by Fanny Finch
Leander watched the way she moved to the music. It made his heartbeat speed up. Every touch made his fingers tingle. Her smile lit up her face, making her look radiant.
When they came back together and were facing each other, he took the opportunity to speak to her again. “I do hope we are seated near each other so we can continue our conversation. This is not the most opportune time to talk, is it?”
Hestia grinned wide. “No, Lord Price. There are…” She passed him and turned back to face him. “A few complications with it.”
Both chuckled, catching each other’s eyes as they continued to dance.
Leander was enamored by the woman’s sense of grace and humor. She was exactly what he wanted in a woman and he knew by the time the music began to indicate the ending of the tune, he would not enjoy dancing with any other woman.
Dancing with Lady Eugenia would be for show. The party was evidently put on so that Hestia could present herself as a lady. No one at the ball seemed to notice that Lady Eugenia’s companion was dancing with him as a lady would.
He wondered how many in the room knew Hestia and knew her past. A few glances around them told him if they did know the facts, they were not interested in judging Hestia for it.
Lady Eugenia had invited all the right guests.
He smiled to himself. Especially since she had not invited one person in particular.
He avoided thinking about Miss Drusilla as much as he could. He did his best to concentrate on the lovely lady in front of him, the woman who gave him such warm feelings. He wanted to protect Hestia, keep her safe from all harm at all times.
The Earl of Coventry could not take away Leander’s inheritance based on who he married. He was guaranteed the inheritance, whomever he chose to marry. His father would object to Hestia because of the lack of money but technically, he was free to marry whomever he chose.
His mother had mentioned the need to think of the family and his father’s wishes. Hestia was a strong woman, independent, as was obvious by her status of employment. She wanted a secure future and was willing to sacrifice her pride to get it.
That sounded to Leander like a woman who should be respected and admired. If he could convince his father to understand his point of view, perhaps he would see things the same way.
Then again, the Earl of Coventry could be a stubborn man. He may not care that Hestia would be willing to stand on her own feet if it were necessary.
Leander wanted to make sure she did not have to. He wanted her to be safe and secure in his arms, resting in the knowledge that he would take care of everything.
Leander did not want the money the Sirey family could provide. He wanted the love he was sure Hestia could provide.
He listened to the last strains of music with a feeling of despair. He did not want the music to end. That would mean parting with Hestia. He racked his brain with different topics he wanted to discuss with her. Episodes from his childhood he wanted to share. Funny thoughts he had from the day. He wanted to know her favorite foods, her favorite color, her favorite animal.
He wanted to know as much about her as he could know.
Leander’s decision was made for him by the end of the dance. His heart and mind had been in constant battle, especially since his discussion with his mother.
Parting from Hestia at the end of the music was difficult for him. He did not want to leave the dance floor.
When it was clear everyone was moving away in preparation for the second dance of the evening, Leander reached to grasp Hestia’s hand lightly and lead her from the floor back to the small space they had been occupying before it.
Once they reached the small hallway area, Hestia took her seat and turned to look through the window at the darkening sky. Leander remained standing in front of her, his hands clasped behind his back.
“That was a lovely dance, Lady Hestia. I am glad we had the opportunity.”
“As am I, Lord Price,” Hestia replied, moving her eyes back to his handsome face. He settled his gaze on her, taking in her beauty and the warmth of her hazel eyes.
“Tell me, Lady Hestia. What is your favorite flower?”
Hestia gazed back at him, making his chest tighten with anticipation. “I am quite fond of lilies, Lord Price. But I fear they are sometimes difficult to find.”
“I believe I can find some if you would like them.” He took a few steps closer and stood beside the chair, looking down at her. His hands were still clasped behind his back and he held his spine stiff. He did not know whether he should be open with his affection for Hestia so that all in the room could see or if he should react as though he were speaking with a companion to a lady.
He did not want to talk to Hestia like a servant. He wanted to be completely open with her.
“You look a bit tired, Lord Price,” Hestia said softly. “I do hope I did not do this in the dance. I believe you are an extremely compatible dancer.”
“With you, I doubt anyone would not be capable. You move about the dance floor as if you are dancing in the water. Your movements are graceful and precise. I enjoyed the dance very much. I hope to have another opportunity in the future to dance with you again.”
“I am sure you will, Lord Price. Such opportunities can be created when desired.”
“Shall I take you to Lady Eugenia, Lady Hestia? It does appear she has chosen another place to stand.”
Hestia looked through the crowd. Leander could tell when she spotted her friend because she stood up, one eyebrow slightly cocked. He admired her profile for a moment before turning his head to look at Lady Eugenia.
She nodded at Leander. He turned his eyes to Hestia. “I believe she is expecting us to come over to her. Shall we?”
“Yes, let’s.” Hestia instinctively took some of the fabric of her dress in one hand and lifted it slightly as she walked across the dance floor to the other side.
It was not until she was in the middle of the dance floor that she realized every eye in the room was on her. And Lord Price was on her heels.
Chapter 23
Leander came up behind her and confidently walked by her side. He was not hurrying and Hestia had to slow her own steps to stay next to him. She was fully aware that everyone was looking at her. It made her feel awkward.
Leander looked at her. “Lady Hestia, you look utterly terrified. Are you all right?”
“You do not notice everyone is looking at us, Lord Price?” she asked. Leander glanced at the crowd around the empty dance floor. Some eyes were on them but certainly not all.
“You are too sensitive, Lady Hestia.” Leander used a confident voice but his first thought was that whoever was spying on him, if he or she were there that night, would undoubtedly see him walking across the dance floor with Hestia. And he was going in the direction of Lady Eugenia.
Lady Eugenia leaned over and said something to the woman standing with her back to Leander and Hestia. The woman turned and Leander glanced down at Hestia when the young woman gasped.
Her cheeks colored in and she moved her eyes up to Leander’s clear blue ones, her lips lifted in a pleasant smile.
“That is my mother, Lord Price. I will be pleased to introduce you to her.”
“The pleasure would be mine, Lady Hestia.”
Hestia knew the presence of her mother would stay much of the gossip that would have circulated after she was seen dancing with Leander. She had been so focused on acting as Lady Eugenia’s companion, she had completely forgotten her mother had agreed to come.
They made their way slowly to the other side of the dance floor. Just as he had done at Baron Wake’s house party, Leander walked at a much slower pace than he normally would. Although his hands were behind his back, he enjoyed the brush of Hestia’s sleeve against his sleeve.
He admired the gown she had chosen to wear. It brought out the light traces of red in her blond hair while at the same time accentuating the green in her hazel eyes.
She seemed the perfect woman to him, a beaut
y on both the inside and out.
“May I ask you a question before we reach your mother, Lady Hestia?” Leander said quickly, not looking at her and speaking out of the corner of his mouth.
She reacted with surprise but only glanced at him for a moment. “I suppose so.”
“If you were to have an opportunity to get married, would you take it or would you want to stay in your position of employment, perhaps out of loyalty or independence?”
The question was not what Hestia was expecting. She swallowed, thinking of the weight of it. “I… I suppose it depends on the man who asks for my hand.”
He felt she had to know he was talking about her. They were only a few steps away from the Countess of Nottingham and Lady Eugenia.
“Mother, this is Lord Price. His parents are the Earl and Countess of Coventry. Lord Price, this is my mother, Lady Stalwood, Countess of Nottingham.”
“Lady Stalwood.”
Leander wondered if the Countess of Nottingham always looked as tired as she did right then. Her eyes drooped a little and her smile was weak. She held her hand out to him and he took it, bowing with it in his hand.
He let go, thinking how frail she seemed.
“It is good to meet you, Lord Price,” the Countess of Nottingham said. Leander was surprised by the strength he heard in the voice, given the woman’s fragile outward appearance. “I have been told so much about you by Lady Eugenia.”
Leander glanced at Lady Eugenia, who gave him such a slight shake of her head, he was not sure he had actually seen it.
He noticed the slight widening of her eyes at the same time.
He got the distinct impression the Countess of Nottingham was not aware of their scheme to pair himself with Hestia. He wondered what it was Lady Eugenia had said to Hestia’s mother.
He did not have to wonder long. True to form, Lady Eugenia launched into an overexaggerated explanation to catch her friends up.
“I do not wish to embarrass you, Lord Price,” she said, looking directly in Leander’s eyes. “I was telling the Countess of Nottingham how the three of us have been companions at two different events now and that you are quite a fine gentleman.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Lady Eugenia,” Leander gave her a smile. “I do enjoy hearing flattering accounts about myself.”
“I know of no one that does not,” Lady Eugenia replied.
Leander looked at the Countess of Nottingham, assessing her as he spoke. She seemed to have that same quiet strength he saw in Hestia. He knew where she had gotten her tenacity and smarts.
Leander realized he knew very little about the Earl and Countess of Nottingham. He had an account of their business failures but knew nothing about their internal characters. It was something he could not get by asking questions of people who knew them.
He was anxious to understand everything he could about Hestia. And what better way to find out about someone than to know how they were raised by their parents.
Despite his spending and gambling habits, the Earl of Nottingham had taught at least one of his daughters how to be strong and independent. How to stand on her own two feet when necessary.
Her ability to do it had come from her mother. The woman was a half a foot shorter than Leander and the lines around her lips and her eyes gave away her age. If not for them, Leander would have guessed her to be much younger than she was.
She held herself with a sense of elegance that he only saw in the most refined of old money society. He suspected her roots ran deep in society and that she was used to the kind of wealth she’d been raised with.
He wondered if she was happy or if it was a struggle being without when she’d spent most of her life never wanting anything.
He thought he could see some sadness in her eyes but dismissed it as being associated with the tired look she also bore.
“Your daughter is a delight to dance with, Lady Stalwood.”
“I am glad to hear that, Lord Price,” the Countess of Nottingham replied, giving Hestia a pleased look.
Leander thought it must be a look Hestia had not seen often because her reaction was quite odd. She blinked several times, gazing at her mother with surprised confusion.
“It was not difficult.” Hestia visibly relaxed and turned her smile to Leander. “Lord Price is an excellent partner.”
Leander took a step back and bowed to the ladies. “While I am quite flattered by this talk, I will take my leave of you ladies and I will return for our dance after this one, Lady Eugenia.”
“Yes, Lord Price, I look forward to it,” Lady Eugenia replied. She was moving her gaze between Hestia and Leander, questions in her eyes.
“Lord Price.”
Leander turned to see the Viscount and Viscountess of Culross coming toward him. It was the Viscount of Culross who had called out to him. He bowed to each of them.
“Lord Callow, Lady Callow,” he said.
“How are you enjoying the party so far?”
“I thoroughly enjoyed the first dance. I am looking forward to the dinner you are offering. I can smell the delicious scent of roast in the air.”
“Yes, it is roast, as a matter of fact,” the Viscountess of Culross said, nodding. “With vegetables and a variety of breads and fruits for dessert.”
“Still several dances to go before eating, Lord Price,” the Viscount of Culross said in a hearty voice. He lifted his shoulders, making his round frame slim down slightly but only for a moment. “I do hope you have signed on to dance with my Eugenia.”
“Oh, most certainly, Lord Callow. She has accepted my name for the third dance.”
“She is well trained and quite graceful. I am sure you will be pleased.”
“Oh, Father,” Lady Eugenia said with a smile. “You flatter me.”
“As a matter of fact, I was just about to take my leave to find out what other ladies would like to dance this evening,” Leander said, not meaning a word of it. He did not want to find anyone else to dance with. He wanted to dance with Hestia for the rest of the night and, if he had his way, for the rest of his life.
She would be the only one in his heart. He would never stray from her. She had taken his heart and she did not even know it yet.
He would make sure she did know it.
“I will see you later at dinner time then, Lord Price.” The Viscount of Culross bowed to him and he returned it. He bowed to the Viscountess of Culross, who curtsied to him. The couple moved along, nodding at their daughter as they went.
“You have done a fine job with the decorations on the lawn, Lady Eugenia,” the Countess of Nottingham said.
“I do not have anyone signed on for my second dance,” Lady Eugenia said. She looked at Hestia with excited eyes. “Would any of you care to take a walk through the garden and see what I have added to it?”
Hestia’s grin was instant. She glanced up at Leander, who looked back at her with the same pleased look.
“I think that sounds like a lovely idea, Lady Eugenia,” Leander said bluntly. “Lady Hestia?”
Hestia nodded energetically. “Yes. Let’s do that.”
Lady Eugenia made sure to take hold of the Countess of Nottingham’s arm and turn her toward the door. Hestia and Leander followed behind, walking side by side once again.
Leander was immensely pleased that Lady Eugenia had suggested the walk through her new garden. He had not seen it before she made additions but he was sure it would look beautiful. They stepped out onto the lawn and were immediately hit with a cool breeze that lifted the women’s hair off their shoulders in waves.
They all instinctively lifted their chins to the breeze and when it settled down, they lowered their heads.
“That breeze was chilly,” Lady Eugenia said, looking at Hestia’s mother. “But it is a warm night, is it not? The cool air makes it tolerable.”
“I agree.” The Countess of Nottingham nodded her head.
Leander wandered slowly behind Lady Eugenia and the Countess of Nottingham, feeling
a pleasant throb in his chest when Hestia purposefully walked just as slowly, putting a few feet of distance between them and the two ladies they were following.
Lady Eugenia spent nearly the entire time forcing the Countess of Nottingham to look at all the new flowers, analyze the old ones and discuss whether or not the beauty could be enhanced even more.
That gave Hestia and Leander time to quietly discuss themselves, telling each other short anecdotes from their childhoods. Leander asked Hestia if there was anything she was afraid of when she was a child.
“I was a brave child, so I was told,” Hestia said in a quiet voice. “But there was something I was afraid of and I hesitate to even tell you about it.”