it was expected, which did nothing to remedy his concern. “I just need to escape...I mean, visit the retiring room and I’d hate for Papa to think I spent the entire evening there.”

  Who would spend an entire evening in a retiring room? And why would the colonel come to such a conclusion? Unless…

  Before he could ask anything else of the girl, she lifted the hem of her skirts and dashed towards the nearest exit, leaving Nathaniel standing by himself at the far edge of the ballroom. He stared after her departing form and briefly wondered if she was feeling ill, but he shook that thought away as fast as it entered his mind. She was fine…Well, slightly odd until she’d spotted her father and Major Skrewd, but Nathaniel thought she was feeling fine. What had upset her? Was it the colonel or disingenuous major who had incited her to bolt across the ballroom as though the devil himself chased after her?

  The idea that the toad-eating major could be the reason for Miss Throssell’s sudden distress made Nathaniel’s stomach twist a bit. He’d never cared for Ben Skrewd. He barely tolerated the man who was always willing to benefit from someone else’s hard work, always willing to take the credit for a success, but never around to share any of the blame for a failure. It was too bad the colonel had never realized what sort of duplicitous blackguard the major was.