No.
He knew he should not think of her, but instead focus his attentions on Lady Celine, especially if he was to reach the goal he had so often discussed with his brother.
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she repeated, then she closed her lips and looked up at him expectantly.
Not much of a conversationalist, he thought perhaps, a little unfairly for even then he recognized that her youth and lack of experience made her nervous.
“Say, would you like to dance, or do you have someone marked on your card for the next dance?” he asked, as though the thought had just come to him. She curtsied again and he looked at her, surprised but with a smile on her lips.
“I would love to,” she said simply, then held her hand out for him to take.
Chapter 7
Isaac took her hand, feeling the warmth of it through her gloves, and she smiled at him sweetly.
Pretty enough, he supposed, although he had seen prettier. He shook his head of that thought, not wanting to be either dragged down by uncharitable feelings nor to be filled with a mediocre feeling for this lady. He had to think her beautiful or nothing else. He would never be able to convince her if he was unable to convince himself.
He led her onto the floor among the other dancing couples. It was not a jaunty tune so he could have a chance to talk to her, but it was not so slow that he needed to hold her close, and for that he was grateful. If he needed to get close to her, he would like to get to know her first, although in truth he had no desire to get close to her, if not for his and Thomas’ plan.
He held her hand, putting the other high on her waist so as to show his propriety, while she put hers on his shoulder. He smiled at her, perhaps a little nervously, and as the music began again, they began to move around the floor.
“You are an excellent dancer, Your Grace,” she said a little breathlessly, and he found that endearing. They had barely moved four steps but she already proclaimed his dancing to be excellent.
“Please,” he smiled, looking down at her directly, “call me Lord Gallonon.”
“All right, Lord Gallonon. I can tell you dance a lot, for you know just how to move.”
“Thank you,” he said, looking at her curiously. She was most definitely a talker.
But she smiled so sweetly that he could see how some would fall for her. She was endearing and sweet, her face pretty, her energy high and happy. But he would not fall for her, he couldn’t, because, try as he might, he couldn’t get Lady Diana’s smile—or even her scowl, for that matter—out of his head. He found her appealing in a way he had never found anyone before, and he was drawn to her.
So drawn to her—
“It’s such a lovely evening, isn’t it?” Celine asked, and he looked to her, his attention dragged back to the matter at hand.
The plan.
He had to push the other lady from his mind, he must. He had to try harder to forget her. His fancies were of no concern, his desires not important. He forced himself into making conversation with her.
“Yes, it—”
“I wasn’t expecting quite so many people to be here, but the turnout is impressive. Although I suppose you would need a lot of people to fit this huge room.”
“It is rather—”
“I positively fretted for weeks over my gown, you know. Whether it was right, whether I would impress people. My darling Sister tried to reassure me it would be fine, but I just wouldn’t listen to her. Now, of course, I understand she was telling the truth.”
“Well, I—”
“And you know, everyone here is so lovely. I have met simply the sweetest people. Do you know many people here?”
“I know quite—”
“I was terribly worried. Did I tell you that? Yes, I think I said that already. Anyway, now I know there is nothing to fear, I am quite sure I will attend every ball I possibly can!”
“That would be—”
“And according to my dear Sister, a young, unmarried lady is likely to be invited to quite a few, and I am just so excited. I cannot even begin to tell you, Lord, er—”
She looked at him awkwardly.
“Gallonon,” he said, smiling wearily but with a laugh inside his heart.
“Lord Gallonon, that’s it.”
She fell into silence then and he looked at her in surprise. He dared not open his mouth for fear it would start her tirade of chatter off again, and as amusing as that had been, Isaac felt a little overwhelmed.
He suspected she talked so much because she was nervous, but that did not make him feel at all better. He simply wasn’t enamored with her at all and that saddened him, for he knew he would be spending a great deal of time with her, assuming things went as planned.
But you do not need to love her, she only needs to love you.
No, he did not need to love her, but he thought he might like to love someone.
Someone more like the charming Lady Diana, perhaps.
He shook away the thought. No matter how fascinating he had found the conversation, regardless of the way she had spoken out against him, made him laugh, made him feel alive, he could not think like that. He was here simply to do a job, and if that meant humoring the dull and uninteresting Lady Celine, then so be it.
“Lady Celine,” he said, smiling down at her with a new determination. “Are you a keen reader?”
“Oh yes,” Lady Celine replied, eager again now they had fallen on a topic again. “I love novels of romance. They are always so beautiful, don’t you think?”
“I must be honest, I don’t read—”
“I dearly love to read tales of knights who complete challenges to win their maiden’s hand. Do you have a favorite type of novel?”
“I tend to read more—”
“Although I don’t suppose a busy gentleman such as yourself has much time to read,” she said.
“No, I—”
“Opera, though. I am sure you enjoy the opera. Have you seen the new singer in London? She’s positively magnificent. I wouldn’t know how to even begin singing, except when I am in my garden, alone. Are you musically inclined, Lord Gallonon? Or do you prefer the written word?”
“I—”
“Heavens, I’m talking rather too much, don’t you think? I promise you, My Lord, I am not normally so taken with twittering on like this. I really do not know what the matter—”
“Lady Celine.” He spoke firmly, although with a chuckle on his lips. He looked deep into her eyes and smiled. “You are talking so much because you are nervous and it is as amusing as it is endearing, but there really is no need to be anxious. You are doing perfectly well, and dancing with you has been more than pleasant.”
Lady Celine sighed and looked up at him with worried eyes.
“Honestly? I have not bored you at all?”
“No,” he replied, although she had bored him terribly. “But I would like to take some refreshments now, and I have no doubt that there will be other gentlemen here eager to dance with you. Please excuse me, Lady Celine.”
“Of course,” she replied, although with anxiety in her voice. “Thank you, Lord Gallonon. I shall look forward to talking with you again.”
And if only I did not have to.
Celine watched Lord Gallonon walk away from her and her heart sank. She knew she had talked too much, even if he had been too polite to admit his boredom. But she couldn’t help it. Her anxiety at meeting all these new people made her say the first thing that came into her head, and the more it happened, the more anxious she felt.
I hope I am more than just a foolish bore.
She was not too concerned about Lord Gallonon, though. He was handsome enough, she supposed, but his brown eyes seemed dull and lifeless, and she would rather find someone who talked a little more. Someone perhaps a little more like Lord Percival; he had been a delight.
He was sweet, and he made her heart sing. He had spun her around the room with aplomb, and his humor had made her chuckle more than once. He was dapper i
n his suit, and dandy in color, and his piercing blue eyes had twinkled with delight. His lips, to Celine, were so red they seemed painted, and she had found she could not stop looking at them, although she couldn’t think for the life of her why.
She looked out at the crowd, hoping to spot him again, but instead her eyes fell upon Diana. She seemed to be watching Lord Gallonon with a curious glint in her eye, and Celine thought that awfully odd.
Surely Diana would choose someone with a little more about them than him.
Celine could not account for her sister’s wants and desires, though. She had seemed positively uninterested in finding a suitor, assuming that true love would simply happen when the time was right. Celine would not sit back like that, she would fight for love, and she aimed to find a husband as soon as possible. She would not risk a life alone and without love.
Finally, Diana looked back, and they waved to one another across the room. Celine had a grin on her face that she had been unable to rid herself of since the beginning of the night, but Diana looked a little bored, as though she would rather be anywhere but there. Celine felt sad for her sister, and she wished she would more easily accept a life chosen rather than waiting for a story to happen. She was sure Diana would be happier that way.
“Lady Celine, I presume?”
She turned to find a scrawny gentleman, barely as tall as she and skinny as a rake. His dusty-gray hair was matted, and his skin seemed to sag from his bones. She would be surprised if he was less than three score and ten, although he seemed active for his years. She blinked at him, as though he was some sort of imaginary sprite, rather than a society gentleman.
“Yes,” she said, and forced a smile.
“Allow me to introduce myself,” he said. “I’m Abraham Dowding, Duke of Renwald. May I say, you look quite spectacular this evening.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she said meekly.
He held a hand out to lean heavily on the rail.
“Would you care to dance?” he asked.
“I’d love to,” she said, not daring to be rude enough to decline, although she feared she would be holding up his withered body as they waltzed.
“Excellent,” he said.
As they danced, though, Celine found him to be a gentle old man, full of tales of adventure and love and life, and she thought him not so bad after all. He was interesting, she would give him that, and she would enjoy a dinner party in his presence. For dancing, though, she already only had eyes for one.
Lord Percival.
Chapter 8
“Was that the Duke of Renwald I saw you dancing with just then?” Diana asked, looking over her shoulder to catch a sight of him hobbling away.
They stood at the edge of the ballroom floor, near the steps that rose to the entrance. Other than to dance, Celine had not moved from that spot all night and Diana suspected she was still too nervous to venture further into the room.
“It was indeed,” Celine replied with a proud nod. “A very interesting gentleman he is, too. He’s been telling me all his tales.”
“All tall, no doubt,” Diana said, still watching him in surprise. “But you are quite honored, dear Celine. I have never before seen him dance. Not with anyone.”
“How old is he? Surely too old to be attending these events.”
“Not half as old as he looks, so I’m told. I don’t know exactly, but I know he has not been well. And as a bachelor, I imagine he is still trying his luck at finding a wife.”
“Oh, the poor Duke,” she said, “and he is such a delightful gentleman. It is a shame he has not found himself a wife.” She paused for as long as she thought polite, then turned to Diana excitedly. “In other matters, I really must say, I am having the best of times. Truly I am. Everyone is delightful, and dancing is such fun. The music is wonderful and—”
“I’m glad you are enjoying it,” Diana said with a chuckle. “I can always tell when you are having fun. You don’t stop talking! You seem to have taken several turns around the floor, certainly.”
“And with quite a variety of gentlemen, too,” Celine said, her lips pursed in amusement. “Although I do hope I have not been a bore.”
“Is that so?” Diana asked. “Any of them take your fancy?” She looked up at her sister and smirked, hoping that Celine’s fancy would block her own unwanted one from her mind.
“Well,” Celine replied, “there have been many who haven’t, that’s for sure. You were quite right about that. But I can’t deny it. There is one gentleman. Lord Percival Templeton?”
“Ah yes, Lord Percival. Delightful fellow, not a bad choice. Reasonable to look at, I suppose, although not my type.”
“Any dark secrets I should know about?”
“Not that I am aware. I’ll ask around though. You know, Celine, you don’t have to merely go for the first gentleman you dance with. He was your first, wasn’t he?”
“Yes, he was,” Celine said, giggling. “But no, I am not. I have danced with others, and I fully intend on dancing with more still. But, if Lord Percival asks me to dance again, I most certainly will be saying yes.”
Diana was happy for her sister, so enamored already with the society scene. Despite her father’s wishes, Diana had never felt as though she fit in at these events and while she enjoyed them at times, she certainly was not there simply to shop for a husband.
“And you?” Celine asked. “I know Father asked you to keep an eye out for any potential suitors. Have you found one?”
Diana’s cheeks flushed a hot pink and she fanned at her face with her hand. She wanted to say no, to stand firm in her determination to search for love rather than marriage. And yet, there was one man who stood out. And perhaps, even, for love.
“I did see you watching someone earlier,” Celine said, a cheeky grin on her face. “Perhaps you’ve got your eye on a gentleman with brown hair, brown eyes?”
Diana tensed, uncomfortable that her sister had noticed her wandering eye, but she would not admit it.
“Heavens, Celine, that could describe half of the gentlemen in this room!”
“Ah, yes,” Celine said with a nod, “but this one is a Duke.”
“And you’ve reduced it to a quarter. Now stop it and believe me when I say no gentleman has taken my fancy.”
She turned her head away, a slight pout on her lips, and Celine laughed. She couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, especially after all her fierce debate and conviction that she would not marry one of these gentleman.
We have barely spoken and I think of marriage already!
“I believe I’ve danced with the gentleman who took your fancy,” Celine said casually. “He was all right, I suppose.”
“Really, Celine,” Diana snapped, irritated now. “There is no such gentleman, and even if there was, I barely spoke to him for a minute. How can that short time be enough for someone to take your fancy?”
“So he did catch your eye then. Father will be pleased.”
“You will tell Father nothing of the sort,” Diana said, her voice harsher now and her cheeks an even deeper shade of red. “You really do talk nonsense sometimes, my dear Sister. Now, if you don’t mind, I think I shall take some air.”
Diana stalked away from Celine feeling flustered, although she could not say why.
Because Celine dared to suggest someone had caught my eye?
Her brow furrowed in confusion. She did not want to marry just any man, simply for a marriage but for love instead, and yet when someone caught her eye, she found herself resisting it. She was drawn to him in a way she had never before been drawn to anyone, but she would not seek him out. The thought sent her heart racing too much, her head sent into a panic.
Rather, she found her way through the room to the door in the corner, marked as the direction to the gardens. Fresh air would do her good, something cool against her warm skin. But on the way, her attention was captured by a bookcase. Such an odd place for a bookcase, but perhaps, Diana decided, the room suited another purpose wh
en there was no ball.
It was simply impossible for Diana to pass a bookcase without stopping to examine the books and so, as couples danced around her and the music played away, she stood with her head tilted, reading the spines on the leather-bound volumes.
There was a good mix of intellectual works and novels of love and adventure, and Diana suspected the selection had been put out to suit all manner of guests. She could not resist running her fingers along the spine until she came to an old favorite.
Games of Desire for Lady Hellion: A Steamy Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 6