“Oh, but you look lovely! The green dress is so becoming, Ada!” Henriette declared, her hand on her chest like a leading actress.
Ada tried to smile, but she still felt uncomfortable at Henriette's praise.
“Thank you,” she said shyly. She turned before the mirror, studying the effect.
She was wearing a pale green gown of fine muslin. It had a low, wide neck, and an elegant skirt that fell to the tips of her satin dance-shoes. Her red hair was piled high on her head, ornamented with pins that shone with pearls. She turned before the mirror again, wondering why all the effort did not seem to make a difference. The girl in the mirror looked solemn, wide-eyed and tragic.
“I had thought... perhaps the cream instead?” Ada indicated a cream muslin gown, hanging on the door of her tall chestnut-wood wardrobe. It was more simple than the elaborate green gown.
“Oh, non!” Henriette exclaimed, reverting to her native French. “You cannot wear such insipid things, my dear! You must learn to stand out.”
Henriette was dressed in a midnight-blue velvet gown. She certainly did stand out. Her small waist was accented with a silver cord below her breasts, and she looked the image of noble elegance. Her black hair was drawn up in curls on her head, fastened with pearl fasteners, and if there were any strands of silver they were well hidden. Her dress screamed taste and wealth all at once.
Ada, feeling all the more awkward because of her sister-in-law's easy elegance, felt her shoulders slope dejectedly. She hated balls under most circumstances, and being put on show by her brother and his wife, with the implication that it was time she married, made her feel even worse. And, after that strange encounter with the man in the woods, it all seemed so colorless, so soulless. That had magic. This is like a market in comparison.
“I want to wear the cream,” she insisted. “It matches better with the gloves,” she added, drawing on white silk elbow-length gloves. They clashed with the green gown.
“Well.” Henriette chewed her lip. “Mayhap,” she conceded, “though I do feel you should wear something more... apparent. What is the word?”
“Noticeable?”
“However you say it,” Henriette said dismissively, waving an elegant hand. Her black eyes sparkled as she smiled. “Noticeable, then.”
Every gesture Henriette made, from her floating walk to her hand-movements, was stylish and graceful. Ada bit her lip and wished she could be more like Henriette.
“No one will notice me anyway,” she said sadly, reaching for the cream gown.
No one ever noticed her. Except the man in the wood. And she had half-convinced herself that had not happened. He had said she was no wallflower, but he was the only one. Why should she believe him? He was just being polite.
“Sorry, my dear?” Henriette asked gently, hearing her.
“Nothing, sister,” Ada mumbled.
Henriette smiled approvingly. “Then we will call your maid and she can help you dress, and then we will leave early, even.” She came to stand beside Ada and put her hands on her shoulders. “My dear, do not worry so.” She looked into Ada's eyes, her gaze wide and encouraging. “You are so beautiful. The secret is that you have to know that first, before anyone else can see it.”
Ada frowned at her, but as she was about to respond, Henriette drifted from the room, calling Ada's dresser in behind her.
As Ada changed out of the green dress and into the cream, she thought about what Henriette had said.
The secret is you have to know that first, before anyone else may see it.
She felt the dress fall like a whisper over her head and held out her arms so her maid could help her with the sleeves. She looked at herself in the mirror, watching as her maid cleverly brushed and curled her hair.
The words went round and round Ada's head, along with the others Henriette had said.
You are so beautiful.Dressed now in a cream gown with a low, oval neckline, neck ringed with pearls, Ada knew she felt pretty. She hoped she looked it.
“I'm not too bad,” she whispered to herself. She checked no one could hear her and smiled shyly at her reflection, holding out a hand to the face shown there, as if she had never seen that face before. “Not bad at all.”
The softer-colored gown became her better: the contrast of red hair and bright green had been too brazen, not in keeping with the softness in her eyes or the delicacy of her features. She turned once to check the fall of her gown and then walked to the door.
The carriage-ride to Farleigh Manor, where the ball was to be held, was half an hour, but it passed quicker than Ada would have expected, particularly when she was preoccupied.
I wonder if he will be there? It was a pleasing thought, and made the evening much more exciting. She imagined seeing him and thought of conversation.
At the entrance to the hall, Ada stepped over the threshold, feeling strangely confident. Where she would usually have hung back behind Henriette, she now stepped confidently forward to hand off her cloak. It was not only Henriette's praise which assured her – though that was encouraging already – but the memory of the man in the woods, and how he had stared at her. She could not pretend any longer that she had not seen it. He looked at me with admiration. For the first time in a long time, she felt proud and beautiful.
She divested herself of her shawl, then walked on to greet the hosts.
“Lady Drosty!” a young man called out to her, almost the instant she walked in.
Ada swallowed. She was not sure she recognized him, though he seemed to know her, as he bowed deeply.
“Good evening,” she said.
The young man's face fell, realizing that she probably did not recognize him.
“Peter Northend,” he explained quickly. “You probably don't remember me? My father – the Marquess of Bath – used to visit your father on business. We played as children.” He smiled sadly, apparently hoping she would remember him. “May I have a dance this evening?”
“I do remember you, Mr. Northend,” she said, suddenly grasping at a memory. “And yes, I would be delighted to dance.” It was a pleasant surprise to be sought out so soon after she arrived, and she gave him a dazzling grin.
Peter flushed red, and, bowing extravagantly low, he escorted her to the dance floor.
As they whirled and parted and met in the elegant roundelay, Ada noticed a man watching her from the edge of the hall.
She raised a brow at him, and he smiled.
Nice smile. It was not the man himself who had taken her attention, but the way she felt, dancing here as he stared at her. She felt glamorous and lovely and, under his gaze, she made sure she danced her very best.
When the music ended and she curtseyed, she glanced again toward the corner of the room. He was still watching her, and she studied him covertly as she walked from the floor.
He was a tall young man, perhaps a few years older than herself. He had red-gold hair and his face was sculpted with a fine jaw. He was staring at her wolfishly, and she felt suddenly shy.
“I am so glad to have found you!” her dance partner enthused as they joined the group. “You must come here and meet Nigel. He will also remember you, I am sure.”
Ada followed him across the room to join a group of young people. As they walked, she noticed they were heading straight to the group where the gold-haired young man was.
So, we are going to meet him...
When they reached the group, she was momentarily spared the need to comment.
“Ada!” a shrill voice called out.
“Lydia!”
Ada smiled at her friend and distant cousin. The two girls were great friends and had grown up together, Lydia being the granddaughter of her father's uncle Matthew. She had not expected her to be at Farleigh Manor.
“Lydia,” Ada said again, kissing her on both cheeks. Lydia returned the gesture, breathlessly. “I am surprised to see you here! You are not often this far north...” Her voice trailed off as Lydia took her arm, drawing her inexorably
with her.
“Oh, Papa is here for hunts! And, of course, I came along. You must come and see Lucas!” Lydia gushed. “He has grown so tall! I swear his stay on the Continent has made him even taller.” Lucas was Lydia's brother. Ada felt herself drawn into the circle that surrounded Lydia, which included, distressingly, the man who had been watching her
Almost as soon as she had taken her place beside Lydia, he walked over to her, his height making her feel instantly shorter. A tall man, with gold hair and piercing blue eyes, he was undeniably handsome. She was not certain why she felt such a shiver of misgiving.
“Lady Ada? You have been claimed for the next dance?” he asked at once.
“I am not,” she said hesitantly. Why do I feel shy? She looked up at his face, gathering her courage. “And which name, were I to accord you a place, must I write on my dance-card?” she asked, somewhat archly. He had not even introduced himself!
“Oscar Ridlington, at your service, Ma'am,” he said confidently, bowing over her hand. “First Lieutenant in the Royal Horse Guards, and Duke of Norwich.”
“Pleased to meet you, your grace,” Ada said, curtseying deeply. He looks young to be a duke. The knowledge that he had such a powerful position was disturbing. No one like that had ever noticed her before. Ada chided herself. Your brother is a duke – you should be the last person to feel shy because of a title.
“The pleasure is mine, my lady,” he said, and kissed her hand.
Ada swallowed hard. He was just the sort of man Roderick and Henriette would wish for her to wed: Dashing, in the military, and a duke as well! She tried to rouse some sense of interest, but it would not arrive.
“Come,” he said, standing a little between her and Lydia. “Let us stand here. The air is close in the back of the hall.”
Finding herself shepherded away from the group, Ada looked back to her cousin Lydia, who simply smiled back, and lifted a shoulder wryly.
“You have been in the countryside for long, my lord?” Ada asked as they walked to the refreshments.
“Only a week,” he said, shrugging easily. “I came here to get away from the city and the season for a while. It can be so oppressive! And the demands of society can become overwhelming.”
Ada blinked. “I would not know, my lord. I am not often in London.”
“Oh,” he said, as if that was odd. “Well, I am sure you wish to change that!”
Ada felt surprised again at the easy assumptions he made about her. She tried to ignore the rising sense of misgiving in her heart.
There is something about him that I cannot like. He was gallant, charming, handsome... but the way he looked at her and his arrogant manners were simply not attractive to her. There must be something wrong with me. Any other woman, she was sure, would manage better than she was. She swallowed and smiled up at him.
“I suppose it would be a change, my lord.” she said. “Though I do like the country.”
He smiled at her. “You would doubtless like Town, were you there more. I have not seen you there before. I am sure I would have noticed you. That hair is unusual,” he added, indicating her auburn hair, which shone in the candlelight.
“I am not often in Town,” Ada said uncomfortably, “as I said.”
There was a moment's silence as he reached across for some wine. Ada looked down, listening to the music as the orchestra prepared for another piece and tried to find an inner equilibrium. The hall was beautiful, the high ceiling soaring on vaulted arches, and she should have felt so at ease, were it not for this man's dominating presence.
“My lady, do you care for the gavotte?” Oscar asked her mildly, cocking his head as he, too, listened to the orchestra starting again. “Or, if you would prefer, we could wait until the gigue before we take the floor.”
“Oh.” Ada paused, brow wrinkled. He had asked for this dance, but had no right to reserve another! What if someone else were to ask her for the next one?
“I think we should dance now. I feel in the mood for a gavotte,” Ada said firmly. She felt a need to draw some boundaries, though she was not sure why.
“Very well,” the young duke replied, raising a brow at her. “I must say, you have a strong mind. I like that.” He grinned flippantly.
Ada bridled. She knew she was being unfair: it was a compliment, or would have been from anyone else. But he made it sounded like she was trying to please him!
Stop being silly, Ada. But she could not entirely still her misgivings.
“My mind is my own,” she said primly. “As you will discover, my lord, if you come to know me better.”
He shook his head, grinning, as if at some affectation. She was about to retort, but a glance across the room showed Henriette and Roderick, talking and laughing together. Henriette caught sight of her and waved happily. She looked at Oscar Ridlington, and smiled broadly.
I cannot disappoint them. This might be my big chance! They would be so happy if Oscar Ridlington were a prospective suitor...
She held her tongue as Oscar led her onto the dance floor. His hand in hers was warm through the silk gloves, and, when he grasped her waist, his grip was steady. He had the hands of a cavalry-officer: strong and lean, but tapered, like a gentleman's. Ada had to admit he was an excellent dancer, and they glided across the floor together, by far the most skilled couple present.
When the music ended, Oscar bowed over her hand, kissing it.
“My dear Lady Ada,” he said “Your dancing is a credit! Will you partake of some refreshments with me? I have a thirst that needs some attention.” He laughed lightly, showing his most charming smile.
Ada blinked. “I do not see why not, my lord.”
He chuckled and headed to the table, whereon was laid out an enticing range of wines and delicacies. Ada sampled some, and chose a glass of sweet Malmsey. She noticed that Oscar was chatting away easily to the people around them as she browsed the table, and took a little longer to make her choice. He was soon talking to a friend, and Ada took a chance to slip away.
She needed some air and time to think. Her mind was full of this man and the man in the woods, a tumult of conflicting feelings that crashed through her, wrecking her peace of mind.
“Ada!”
Ada turned to see Henriette approaching her.
“Yes?” She felt her heart sink. Henriette looked enraptured, and she was sure she knew why.
“Is that the Duke of Norwich? Oh, my word!” she whispered, beaming at her. “You clever, lucky girl! He is one of the most eligible men in the room, if not the country!”
Ada swallowed hard. “I can believe so.” A combination of looks and status such as he had was rare. If only I could like him, she thought a little desperately.
“Aren't you excited? Oh, but of course! You must be tired, though. Come, sit! You need strength for more dancing.”
Henriette propelled her toward the seats and fetched herself a glass of cool Rhenish.
Ada sat and sipped her own wine, listening to her excited talk as she watched the ballroom.
I should be grateful. I should be excited. But I just don't like him!
Ada shook her head at herself, wishing she was not being so perverse. Oscar, the Duke of Norwich was what every woman should want. She should feel butterflies in her stomach and fireworks in her heart. She just didn't. It was almost frustrating.
“My lady?”
Ada blinked as Oscar appeared on her right, glass in hand. Her heart sank. She had not expected him to notice she had gone. She forced herself to smile. “Yes?”
“My colleague and I were discussing the delights of the countryside, which made me think: Would you be interested in taking a ride on my estate the day following tomorrow?”
“I...” Ada's voice trailed off. “Of course,” she said, unable to think of any reason why not. “That would be... diverting.”
“I look forward to it,” he said and, smiling, took his leave.
They talked for a while, and then he headed off to join another gr
oup, a circle of fellow-officers discussing prospects in the Royal Guard. He left Ada with a queasy feeling in her stomach and a head full of confusion.
She did not understand it. She should be feeling butterflies in her stomach at the glorious prospect of being courted by a duke. Especially a handsome one. Anyone else would. She just could not relate what she felt for this man to how she felt about the man in the woods.
I wonder what I would think if he had asked me to ride?
The thought made her stomach clench with a sweet excitement. She imagined riding with him: what they would say, how he would look as he replied, those grave eyes considering her words. Quiet, scarred and passionate, he had captured her with a few short sentences. For the rest of the evening, she could not think of anything but him. When they left the ball at around midnight, she could not help but wish that he, and not Lord Ridlington, had danced with her.
CHAPTER FOUR
A WALK IN THE PARK
A WALK IN THE PARK
The day after the ball dawned languidly, and Ada stretched in bed, feeling lazy. She sighed and sat up. As she did so, memories of the ball the previous night came back. Lydia, the dancing, Henriette...and Oscar. That man still puzzled her, and thoughts of him left her feeling vaguely uneasy. She stood and rang the bell for breakfast, hoping some tea would clear her head.
“Morning, milady,” her maid, Priscilla, smiled a minute after Ada had rung the bell. “It's a fine sunny day out there. Best we've had in ages!”
“Is it?” Ada asked curiously. Priscilla opened the curtains as if to demonstrate and the sunshine blazed in. “In that case, if you could lay out my white muslin day-dress? I shall go for a long walk.”
“Very good, milady.” Priscilla set her tray of breakfast on the bed and retired to the wardrobe-room to fetch the gown and cape.
As she nibbled on a croissant, Ada made her plans. She would take a turn in the woods near Northfell. She could not help the fact that the place held a magnetic attraction for her now. She chuckled mirthlessly, feeling a little silly about it. She had only seen the man once. She should forget him! But she did wish to see him again. The thought was exciting, no matter how much she tried to pretend it was not.
An Earl To Remember (The Yorkshire Downs Series - Love, Hearts and Challenges) (A Regency Romance Story) Page 3
