* * *
Allan had made a decision. After the walk with Bridget, he knew, without a doubt, that he wanted to court Esther. Now, however, he just had to get her to feel the same.
He was having some reservations, of course, which he believed was normal, so he contacted Oliver to find out if he might want to come to dinner. Oliver had replied that he would, and now, Allan was patiently waiting for him to arrive. Once he talked to Oliver, he believed that he would be ready to make a move for Esther.
Allan was sound in his decision. In fact, it felt to him Bridget was hiding something from him, and he didn’t appreciate that. He also felt he didn’t enjoy talking to her as much as he enjoyed talking to Esther. So, it felt as though the best decision was to turn his focus onto Esther…but he wasn’t quite sure how to do that since she didn’t seem keen on him, though the last time he saw her, it did seem better.
“My Lord.” Clark stepped into the room. “General Blackmore has arrived. I have shown him into the sitting room, as I believed you would like a drink before dinner.”
Allan smiled at Clark. It was wonderful to have a member of the staff who simply knew exactly what to do. “Thank you so much, Clark. You know I greatly appreciate that.”
As he always did before seeing Oliver, Allan straightened his shirt, trousers, and looked down to make sure there were no scuffs on his boots. Even though he was no longer a member of the British Army, he still wanted to look the part in his civilian life.
He nodded at Clark as he walked through the door, and then crossed the hallway into the entry way. The sitting room was directly across from him.
“My Lord,” he heard, and turned. A footman was standing there holding a tray with a letter on it. “This arrived for you.”
“Oh, thank you,” said Allan, as he walked to meet the footman. He took the letter, and then turned around to walk back to the sitting room. As he looked down at the letter, he could see the crest of his cousin, the Duke of Daftwood. Hopefully, this was an answer to his letter about the ball, which he sent as soon as he arrived home from seeing Bridget.
Allan tucked the letter into his pocket, and then opened the door to the sitting room. Oliver was already sitting in his usual place, and there was a glass of port sitting next to him.
Allan smiled, and said “Port today, Friend?”
Oliver laughed and stood with his hand outstretched to shake Allan’s. “It’s too early for Scotch, though I daresay I will have some before I leave.”
Now it was Allan’s turn to laugh. He turned to the nearby footman and said, “I’ll have some port, too,” and then turned back to Oliver.
“Please, Blackmore,” he said. ‘Have a seat.”
Oliver sat down and took a sip of his port, and Allan sat on the sofa opposite Oliver.
“How has business been?” Oliver asked.
“Oh, very well,” Allan said, as the footman placed the glass of port on the table next to him. “Thank you.”
“Very good to hear,” Oliver said. “Things have been going very well for me, too. I have a new assignment, which will allow me to travel more. It should even take me to the continent.”
“Oh, congratulations!” Allan was genuinely happy for his friend. He knew that one of the reasons Oliver had joined the British Army in the first place was to see the world. “I’m very happy for you.”
“To us,” Oliver said as he lifted his glass, “and our good fortune.”
Allan lifted his glass and toasted his friend, and then took a sip of the thick, sweet, fruity port.
“I appreciate the invitation here, Wiltshire,” Oliver said. “It’s always nice to visit.”
“It is,” Allan agreed. “But I do have good reason for the invitation.”
“Oh?” said Oliver. “I’m intrigued.”
“I actually need some advice,” Allan admitted. “And I am hoping that you can help.”
“It would be my pleasure,” said Oliver. “What can I help with?”
Allan shifted in his seat. “Do you remember the last time I saw you? I was telling you about Miss Bridget Crampton? The doctor’s daughter?”
“I do remember,” Oliver replied. “Did you see her again?”
“I did,” Allan explained. “I saw both her and her father again.”
“Oh!” Oliver exclaimed. “Do tell me more.”
“Well, I must begin with another,” Allan said, taking a sip of his drink. “I spent more time with Lady Esther, too.”
Oliver got a big grin on his face. “So, you are telling me that you have spent time with two ladies since I saw you last, and you aren’t telling me about it until now?”
Allan laughed. “I haven’t had a chance.”
Oliver chuckled. “No, it seems you have been rather busy. Please…continue.”
Allan smiled and shook his head. “The story starts with Edward holding a dinner party. I attended, and so did Esther.”
Oliver grinned, “You are already to the point of calling her by her given name?”
Allan blushed, and said, “Yes.” He smiled. “I am getting to that.”
Oliver leaned back in his seat and grinned widely once again.
“While there, Esther and I had a chance to spend more time together,” Allan explained. “By the time I left, I am fairly convinced that she had grown fonder of me. She even said she was looking forward to the next time she would see me.”
Oliver sat up straight. “What are you waiting for, then, Wiltshire?”
Allan chuckled. “At the time, though I was very interested in her, I also knew that I was supposed to go visit Bridget.”
Oliver shook his head and smiled. “Some men get all the luck.”
“I didn’t say I was lucky,” Allan said.
“Wiltshire! You have two ladies to choose from,” Oliver said with a laugh. “I would say that’s pretty lucky!”
Allan nodded and laughed. “Fine, fine, Blackmore. May I continue?”
Oliver smiled and nodded. “Please do.”
“I concluded at that point that I was interested in Esther, and I believe her to be interested in me.” Allan replied.
“Yes, you said that,” Oliver responded.
Allan nodded. “Yes, but I had Bridget on my mind, so when I got home, I wasn’t as focused on Esther. Instead, I was more focused on seeing Bridget.”
“Keep going, this is getting good!” Oliver said.
Allan laughed again. “Great. I went to see Bridget and her father earlier in the week. When I arrived, I was very nervous, and I wasn’t sure why.”
“Probably because you are interested in her,” Oliver replied.
“Was.” Allan said.
“What?” Oliver said.
“I was interested in her,” Allan replied.
“Whoa,” Olive responded. “Please continue! What happened?”
“I took her for a walk, and her father’s assistant, Mrs. Dunn, went with us.” Allan explained.
Allan continued. “The entire time I was walking with her, I felt bored with her conversation. I also feel she might be more interested in my title than me.”
Oliver stopped smiling. “That could be an issue, of course,” he said. “Seriously? You think that.”
“I do,” Allan said. “And that’s when I decided that I want to court Esther. She is beautiful, she is a wonderful conversationalist, and I thoroughly enjoy spending time with her.”
Oliver smiled again. “Then, my Friend, it looks like you have your answer.”
Allan nodded. “I think so, too.” He pulled the letter out of his pocket and broke the wax seal. “That reminds me. I wrote to Edward to ask if he would hold a ball. It’s my best chance of seeing Esther again, quickly. He responded.” Allan held up the letter to show Oliver.
“What does it say?” Oliver asked.
Allan unfolded the letter and began to read it. He saw the words, “The ball will be held on…” he smiled and looked up at Oliver. “Edward is having a ball!”
“
Wonderful!” Oliver replied. He held up his glass. “A toast to your continued good luck.”
* * *
“Esther, I understand what you are saying,” her father said. “But I simply don’t have the means to pay an orphanage administrator so that you can get information about an orphan.”
Esther couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She came to her father’s office to ask him to send money to Mr. Smith, and this was his response.
“Father,” she said. “I don’t understand. You are a Duke. How can you not donate a small amount of money to the orphanage?”
Her father shook his head and looked up from his desk. “Normally, I would not discuss finances with a lady,” he said. “But since you are questioning this, I will tell you. There is simply no money available. We barely have enough to keep the household going, and if truth be told, I don’t know how we are going to keep going into the autumn and winter.”
Esther was shocked. “But Father,” she said. “What happened?”
“Times are changing,” her father replied. “After the ‘Year Without Summer,’ our lands have never recovered. We aren’t growing grain nor other crops, and our coffers have been depleted.”
“We have…nothing?” Esther asked.
“We have enough to keep things running for a couple of months,” her father said. “That’s it.” He looked down with sadness in his expression.
Esther said, “What can we do?”
“I don’t know,” her father said. “I shall go to London soon and try to remedy this. But, in the meantime, the marriage of Mary to Edward has helped a bit, though there is still no extra money to donate to the church. I’m sorry, Esther.”
Esther just nodded. “I’m sorry, too, Father.” She turned around and walked out of the office, and into the hallway. She knew she had to come up with a plan, and she had to do this soon. She couldn’t bear to know that Julia was out there somewhere, and that she could be somewhere terrible.
Chapter 18
Allan had arrived at his cousins’ home, and he was nervous. The ball was planned for later in the evening, and he would see Esther very soon. His stomach was in knots, and as he waited for the coachman to open the door, he could feel his hands trembling. You must relax.
He felt the carriage lean to the left as the coachman got off, and then heard the sound of the steps being pulled down. The door opened, and Allan was able to step out. His cousin Edward and his wife Mary were standing near the door, and they were both smiling widely. Though Allan’s nerves were certainly affecting him, he couldn’t help but smile back. It always felt like he was returning home.
Allan walked towards his cousin while Harley began unloading his luggage.
“Beautiful day for a ball,” Edward said, as Allan approached him. Allan smiled widely and Edward reached out his hand. Allan took it and Edward pulled him in for an embrace, as they always did.
“It certainly is, Cousin,” Allan replied. He then turned to Mary. “You look ravishing, as usual, Mary.” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
“You are too kind, Allan,” Mary responded with a grin. “I’m so glad you have made it.”
“It was actually Allan’s suggestion,” Edward said.
“Oh,” Mary said with a laugh. “That’s right. I forgot. In that case, I’m so glad that you suggested it. I know my sisters are looking forward to it, as well.”
Allan smiled again. “It is always a pleasure to see your sisters.”
“I believe they like spending time with you, too,” Mary replied. “They arrived last night, and we were actually talking about you at dinner.”
“Oh?” Allan said. “I hope it was a good conversation.”
“I assure you it was,” Edward said with a laugh. “I was there. Me, Mary, Esther, and Ruth, and the ladies had control of the conversation the entire time.”
Allan and Mary laughed, and then Allan said, “Where was Harry? Where is he now?” It was unusual for Harry not to greet him when he arrived.
“He said he wasn’t feeling well,” Edward explained.
“He wasn’t at breakfast this morning, either.” Mary said. “Is he still feeling ill?”
“No,” Edward replied. “I think he feels better. He was at the stables this morning, which is why he wasn’t at breakfast.”
Allan thought that was unusual, too. It’s not like Harry to miss meals.
“Odd,” Allan said. “I was wondering where he was now. Usually he is here to meet me when I arrive.”
“True,” said Edward. “He said to tell you that he would meet up with you this afternoon. We are a bit understaffed at the stables, so he has been spending more time there lately.”
“I see,” Allan said. “Well, I look forward to catching up with him.”
“In fact, I would like to go check in on the horses and staff, myself,” Edward said. “I hope you can excuse me. I am sure you want to rest a bit after your journey.”
“I do,” Allan said. “So thank you. I will see you tonight, of course.”
“You certainly will,” Edward said. “I am looking forward to the ball, myself.”
“I am going to go get settled in,” Allan said. “Thank you both for the lovely welcome.” He smiled at Edward and Mary, and then turned to walk up the stairs to the entry door. A footman opened the door for him, and Allan stepped into the home, ready to take the steps necessary to woo Esther.
* * *
Since Esther and Ruth had discovered the outdoor tea area at Edward and Mary’s estate, they spent a lot of time there when they visited. It was a lovely summer’s day, and they had arrived the evening before, so they had some time to relax before the ball.
“I am greatly looking forward to the ball,” Ruth said, as she stirred sugar into her tea. “I love the music and seeing the gowns. Did you decide on a gown for tonight or are you going to ask Rose her opinion?”
Esther laughed. “Though I would like to say I have made a decision,” she said, “you know that I will rely on Rose to make the final choice.”
Ruth laughed too. “That’s what I thought,” she said to her older sister. “If you have something in blue or green, I think that would look wonderful. With your amber eyes, both colors would look fantastic on you, and…well, you certainly want to look your best tonight.”
Esther couldn’t help but blush. It was true. She certainly wanted to look her best. After all, she would be seeing Allan, and she was hoping to dance with him. “I do want to look my best,” she agreed.
“Are you nervous about seeing him?” Ruth asked with a smirk.
“Yes,” Ester replied. “Honestly, I am,” she admitted. “But I am also excited to see him.”
Ruth grinned. “I’m sure he’s excited to see you,” she said. “I remember when I was going through this. It’s a wonderful feeling to think about the one you have feelings for. You certainly have feelings for him, right?”
Esther blushed again. “Yes,” he said. “I have developed feelings for him over the past few weeks. After I decided to let go of my concerns with his military background, I was able to realize that I did care for him.”
“You should have listened to Mary and I.” Ruth teased. “Are you really accepting of his military history?”
“I think so,” Esther responded. “I won’t say that it’s not on my mind, because it is, but I am not going to allow these thoughts to affect the chance that we might be a good match. That wouldn’t be fair to either of us.”
“Again,” Ruth said as she nodded. “You should have listened to me and Mary.”
Esther laughed. “I know, and I admit it.” She took a sip of her tea. “I wonder if he feels the same as I do?”
“I imagine he does,” Ruth said. “Did Mary tell you that he is the reason they are having a ball in the first place?”
“What?” Esther replied. “No, she didn’t.”
Ruth smiled and took a sip of tea. “Yes, she said that Allan wrote a letter to Edward and requested a ball. Why would he
do that unless he had a good reason for it?”
Esther grinned. “That’s a very good point, Ruth. I will be sure to ask him about that tonight.”
* * *
“My Lord?” Allan turned to see who was speaking to him. It was a footman that he didn’t recognize.
“Yes?” he asked.
Lusting For The Broken Earl (Steamy Historical Regency) Page 16