by Rose Pearson
“Better than the last,” he replied, bowing low and putting one hand to his heart. “I come firstly to apologize, Lady Charity, and then to ask if you would like to dance with me this evening.”
He could not help but smile as Lady Charity’s eyes flared with surprise, her awareness that he did not ever choose to dance at such things as this more than apparent. Benedict waited patiently, praying that she would accept him and that she would accept his apology.
“You – you wish to dance with me this evening, Lord Hosmer?” Lady Charity asked, sounding a little breathless. “Are you quite certain?”
“Indeed, I am,” he professed. “You have spoken wisdom to me these last few weeks, Lady Charity, and it has taken me such a long time to, first of all listen to you, and then to act upon it. I can only apologize for my foolishness.”
She swallowed and dropped her eyes for a moment.
“I saw that you spoke to Lady Norwich.”
“I did,” he answered, calmly. “And I am glad that I did so. I am quite determined, Lady Charity, that I shall not allow myself to dwell on what occurred in the past. I shall no longer let myself become wrapped up in pain and regret. Instead, I shall consider what is directly before me, what I might discover should I only take my eyes from the past and focus instead on what stands before me. I can only apologize, Lady Charity. Apologize that I have behaved in such a foolish and untoward manner as I have done these last few days and beg you to forgive me for my offence.” He smiled at her, before dropping into another bow. “And then I should beg you to agree to step out onto the dance floor with me, Lady Charity, for I should very much like to dance with you.”
Lady Charity did not say anything for some moments. Indeed, she seemed quite stunned, her eyes searching his face as though she half expected him to be telling untruths. But, it seemed, she was finally convinced for, with a small blush and a quick smile, she took her dance card from her wrist and handed it to him.
“Then yes, Lord Hosmer,” she answered, filling his heart with relief and gladness. “I accept your apology and yes, I should very much like to dance with you, thank you.”
Chapter Eleven
“And you found him markedly changed?”
Charity hesitated as she considered what had occurred last evening. Lord Hosmer had not only danced the quadrille with her, but also the waltz and to be in his arms had brought about such a strange swell of emotions within her heart that, even now, Charity did not want to discuss it with anyone.
“Lord Hosmer was certainly more contented, yes,” she agreed, as she and Lady Hayward walked quickly towards the milliners, leaving the carriage behind them. “I confess I did see him speak to Lady Norwich and wondered what might have been said between them but, much to my astonishment, it appears as though Lord Hosmer spoke quite cordially and has no eagerness to either converse with her further or pursue a greater acquaintance.”
Lady Hayward pushed open the door and stepped inside, allowing Charity to follow after her before she let the door close again. Rubbing her hands to restore a little warmth, Lady Hayward looked back at Charity.
“You did not truly believe that he might wish to reacquaint himself with her, did you?” she asked, as Charity lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “There is too much pain there, I am sure.”
“Pain that perhaps only she can remove,” Charity replied, a little tersely. “But certainly, I was grateful for his apology.”
“And for his dance?” Lady Hayward asked, as, much to her embarrassment, Charity felt heat climb into her cheeks. “It was noted amongst the others present that Lord Hosmer had danced with you – and only you, I might add.” One eyebrow arched. “That is after he has not danced with any other young ladies for years!”
Charity looked away but could not hide her smile.
“It was very good of him,” she admitted, not wanting to say anything that might reveal the truth of how she felt. “I am sure that he did so, solely to prove to me that he has every intention of doing as he said.”
“Which is?”
“Which is setting his mind free of the trappings of the past,” Charity replied, as they wandered a little further into the warm shop. “To forget about past hurts, to stop himself from dwelling on all that took place all those years ago and, instead, to make certain that he now finds happiness and enjoyment in what is present before him.”
Lady Hayward’s smile was a knowing one.
“And you were before him last evening.”
“I hardly think that dancing with me meant anything such as that,” Charity declared, despite her own quickening heart and her whirling thoughts which she did not want to share with Lady Hayward at present. “He was only proving that what he has promised is to become a reality.”
Lady Hayward laughed, her eyes twinkling.
“You are quite determined to believe it?” she questioned, as Charity turned her attention to silk ribbons in an attempt to change the topic of conversation. “Very well, so be it. But I will look forward to the time when you tell me that there is something more between yourself and Lord Hosmer, for then I shall be very pleased with myself indeed!”
This made Charity laugh although she had to confess quietly to herself that what Lady Hayward had said brought many thoughts to her mind. What if Lord Hosmer had, in fact, chosen to ‘look at what was before him’ and, in doing so, had seen her? What would she do if there was something more to be discovered between them? Even the thought made her heart quicken and a small smile curl her lips. She had to confess that the more she had spoken to Lord Hosmer, the more he had revealed to her, the deeper their connection had become. However, she had also felt all manner of emotions when it came to him, for he had irritated her, angered her and deeply upset her – but his apology had smoothed all hurts now that she truly believed him to be genuine in his intentions.
“Good afternoon.”
Charity looked up quickly from where she had been absent-mindedly looking over silk ribbons.
“Good afternoon, Lady Dewsbury,” she heard Lady Hayward reply. “You have ventured out into the cold as well, it seems!”
“Ah, yes. My daughter simply must have a few new things to add to her ensemble for tomorrow evening’s ball,” came the reply, as Charity dropped her head again and tried very hard to focus on the ribbons rather than pay attention to the conversation. “You are to attend, are you not?”
“You are attending, Lady Charity?”
A little startled as she was addressed by a different voice, Charity caught her breath as she looked up, only to realize that Lady Norwich had approached her on evidently stealthy feet.
“Good afternoon, Lady Norwich,” she replied, quickly bobbing a curtsey. “How good to see you again.”
She had not said very much to the lady other than to greet her and to make meaningless conversation during the dinner party some time ago, making her a little surprised that Lady Norwich now approached her in such a manner.
“Are you attending Lord Livingstone’s ball, Lady Charity?” Lady Norwich asked, a hardness appearing in her voice that sounded a warning in Charity’s mind. “I should very much like to know.”
A little confused as to why the lady might wish to know such a thing, Charity gave her a small nod.
“I see.” Lady Norwich lifted her chin and, for the first time, Charity noticed just how cold the lady’s blue eyes could be. “I suspect that Lord Hosmer will be present also.”
“I could not say,” Charity answered, growing more and more uncomfortable with every moment that passed. “But I should not expect him to have refused such an invitation.” She tried to smile at the lady but Lady Norwich’s expression remained impassive. “Might I ask if there is any particular reason for your question?”
Her glance slid towards Lady Hayward but her companion was still deep in conversation with Lady Dewsbury and did not notice Charity’s quick glance.
“I did notice, Lady Charity, that Lord Hosmer danced with you last evening,” Lady Norw
ich replied, her chin still lifted as though she was trying to look down her nose at Charity in an attempt to intimidate her. “Twice.”
Charity blinked rapidly, trying to assess what the lady meant.
“That is so,” she answered, slowly. “I was very glad indeed to step out with him.”
Lady Norwich’s lips flattened for a moment and she looked away, drawing in a great breath as though she were attempting to rein in whatever anger now filled her.
“You will not be aware, Lady Charity – or mayhap you will, if Lord Hosmer has told you so – that he refused to step out with me.”
“I did not know,” Charity answered swiftly, feeling a little dazed at the furious words being thrown at her but quite determined to stand up for herself. “I do not think that Lord Hosmer even contemplated sharing such information with me, Lady Norwich. He would have no reason to.”
Taking a small step forward, Lady Norwich’s eyes narrowed as she pointed one finger in Charity’s direction. Heat poured into Charity’s face as she forced herself to hold Lady Norwich’s gaze, refusing to look away despite how much clear anger and ire was being thrust towards her.
“Why, might I ask, would he dance with you when he had only just refused to do so with me?” she hissed, clearly infuriated. “I asked him specifically if he was to dance and he said he was not willing to do so! And then, within the next hour, I saw him take your arm and lead you out with him, to dance first the cotillion, I believe and then, much later on, the waltz!”
“I cannot speak for Lord Hosmer,” Charity replied, aware of the slight tremor in her voice but refusing to permit Lady Norwich’s anger to shake her any more than it had thus far. “All I can tell you is that he asked if I should like to dance and I accepted him. That is all.”
For whatever reason, this statement seemed to inflate Lady Norwich’s anger all the more. Her cheeks went scarlet, her eyes blazed with fury and she shook her finger towards Charity with a good deal more vehemence.
“Then it is you!” she stated, still keeping her voice low but unable to hide the vehemence. “It is you that I must remove from his sphere! I will not have it, Lady Charity. I will not have it!”
And with that said, she turned on her heel and flounced towards the other side of the shop, leaving Charity to stare after her in shock. She had very little idea as to why Lady Norwich appeared to be so upset with her and certainly had even less understanding as to what Lady Norwich meant when it came to Lord Hosmer, but still, the encounter had shaken her.
Behind her, she heard Lady Hayward laugh at something Lady Dewsbury said, and the sound rattled through her core, hard and brash against the shock that she felt. Had Lady Dewsbury deliberately gone to speak to Lady Hayward, so that her daughter might address Charity? Or had it been sheer good fortune on Lady Norwich’s part?
“Lady Charity?”
Charity jumped as Lady Hayward’s voice reached her and she turned around to see the lady look at her in surprise.
“Are you quite all right?”
Charity nodded, her throat tight.
“I – I should like to go elsewhere, Lady Hayward,” she said, keeping her voice low and forcing herself not to look around the shop for Lady Norwich. “Might we take our leave?”
There was a look of surprise in Lady Hayward’s eyes but, after a moment, she nodded her agreement.
“But of course,” she said, turning back towards the door. “There is another shop only a few yards away. If you are willing to walk, then we can be there within a few minutes, or if you would like to return to the carriage, then –”
“I will be quite contented to walk,” Charity replied hastily, wanting nothing more than to depart from the shop at once. “Please, lead on, Lady Hayward.”
It was not until they were outside, back into the frosty air under grey skies that Lady Hayward finally asked Charity what had happened.
“Lady Norwich spoke to me,” Charity answered, keeping her head lowered so that the wind would not manage to spread its icy fingers around the back of her neck. “She spoke of Lord Hosmer. She asked why he would dance with me when only a few minutes earlier, she had been refused by him.”
Lady Hayward frowned but said nothing until they had entered the second milliner’s shop which, much to Charity’s relief, was quite empty save for the proprietor who greeted them warmly.
“And why would she do such a thing?” Lady Hayward asked, as Charity shook her head, the tension beginning to fade from her. “Why would she be upset about Lord Hosmer’s rejection of her, given all that has passed between them?”
“I do not know,” Charity replied, honestly. “But needless to say, I was rather taken aback by her sharp words. It was as though she blamed me for his choice in some way, as though I am the one responsible! There was a good deal of anger there and it was directed solely towards me.”
“That is very strange indeed,” Lady Hayward answered, looking at Charity carefully. “I do hope you are not at all upset by it.”
Charity closed her eyes for a moment and drew in a long breath.
“I confess that I was,” she admitted, as Lady Hayward’s eyes filled with concern. “She stated that she holds me solely responsible, although quite what I am responsible for, I could not say! I fear that there will be some sort of consequence brought to bear, given the depths of her ire.”
“Then you must speak of it to Lord Hosmer,” Lady Hayward replied, firmly. “You must tell him what has occurred and state the truth of your feelings. I am quite certain that he will have no knowledge of what Lady Norwich said and will be quite taken aback by it all. But I believe it to be imperative that he is aware of what she has said, given that it has been expressed so strongly.”
Charity nodded in agreement, the final wisps of strain and upset leaving her as she took in Lady Hayward’s practical words.
“I shall do so,” she agreed, as Lady Hayward smiled quietly. “Whenever I am next in his company, I shall make it my sole purpose.”
“That will be at the ball, I presume?” Lady Hayward asked, one eyebrow lifting as Charity nodded. “I wonder if he will ask you to dance again, Lady Charity.” Her smile grew. “Will you be glad to accept him?”
Hesitating in her response, Charity considered all that Lady Norwich had said.
“I will not permit Lady Norwich to dictate what I can or cannot do,” she replied, speaking with as much confidence as she could. “If he should ask me then yes, I will accept him. Although, I confess I wonder what Lady Norwich will think, should she see such a thing occurring again.”
“And what the ton might think also,” Lady Hayward added, as Charity flushed. “You must be careful now, Lady Charity. There is more to this matter than I think either of us are fully aware of.”
“So it would seem,” Charity agreed, softly. “I will be careful, Lady Hayward. Very careful indeed.”
“My Lady, you have a visitor.”
Charity looked up from her needlework in surprise, turning her head to glance out of the window and confirming to herself that yes, the snow was falling very heavily indeed. It had been doing so for most of the morning and now, given that it was the afternoon, she had not expected there to be any afternoon callers.
“Might I ask who?” she said, as the butler came forward with the gentleman’s card.
“Lord Hosmer, my Lady,” came the reply, as Charity picked up the card and saw his name printed there. “What shall I say to him?”
Charity considered for a moment. Lady Hayward had gone to her room to rest for a short time and, whilst Charity could very easily call a maid to come to join her, it would be best for her to have her chaperone present.
“Ask him to join me,” Charity replied, after a few moments. “And bring in one of the maids.” She held up one hand, preventing the butler from departing. “Make certain that one of the staff goes to Lady Hayward. If she is able to come and join us, then that would be preferable. However, if she is asleep, then I should not like her woken.”
“Of course, my Lady.”
“Have a tea tray brought also,” Charity finished, as the butler nodded. “And quickly if you please. Lord Hosmer will, I am sure, be very cold indeed.”
The butler nodded and departed, leaving Charity to sit quietly and wait for Lord Hosmer to join her. A flood of nervousness poured into her as she sat in silence, although whether it was in the knowledge that she would have to tell Lord Hosmer about Lady Norwich or simply because she would be in his company again? After what Lady Hayward had suggested about there being a greater intimacy between herself and Lord Hosmer than perhaps, at present, she was a little more aware of his presence and the emotions that were slowly beginning to be stirred up within her.
Trying her best not to consider such things, for fear that she would look flustered and embarrassed by the time Lord Hosmer arrived, Charity drew in long, steadying breaths, just as the maid came in and scurried to sit in the corner, whilst another brought in a tea tray in preparation for Lord Hosmer’s entrance. Charity rose to her feet as the door opened for what was now the third time, her eyes fixing to his almost at the moment he entered.
“Good afternoon, Lord Hosmer,” she said, dropping into a curtsey. “Lady Hayward is resting at present but I hope that she will join us soon.”
Lord Hosmer rose from his bow and smiled at her.
“I quite understand,” he said, as he made his way to the chair which she directed him to. “I am sorry for calling so unexpectedly, but I could not simply remain at home for the rest of the day. I have found a new enjoyment in being in London at the present season - a circumstance that I blame you for entirely, Lady Charity, although I am very grateful for it also.”
“I am glad to hear it, Lord Hosmer,” Charity replied, reaching to pour the tea. “I am sure you are a little cold, however. Might I offer you some tea?”
“Yes, thank you,” he answered, accepting the cup from her with a warm smile. “You have not ventured out, I suppose?”