She frantically sought an excuse that made her lie plausible. “Rose needed an adjustment on one of her gowns, and I offered to deliver it.”
Holly continued to stare suspiciously at her from her position on the stairs.
“Don’t you have something more important to do with your time than watch the foyer?”
“Not really. I’ve finished my latest book.”
“I’m certain if I mentioned that to Mother, she’d find something to fill the rest of your day.”
Holly quickly stood. “No need. I’ve just remembered I left something in my room.” She turned and ran up several steps before pausing. “Are you going to the ball this evening?” The wistful note in her tone made Lettie wish all the more that she was not.
“My presence has once again been requested.”
“How much longer do you have to go to such events?” At Lettie’s questioning frown, Holly explained, “Rose says you never dance, let alone speak with anyone. What purpose is there in you attending a ball?”
Lettie’s heart squeezed. While Holly had said nothing that Lettie hadn’t thought, it still hurt to hear that her family believed her marriage prospects were completely at end. She reminded herself this was what she wanted—to be a spinster in full. With that came freedom. She’d be that much closer to making her own decisions, perhaps even having a little cottage by the sea. And a pet. A dog. A large dog. She would love to have a great beast to keep her company.
Somehow, all that sounded less than appealing given the events of late.
Setting aside her feelings, she concentrated on answering Holly’s question. “I believe I am there in case Rose or Violet or Dalia require my assistance.”
“Or Mother,” Holly pointed out.
“Yes, Mother sometimes has need of me as well.”
“Lettie? Is that you?” her mother’s voice called from the upper floor. “Please come here. I require your assistance.”
“Ah. There she is now.” Lettie forced a smile.
“Doesn’t that grow old?” Holly whispered. “Someone always needs you for something.”
“True, but it is also lovely to be needed.” Lettie used to think that, but sometime in the past year or two, the feeling had faded.
“It just seems as if she could easily ask a maid to do some of the things she requests of you.”
“That may be, but we like to pretend we aren’t completely dependent on the servants.”
“Why? We pay them to help us.”
“Self-sufficiency is a trait to be admired.” Lettie shook her head when Holly opened her mouth to argue. Holly’s points were valid, but she was in no mood to discuss them further. “Why don’t you bring up some of your questions with Mother?”
Holly scowled. “She’ll only put me to work too.”
Lettie hooked her arm through Holly’s. “Let us see how we can help our sisters, shall we? If I have to suffer, it’s only fair you join me.”
When Holly groaned, Lettie had to chuckle.
~*~
Lettie gathered her resolve as the coach drew to a halt at the Smitherson’s massive house that evening, hoping the ball would pass pleasantly. And swiftly. She had no desire to fence words with Lady Samantha again, or any of the other women who surrounded the unpleasant woman.
Rose was nervous once again. More talk of the duke’s offer had taken up their preparations for the ball. In Lettie’s opinion, their mother didn’t help, telling Rose how she should and shouldn’t behave. One glance at her sister as they entered the Smitherson’s had Lettie pulling Rose aside, allowing their mother to proceed.
“Rose, you should relax,” Lettie advised, offering a smile.
“It’s impossible to. What if he doesn’t ever offer? Then what shall I do? This is my third Season, you know. Soon I will be standing with the mothers and other chaperones with nothing to do but twiddle my thumbs.” Rose looked distraught at the prospect.
“With me?” Lettie asked, brow raised as pain shot through her. She knew her sister had much on her mind, but that had been a hurtful thing to say.
Rose gasped in dismay and reached for Lettie’s hand. “I never meant to offend you.”
“Nor does anyone else in our family, but it still seems to happen on a regular basis,” Lettie replied. She shook her head, annoyed she’d allowed the truth slip out. “Trust me, Rose. You will never become a spinster.”
“I thought you looked forward to the time when you might live like Aunt Agatha.”
I thought I did, too, but Lettie chose not to say the words aloud. Not when she had such mixed feelings on the matter.
“The reason you attracted the duke’s attention to begin with was because you were being genuine. Your true self. You used to enjoy balls, remember?”
Rose nodded as she considered Lettie’s comment. “I suppose you’re right. I never thought of it like that.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it was your joy and happiness that attracted him to you. Don’t become someone you think he would like. Just be you.” Lettie squeezed her sister’s hand.
Tears glistened in her sister’s eyes as she held tight to Lettie. “What would I do without you, dear Lettie? You always know what to say to make me feel better. Thank you for that.”
“My pleasure. Now let us take a breath and smile.” Together, they drew as deep a breath as their corsets allowed then smiled at the same moment.
Rose immediately dissolved into laughter. She turned to enter the ballroom, Lettie’s hand still in hers, only to see the duke standing there.
Lettie couldn’t help but notice the light of interest that lit his eyes as he watched Rose. And she was especially proud of her sister when she greeted him with a curtsey and a genuine smile. Her sister had no need to play coy. It was not in her nature. Surely that set her apart from half the other ladies in the room.
The duke bowed in return and offered her his elbow, nodding briefly at Lettie who quickly curtsied.
Rose was out on the dance floor with him before their mother realized what had occurred.
“They make a lovely couple,” she whispered to her mother. “I think he truly cares for her.”
“Well, of course, he does.” Her mother said the words with a nod as though she had no doubt. “He’d be a fool not to. What were you and Rose speaking about in the foyer?”
“Nothing important. I just reminded her to be herself.”
Her mother scoffed. “What sort of ridiculous advice is that, Lettie? For heaven’s sake, she is trying to catch his eye.”
“Being herself is what caught his attention at the start.”
“Humph. Please be careful what you tell her. I will be most relieved when all this business is over and done.”
Lettie could only shake her head. Once Rose was betrothed, her mother would shift her attention to Dalia, poor dear. She searched the ballroom for her, finding her across the room, visiting with friends. Dalia was enjoying her second Season immensely, from what Lettie could determine.
Violet, on the other hand, was still becoming accustomed to all the social activities as this was her first Season. Lettie hoped their mother wasn’t applying too much pressure on her as to who she chose for friends. While appearances were important, it would be a shame if Violet didn’t enjoy herself.
“Will you please fetch me a glass of lemonade? I find I am quite parched.”
“Of course, Mother.” Lettie perused the ballroom as she walked toward the top of it, realizing with a start for whom she looked—Mr. Hawke. With a reminder to herself that she needed to keep her distance or risk the wrath of her mother, she looked instead for Lady Samantha. If she could avoid her this evening, the night would truly be a success.
“Hello, Letitia,” a friendly voice said.
Lettie turned to see Lady Julia approaching. “Lovely to see you,” Lettie greeted her with a smile.
Lady Julia was a bubbly, friendly woman who never seemed to stop moving. Her energy and happiness were catching. She brought sm
iles to the faces of anyone within arm’s reach.
“How does this evening find you?” The unusual thing about Julia’s question was that she expected an honest answer and waited patiently for it. At a time when many didn’t bother to ask, let alone listen to the answer, Lettie found it charming.
“Quite well. And you?” Lettie asked.
She and Julia had become friends of a sort, but Lettie couldn’t understand why Julia always made it a point to seek out Lettie when they attended the same events. She was a beautiful woman, popular among men and ladies alike, and an heiress. According to gossip, she’d had multiple offers, and this was her third Season.
“Very well,” Julia replied as she scanned the crowd. “Is that Rose dancing with the Duke of Welbourne? How exciting.”
She appeared truly delighted they were together, surprising Lettie, especially since the duke had shown interest in Julia during the last Season. Granted, she didn’t come to many balls. Her elderly father was often bedridden, so she preferred to remain home with him.
“Rose seems to be quite fond of him,” Lettie offered.
“He is very kind despite his quiet demeanor.”
Lettie studied Julia once again, wondering if there was more to her comment than met the eye. But no, she smiled as she watched them twirl about the dance floor.
“Lettuce? Is that you?” The grating sound of Lady Samantha’s voice had Lettie’s smile fading.
“Good evening, Lady Samantha.” Julia turned to greet her. “You already know my dear friend, Miss Letitia Fairchild?”
Samantha stared at Julia in astonishment. “Dear friend?”
Julia’s smile brightened as she hooked her arm through Lettie’s. “We’ve known each other for ages. We always seem to be together, watching the dancers, don’t we, Letitia?”
Lettie couldn’t help but smile. How kind of Julia to not only suggest she watched the dancing alongside Lettie, but to make light of it. Lettie could’ve hugged her. Julia had more dance partners in one evening than Lettie in her five Seasons combined. Her genuine kindness warmed Lettie’s heart.
“How is your mother, Samantha? I understand she’s been feeling poorly.” Again, Julia kept her gaze on Samantha, showing interest in her answer.
The conversation continued until at last, Samantha stomped away to pick on someone else.
“Poor Samantha,” Julia whispered to Lettie. “Her mother is putting so much pressure on her to make a good match. That must be very difficult for her.” The genuine sympathy in her voice surprised Lettie.
“I wasn’t aware,” Lettie admitted.
“Between you and me, I think it is what puts her in such a foul mood. She seems to want to make everyone as miserable as she.”
“She has never been nice to me. Perhaps I bring out the worst in her.”
“I think she’s rather jealous of you.”
“Of me?” Lettie was astounded at the idea.
“You’re intelligent, kind, and somehow you manage to make it clear you do not need a husband to make you whole. I believe many admire you for that.”
Julia’s insightful words made Lettie think. She wasn’t quite sure why Julia had that impression. Perhaps they were better friends than Lettie realized. That was an unexpected gift.
“How fares your father?” she asked, more than ready to turn the conversation away from herself.
Julia’s golden glow dimmed. “Feeling rather poorly, I’m afraid. I didn’t want to come tonight in case he needed me, but he insisted.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“The doctor will be by on the morrow. Hopefully he’ll have good news for us.”
“I’ll be thinking of you with the hope he does,” Lettie offered. Her gaze followed Julia’s to a man on the opposite side of the dance floor. “Who is that?”
“The Earl of Adair,” Julia answered. “He rarely frequents balls. I understand he’s looking for a wife this Season.”
“He’s quite handsome,” Lettie observed. “If rather brooding.”
“He could be a character in a Gothic novel, don’t you think?”
A tall man with broad shoulders and dark hair, he ignored most of those around him. His demeanor alone would keep most people at a distance. He was attractive, but it was his obvious disregard for what anyone else seemed to think that drew her eye and others as well. Something about the shape of his brow seemed vaguely familiar, but she didn’t think she’d seen him before.
“He apparently prefers gaming hells over ballrooms,” Julia added.
“Who could blame him?”
Julia looked at her in surprise.
“Not that I’ve ever been to one, but it sounds much more exciting than a ball, don’t you think?”
Julia chuckled and again, patted Lettie’s hand. “You are a delight. I always enjoy speaking with you. Oh, here’s an even rarer occurrence. His younger brother, recently retired captain from the Navy, a true hero by many accounts.”
Lettie turned to look.
Mr. Hawke.
Or rather, Captain Hawke, if Julia was right. As she watched the two men together, she saw how the line of their brows matched. That was where the similarity ended. The earl had a solemn expression and appeared disinterested at the very least. Perhaps a cross between bored and irritated described him best.
His younger brother eyed the crowd as though evaluating each and every person.
“Do you know him?” Lettie asked.
“I’ve been introduced, but I wouldn’t say I know either of them.”
Lettie was amazed once again at how many people Julia was acquainted with as well as the interesting details she knew, especially since she attended fewer social events than Lettie. But when one was an heiress, one was introduced to many more people than someone like Lettie who had only a modest dowry.
“How long has the captain been back?” Lettie asked.
“Only a few months, I believe. From what his mother has said, she expects both men to marry this Season.”
“I wonder if they know that,” Lettie muttered.
Julia laughed. “Neither appear as though they want to be here, do they?” She sighed. “Here comes my next dance partner. Wish me luck, won’t you?”
Though reluctance tinged her voice, her smile showed only delight to the man who approached.
Lettie watched the pair step onto the dance floor. Then she couldn’t resist allowing her gaze to catch once more on Mr. Hawke. Or rather, Captain Hawke. She hardly knew what to call him now.
He frowned at his older brother, obviously less than pleased at something he’d said. The distance between the two suggested they weren’t close. Had the captain’s time away in the military contributed to that, or had it always been so? More questions came to mind that she wished she’d asked Julia.
Though she feared learning more about him would only increase her growing fascination with him.
With a start, she realized she still hadn’t obtained a glass of lemonade for her mother. Gawking at the brothers would only earn her a lecture about the rudeness of staring.
She wound her way through the growing crowd toward the refreshment table, already missing Julia’s presence. As she picked up two glasses of lemonade, the hairs on the back of her neck tingled. She turned, not surprised to see the captain standing behind her.
“Good evening, Miss Fairchild.” His blue eyes seeming to take her in with one, thorough glance.
What did he see? she wondered. Then she reminded herself she didn’t want to know. Still holding two glasses of lemonade, she returned his greeting. “Captain Hawke.”
Something shuttered across his eyes, giving her pause. When he didn’t offer any apology for not giving her his true identity, she frowned. “It hardly seems fair that you’ve known my name this entire time but I only had part of yours. It makes me think you must be hiding something.”
He reached out to take the glasses of lemonade from her hands then set them on the table from where she’d just retrie
ved them.
“One of those is for my mother,” Lettie protested.
“She already has some,” the captain advised.
Lettie studied the far end of the room until she found her mother, who did indeed have a glass in her hand.
The captain offered his elbow. “I’m pleased to see you are not in need of rescue for once.”
She decided against responding as anything that came to mind would be considered rude. Funny how learning that he wasn’t quite who she thought he was made her treat him differently. “Where are we going?”
“I thought we might have a word in private.”
Lettie slowed her steps as regret filled her. Part of her longed to share another kiss with him. But the other part worried that he only intended to lecture her on staying safe.
“I cannot risk it,” she said at last. “We have high hopes my sister will receive an offer soon, and Mother was not pleased when I stepped out into the garden with you last time.”
He scowled. “Then I suppose we must attempt another dance if we wish to converse.”
Pleasure filled her. She so rarely got to dance that having a second one in the space of a few days was delightful. “I would like that very much.”
He glanced at her, the uncertainty in his expression tugging at her. “Are you sure? My movements are clumsy at best.”
“ We managed to move quite well together last time, did we not?” She smiled up at him, hoping to ease his concern.
“Yes, I suppose we did.” With a sigh, he moved toward the dance floor as though reluctant.
“Was there something in particular you wanted to discuss?”
“I have discovered the lodging house in which your Alice lives quite by accident.”
“Oh?” Lettie asked with interest. “Where?”
Nathaniel smiled. “I’ll merely tell you that she’s safe, if in cramped quarters. If you feel the need to speak further with her, I’d be happy to deliver a message.”
Lettie tried to scowl in displeasure, but how could she when the strains of a waltz filled the air as they reached the dance floor? She supposed she’d have to be satisfied with his offer.
Loving the Hawke (The Seven Curses of London Book 1) Page 7
