by Moore, Mary
Lady Hampton finally drew breath, and then laughed at herself. “In the event you are wondering, Hampton also reminds me if I do not pause midsentence, others do not comprehend one out of ten words I say.” She purposely took a deep breath, then continued her conversation with a wink and at a much slower pace.
“Hampton says that you and Devlin have become great friends. I was hopeful that you and I might do so as well. You must call me Beth and I will call you Nicole, and we may begin as we intend to go on.”
Nicole laughed at this confusing and charming discourse, and was greatly pleased with Beth. She made her feel quite welcome and seemed just the sort of friend Nicole would have chosen. She instinctively felt that if Beth knew about her condition, she would have been one of the few to stand by her. That always sealed her feelings for people and she said, “I have no problem with you speaking your mind. I am afraid I have the tendency myself. But you may notice that people close to me usually forgo the formal Nicole and call me Nick or Nicky. Please feel free to do so.”
“I dare any human alive to look at you in that gown and call you Nick!” She laughed as Nicole blushed and recalled how she felt when Devlin tenderly asked if she would permit him to call her Nicole. Oh dear, her heart was not cooperating at all!
Lords Hampton and Devlin stood in the back of the box for the half hour before the opera was to start. Peter did not hesitate to act the abused friend upon seeing Nicole for the first time. “You old dog! You said there was a slight physical attraction, but you purposely did not tell me she was a diamond of the first water! You will have every young buck in London in this box before the night is over.”
“She does not have an interest in any of the ‘young bucks,’ and I do not think I care for the admiration in your voice! It is a very good thing I know what a happily married man you are, or I might have had to plant you a facer.” He spoke in jest to his friend, but was a little unnerved at how quickly he became her protector.
“This gets better and better, Dev. ‘We are just friends,’ indeed! I am excessively diverted, old man. You are as jealous as can be, even when it is only the General who addresses her. The reason you want to spend all your time with her is because you are in love with her!”
“Heaven spare me from friends who want me to become leg shackled. Do not be ridiculous, Peter. You know my views on marriage, and you certainly know my history when it comes to love. I only prefer not to spend the intermission tossing a crowd of unwanted simpering fops and dandies out on their ears. If you knew her better, you would know I speak for the lady, as well.”
“That, old boy, is exactly my plan. To get to know her better.” He hesitated a moment then asked, “Can I ask you who brought the giant manservant posted outside the box door? I…um…heard he came with you.”
“That is one story I have not been able to fathom as of yet, but I certainly intend to. It has to do with an accident she had at some point not long ago, and she never goes out without him. No, no, do not ask me any more questions. I do not know anything about the accident either. But I shall persevere, I assure you.”
“Well, I am off to charm the ladies in the front while you fight off the swains back here. Thanks for inviting us. This is going to be much more interesting than I had hoped!” He chuckled as Devlin scowled at him.
The two ladies found no shortage of conversation, and Nicole was enjoying herself immensely. Lord Hampton’s voice interrupted their chatter. “I thought to get a jump on the hoards of men that will soon be forming, but I see that it is my wife who has been before me.”
Nicole blushed but smiled. “How do you do, my lord? I am Nicole Beaumont, Nicky if you like.” She invited him to join them. “Your wife is such a treasure. I vow I do not know how you can endure ever being parted from her.”
He let out an exaggerated sigh. “Indeed, Lady Nicole, short intervals are all I can bear.”
Though he teased, there was such tenderness in his voice that it caused an unsought pang of envy in Nicole’s heart.
At that moment the orchestra began to tune up, and all thoughts of conversation flew from Nicole’s head. She felt the three men settle in the chairs behind her, but once the opera began she was mesmerized and had no inclination to hear anything else. Several times she leaned back in her chair, eyes closed, letting the music invade her soul. Many times in church she felt she could happily discard the sermon and spend the entire time worshipping through hymns.
The emotional conviction of the arias brought her to tears. She felt a tap on her shoulder as Lord Devlin closed her hand around his handkerchief. She was so entrenched in the music she did not even stop to think that he must have been watching her instead of listening to the song.
Heaven help me, thought Devlin! As he watched her close her eyes and feel the music, he was reminded of the evening she had made him use his sense of smell on her garden terrace. He had the intense desire to follow her lead again. He had been to the opera too many times to count, yet he had never enjoyed one so much. Could Peter be right? Was it because he was with her? Were they merely friends—or was he falling in love with her?
He was beginning to feel a determined closeness each time he was with her. What concerned him more, however, was the need he was experiencing when he was not with her. He could not remember a time when he had gone to such lengths to please a woman. He gave up any pretext of enjoying the opera. He just wanted to watch her.
Lady Nicole aroused his desire to protect her. He could no longer deny looking forward to being with her. With no bark upon it, he just enjoyed spending time in her company. There was no denying there was a physical attraction as well, at least on his part, but she was a beautiful woman. Where was the mystery in that? He ran his hands through his hair, wondering what in the world he should do.
At intermission he leaned forward to ask Nicole if she would like to take a turn in the grand hallway. Before he could even speak, her subtle fragrance wafted over him. Once again this sense of smell surprised him. But the immediate tension in her body told him he had made an error.
“If you do not mind, my lord, I should rather remain where I am,” she whispered. “Crowds are a particular trial for me, and I would rather avoid them, if possible. To own the truth, I do not as yet wish to let go of the beautiful music I have just heard.” She was a little too cheerful as she begged him to feel free to accompany his friends. “I shall be perfectly content,” she said, and meant it.
“I cannot regret your desire to avoid a crushing crowd…it is how I met you. I told you that night that you had bewitched me. And you know I am never wrong.”
Her face flushed at his compliment.
“You know, that blush is so enchanting,” he murmured close to her ear, “I am beginning to contemplate ways to bring it about.” Her face flamed, but he just pinched her chin, saying, “But I shall give over now and ask if I may get you a glass of punch before the second act starts.”
“I would appreciate that greatly, my lord.”
Lady Hampton chose to stay in the box as her husband accompanied Lord Devlin to get refreshments.
Nicole felt a little uneasy. “Please do not feel you must remain with me, Lady Hamp… I mean, Beth. I am sure you would rather be strolling with your charming husband than sitting here with me. I am truly fine and will not mind a few quiet moments.”
“Oh dear, would you prefer to be alone?” At the shake of Nicole’s head she continued, “Nicole, I am probably saying more than I should, but I do not want you to feel bothered by the stares of Lady Robinson in the box across from us.”
Nicole laughed at the irony of it and said, “I feel very stupid. I have been so caught up in the music that I never noticed that I was being stared at. Does she have some particular reason for staring at me?”
“You have not noticed that you were being stared at?” Beth asked incredulously. “Good heavens, Nicole, either you are a tremendous liar or the most modest woman I have ever met! Every man turns to look at you at least once or
twice a minute hoping you will take notice of him. Every woman looks at you in that gown and wishes to see you boiled in oil. Lady Robinson, well, we shall not worry our heads about her.”
“No, please tell me.”
With a perplexed look, Beth said, “I thought Hampton said you had been in London the entire Season?”
“I have been in London all the while,” responded Nicole. “I must admit, however, that I did not wish to come, so I have made no push to seek new friendships. I can see I made a mistake, or I might have known you much sooner.”
“Oh, you are a love! But even if you had not been officially introduced to me, I expect I should have noticed you at balls and soirees and such. What are you avoiding besides people?”
Nicole almost winced as she realized this woman was much more sensitive to the feelings of others than anyone else she had met in London. Nicole nearly decided to cast her fate to the wind and share her problems with this special lady. But she stopped herself. Instead she ignored Beth’s pointed question. “I believe we have gotten away from the subject of Lady Robinson. I now admit to a great deal of curiosity at her stare.”
“Oh dear, it is another thing I have said without thinking! It is too late now, however, and if you are staying for the rest of the Season, there is no way you can escape her. She has been setting her cap for Dev these five years or more. She has been staring daggers at you all night. Please do not let her distress you. Dev has absolutely no interest in that direction and has been trying to avoid her at all costs.”
“Beth,” Nicole said hesitantly, “Lord Devlin is free to show interest in whomever he wishes. We are friends and Lady Robinson has nothing to fear from me.”
“My dear Nicole, I hope we too shall become fast friends. I should like to be able to share your company throughout our remaining time in London…but I think I would like to start by being honest with you. Dev may think that you and he are only friends, but I saw the way he watched you tonight, and I believe he is fast on his way to falling in love with you.”
She continued in a grave voice, “I think you need to be prepared for that because when the realization comes, it will not be easy on him. Suffice it to say Dev has been hurt in most of his relationships, and has vowed he will never be hurt again. Once he discovers he is in love with you, he may overreact. He may do his best to fight his feelings so as to remain unscathed. But in doing so, you may be hurt by his actions. It is time enough that he had some happiness in his life.”
Fortunately for Nicole, the shock she did not think she could hide went largely unnoticed as several gentlemen appeared to pay their respects.
Lords Hampton and Devlin returned very soon after and sent the visitors out in a rare twig. The second act had just started, but Nicole could not remember a single chord when it was over. She had been so distracted by Beth’s assumptions about Lord Devlin falling in love with her that she could concentrate on nothing else. Surely Beth was wrong. She knew they had a unique relationship for the times, but love?
Before her accident, there’d been no doubt she knew the characteristics she wanted in a husband. He would love God as much as she did. He would want a simple life in the country, eagerly helping others. Did Lord Devlin’s feelings about the returning soldiers qualify as such? No! The man she pictured, before her accident, would definitely not be an expert with women. All of this, however, was moot, as her accident had changed everything. Beth was surely wrong!
Nicole was completely distracted during the second act, unable to concentrate any longer on the beautiful music around her. Suddenly Lord Devlin’s voice sounded in her ear as he leaned forward and asked if she and her mother would like to avoid the mass exodus and leave before the farce.
Nicole acquiesced immediately, but General Overton and the Hamptons offered to escort her mother home. Nicole would now be in just such a situation as she was trying to avoid. She did not wish…she could not ride home with him alone. She must have time to think.
Lord Devlin draped Nicole’s wrap over her shoulder while she profusely apologized for causing so much trouble. Had she known her mother had wanted to stay, she would have waited.
He whispered that she should stop worrying; he, too, would appreciate the early departure.
Oh, Nicole thought, this was dreadful! During the length of the entire second act she had wondered how she would spend the rest of their time in London avoiding this charismatic man. She could never have him fall in love with her…even if she realized she was on the way to falling in love with him.
As they walked to his carriage, she sought to change his flirtatious mood. “I do not suppose this early departure has anything to do with the discouragement this might cause Lady Robinson, my lord?”
She could hear the frustration in his voice when he replied testily, “Nicole, I cannot fathom why you keep trying to turn simple compliments into other than what they are. Let me assure you that Lady Robinson plays no part in any of my thoughts or actions.”
Nicole closed her eyes for one second. She had only made the situation worse, as he was now trying to convince her that she alone was his reason for wishing to leave. She quickly invented one more excuse and called to Toby as he began to climb up on the box. “Toby, that cold may get worse if you ride up there at this hour. We would not mind if you rode inside with us. Mama is not coming until later, so you will not crowd us.”
Imitating someone with a cold, he sniffled out, “Not to worry, Lady Nick. You know I’m a tough one. I’ll be fine up ’ere with John Coachman.”
Lord Devlin helped Nicole into the carriage then climbed in and sat on the seat opposite her. She kept her face turned toward the window as the coach began to move. The silence was deafening. She jumped when he asked her, “Did you not enjoy the opera?”
“Oh, my lord, how remiss I have been! The music and the play were the most wonderful I have ever heard. I thank you heartily for escorting us tonight.”
“I see,” he said, sounding wounded. “You enjoyed it so much that you are now back to ‘my lording’ me at every turn. Have I done something to offend you, Nicole?”
“My lord, I mean, Devlin, what would make you think such a thing? Of course you have not offended me. I fear I am a little tired and do not have much by way of conversation tonight. It is I who should be apologizing to you.”
Devlin relaxed a bit in the candlelit carriage. Nicole, however, was very close to tears and wished she were alone with her thoughts.
“I am happy to hear I have not offended you. I am also happy to hear your apology, though I do not think you know how you offended me. May I be so bold as to admit that you did offend me earlier this evening?”
He reached across for her hand. “Do not worry, sweetheart, it was not such a grievous offense, just one I felt I had to point out. It seems to me that either you do not take compliments well, or you truly do not believe someone sincere when they give them to you. Of course it may be that you only doubt my compliments, since your comments seem to indicate you think me flirting with you.”
This was getting worse, Nicole agonized. All she wanted was to avoid him, and they were sitting in a carriage alone discussing compliments and flirting! She gently pulled her hand free and placed it in her lap. “I am afraid I do not know to what you are referring, my lord.”
“I think, my lady, that you do. You accused me of flirting with you in the foyer of your home when I gave you a very sincere compliment.”
Nicole determined to turn this into banter rather than a full-blown discussion. She had never minded his flirting before, so she must pretend Beth’s words had never been uttered.
She smiled a little tensely. “Sir, you cannot blame me for suspecting your charm when we have already determined your reputation as a flirt is commonplace!” She had wished to sound teasing, but was distinctly aware he was not laughing. She dug her hole deeper. “I am forever hearing upon someone’s lips how the clothing makes the man, and now I see it applies to women as well. I have not received as
many compliments in the whole of the Season as I have tonight in Madame Suzette’s gown. She will be thrilled, but I should be happier if gentlemen would be honest and admit they admire the dress and not the woman wearing it.
“Why must everyone in London place so much importance upon a pretty face? There is also too much significance put on clothing and…and…capabilities. It is the inside of a person that is essential.” She was being unfair, as she remembered how much she’d wanted her appearance tonight to please him. And she could hear the anger in her own words by the time she reached the end of her speech. Good heavens, why had she turned it into such a tirade?
The silence hung in the air thickly, and she was afraid she would no longer be able to hold back her tears. It was so quiet she could hear the trickling fountain in the small park on Berkeley Square. Knowing herself near home, she felt it safe to say, “I apologize, my lord. As I said, I am a little overtired tonight, and you already know about my lamentable temper. We should never have entertained such a silly topic. Before we get home I would like to thank you for my first night at the opera.”
The horses slowed to a stop, but before she could turn to step down, Lord Devlin grabbed both of her hands and demanded she give him her full attention. “I am going to make you eat those words someday, Nicole. My compliment had nothing to do with the gown you are wearing. It was based on the entire person you are—your beauty and your inner qualities. I felt quite fortunate to be escorting you tonight, and I intend to spend the remainder of the Season teaching you how to tell the difference between Spanish coin, flirting and a sincere compliment…and being able to accept the last. Good night, Nicole.”
As she stepped from the coach, her only thought was what a horror of a coil!
She got little sleep that night. After tossing and turning into every position possible, she decided what she needed to do. She knew her mother would not hear of leaving London before the Season’s end, so she determined she must end her relationship with Lord Devlin, whatever that relationship might be. She wondered at the ache in her heart as she became resolved.
