by Ayles, Abby
She had to get Lord Ridgecleff to propose. She just had to.
In pursuit of that, she continued to ask him about his travels. It was, she had found, the surest way to gain a man’s interest. All you had to do was start him on a topic that interested him and then occasionally make encouraging remarks.
It was so different when she had been receiving men in her own home. They had all expected her to talk, and at great length. And about something other than what the neighbors were up to.
And then they had expected her to actually pay attention when they waxed on and on about some government measure or the war or the state of their forest.
At least, at a ball, she could have them talk about things that interested her. The Continent, and the parties that Lord Ridgecleff had attended, very much interested her.
And if he did start to talk about something boring, it was easy enough to pretend to listen.
Louisa seemed to not be listening at all to their conversation. She walked sedately, her arm in Natalie’s. But Natalie could sense that her sister’s thoughts were far away.
She wanted to tease Louisa about it. But of course she could not, for she would have to mention Louisa’s fiancé Mr. Fairchild. She could not do that around a relative stranger.
Even if he was a very handsome stranger who might propose.
“I shall have to take you to see Mountbank,” Lord Ridgecleff was saying.
Natalie gave him her most winning smile. She had quite a lot of those. “I should take great joy in seeing it, my lord.”
“My sister, I know, would be happy to have another friend of the feminine persuasion.” Lord Ridgecleff laughed. “She is quite alone among men, poor thing. There is my younger brother and my father, of course. But then the local families all have sons as well.”
“I should be happy to make her acquaintance if she is half so charming as the rest of her family,” Natalie replied.
Of course, seeing as she had not met the younger Lord Ridgecleff nor his father, there was truly only one person she was calling charming.
Louisa looked a little alarmed at so bold a flirtation, but Natalie was not here to be coy. That time had passed. She had to win Lord Ridgecleff over and she had to do it now.
“And here I was told it was your sister who was the wit of the family,” Lord Ridgecleff replied.
“My sister Elizabeth is skilled in wit when it comes to taking a man down. If you are looking to be built up, then I’m afraid you shall have to make do with me.”
Natalie eyed the dancers out on the floor. She ought to get Lord Ridgecleff to dance with her. She showed her skills best out on the dance floor.
It showed off her figure in such a fine manner. And her ability to converse well while dancing all the steps was—if she did say so herself—unparalleled.
It might be just the thing to clinch this. Lord Ridgecleff seemed just as eager to discuss more domestic matters as she did. Bridget might accuse Natalie of being selfish. Fine. Perhaps she was.
But Natalie wasn’t stupid. That she knew for a fact. No man was so open to being so boldly flirted with and monopolized by a young lady he barely knew unless he was in the same situation that Natalie was. He must need to marry quickly as well.
It probably had something to do with the estate. That was usually what finally got men to pay attention and actually settle down for marriage.
The particulars didn’t much matter to Natalie. What mattered was that if she played her cards right, she might end this evening engaged.
She subtly elbowed Louisa. When her sister looked at her, Natalie let her gaze cut over to the dance floor.
Luckily, Louisa was sharp. “My lord, have you had the pleasure of dancing yet this evening?” she asked. “It strikes me that we have been quite monopolizing you.
“Perhaps it might please you to dance with Miss Natalie, and thereby make yourself available to other ladies as well? It is only fair that if you are attending this ball that you enjoy it to its fullest.”
Natalie did not like the implications her sister was making, but she settled for glaring at Louisa when Lord Ridgecleff wasn’t looking.
“Certainly,” Lord Ridgecleff said. He offered his arm to Natalie and gave her a smile that made her spine melt. He really was terribly handsome, much more so than any of the other men who had been courting her.
“Shall we?” he asked, and Natalie nodded.
“I would be honored, sir.”
One dance, she told herself as they headed out onto the floor. She could do this.
Chapter 8
John could hardly believe his luck.
Miss Natalie was not perfect. She seemed a little too eager to hear about his time on the Continent, for one thing. She was quite bold in her flirtations for another.
Those flirtations, coupled with her good looks, told him why she was so popular. But those same things that drew a man in at a ball were the things that repelled him when he thought of a life partner.
Still, she listened attentively and seemed intelligent and witty. He could do far worse.
And the awful truth of it was, he had few other choices. Already he saw far too many women here that he had already deemed unsuitable. Or who had deemed him unsuitable.
It was a masquerade, but when one knows someone well, one can still tell who they are despite the facial coverings. By the style and color of their dresses, their bearing, and their figures, he could easily tell who was who out of the people he knew.
The few he did not know, in all honesty, he did not see himself being able to get to know. He would need a mutual party to introduce them. How could he even begin to do that?
He could get Lord or Lady Morrison to do it, but it was unfair of him. It was not their duty to introduce him to every eligible young lady as though they were paid matchmakers.
There was also the truth that none of the ladies looked as lovely as Miss Natalie.
If he was to suffer marrying someone he did not know then at least he thought she ought to be nice to look at. He never wanted to stop looking at Natalie. She was simply entrancing.
He only hoped that her personality drew him in just as much.
Not to mention…proposing marriage to a woman after meeting her that night. It was close to indecent. Most parents would balk and demand to know what made him so pressed for time.
A proper courtship required visiting the lady and her family multiple times. Each time, slowly, one progressed in intimacy. A morning call turned into a dinner invitation, for example.
Then, after some time, during which both parties got to know one another, the man would propose. What followed would be letters exchanged, walks taken, and so on. In short, more time to know one another while arrangements for marriage were made.
However, he did not have such a luxury. And Bridget Hartfield had made it known that time was of the essence for them as well. If anyone was going to get him out of this mess and save him, it would be one of the Hartfield women.
So really, what choice did he have? What did it matter if he was a little wary of her interests? If he had to, he supposed he could simply ignore her once they were married.
He had heard of other men who had done so. They had married out of duty or necessity. Or they had married for the initial passion and that had quickly faded. Whatever the case, they did a remarkably good job of pretending their wives did not exist.
John had never wanted to be that man. He had wanted to marry for love. Why else would he dally on the Continent, learning what he did and did not like in a woman? Why would he bother to get close to any woman when he knew their personalities were ultimately incompatible?
It hurt him to think that now he had no choice. Love was most likely lost to him. And he was not the kind of man who would dishonor his wife, himself, and a third party by taking up a mistress.
Other men could do that and had done it. He was not one of them. He would be faithful.
Still, although there was much he had to learn about Mi
ss Natalie, he was sure he had made a good choice. She was of good breeding and a beauty as well. Father would approve.
And it seemed that she was in fact lively and could make good conversation. What else could he want?
Love, of course, but he wasn’t going to get that so he had to make do.
They lined up to dance, Miss Natalie across from him. He had danced many a time with many a fine partner. The moment that Miss Natalie laid her eyes on him, however, he saw why she was such a sought-after dance partner.
She looked at him as though he was the only person in the room. Her gaze wasn’t too bold or anything untoward. Rather it was simply, completely, and wholly focused on him.
It was as though he were one part of a magnet and her eyes were the other. He had never had anyone look at him like that before: as though he existed and no one else.
To be looked at in such a fashion had to be addicting. It was so hard to keep the attentions of one’s partner whether it was in a dance or a conversation at the dinner table.
So often, people were distracted. Or they were more concerned about discussing themselves instead of listening to what you were saying.
Miss Natalie’s attention upon him, especially from such a beautiful young lady, was a huge boost to his ego.
Yes, he could well see why she had been so busy with dancing up until her sister had called her.
“Tell me, are dances so different on the Continent?” Miss Natalie asked him. “I have heard some say that they are ahead of us by a season in fashions including dance. Others maintain that they are doing it all wrong.”
“I’m certain you will find that those who say the latter are those who think only England ever produces anything good,” John replied.
They turned, circling around, meeting up in the middle again.
“I should not say that they are necessarily ahead of us in all things,” John observed. “Some things are the same. Other things are different. A few of those different things then make their way back here and become popular. But I have encountered many an English dance as well, and probably a year or two out of date by your standards.”
“I should very much like to travel there some day,” Miss Natalie said. Her voice was rapturous. “I would love for you to show me the places that you have told me about.”
That would not be for some time. He would have to worry about the running of the estate. And he very much doubted that Father would let him go off again for a couple of years. No, he would be too preoccupied with running things to take Miss Natalie up on her wish to go to the Continent.
But no matter, it was something to think on. Perhaps as a five-year anniversary sort of thing. Who knew?
“I confess I’m a rather predictable girl,” Miss Natalie went on. “I’m easily bewitched by a pair of ribbons. I should love to visit and see all the fashions the women there are wearing.”
It was easy to read the subtext in such a statement.
Miss Natalie liked a lively life. She liked to travel, or rather wanted to travel. She had made a few remarks regarding her quiet home town that had led him to realize she would need an active social life. She also clearly enjoyed clothes and fashion.
This wasn’t the sort of woman that he was looking for. But what choice did he have? If he’d thought there was a chance with Miss Bridget Hartfield he should take it, but he had seen in her eyes the impossibility of that.
Miss Regina, from what he had heard of her, was a lovely girl but also quite a child judging from how her elder sister thought of her and feared for her. He did not want a girl who was too young.
That left only Miss Natalie.
Perhaps this talk of balls and clothing was simply her idle dancing chitchat. Many men liked nothing more than a pretty bride that they could bribe with new clothes every so often.
It would make sense that a woman would put on a bit of a persona in order to catch a man. Men often went after beauty and a good family name and nothing more. Why spoil that by talking too much of books or acting too learned?
Perhaps this was what Miss Natalie was doing. He could hope, couldn’t he?
And she did look very fine, dancing like that. It showed off her figure wonderfully.
“You dance quite well,” he told her.
“I thank you,” Miss Natalie replied. “You dance wonderfully. I’ve had far too many partners who moved as though they had no joints at all and were made of wood.
“You seem to be intimately acquainted with the flow of the music. You must have gotten much practice in your travels.” She smiled at him, a charming thing, and John knew if nothing else he was attracted to her features.
“I had quite a lot of practice, actually,” he told her. “I was attending parties all the time. Too many, if I am being honest.”
“Too many!” Miss Natalie laughed. “I did not know that there was such a thing in this world as too many dances. You know, sometimes I think they are my chief pleasure in life.”
“They can be, when one is good at what goes on at them,” John acknowledged.
“And what goes on at dances that a lady must be good at?” Miss Natalie asked.
“Dancing, conversing in a crowded space, looking lovely despite having been on one’s feet all night, and getting one’s self introduced to strangers in order to find new dance partners,” John recited.
“Well, so far it seems I am four for four,” Miss Natalie said.
She was not the most modest of creatures, he thought. But then, she had a right to be a bit proud of herself.
“And how am I holding up?” John asked, allowing himself to tease her back. He had been quite good at flirting beforehand. He was too serious right now to really get into it but he could indulge himself a little with such a pretty girl.
Miss Natalie affected a thoughtful expression, twirling by him for the next step in the dance. “Quite well. You are listening, and you have not once said anything disparaging about my love of fashion. You have also avoided stepping on my toes even once.”
“I should hope that is not a common occurrence.”
“It is more common than you would think.”
“Then I am glad to know that I am making the cut. Is there anything else I should avoid while I’m at it? Besides stepping on your toes.”
“If you could avoid asking me about any previous suitors until at least the third dance, I should be most appreciative.”
“Men ask you about past suitors? Good Lord, and they say the Continent is wild.” John smiled at her, one that he knew was dashing.
Miss Natalie blushed in response to his smile and he found himself pleased. Perhaps, if this spark continued, they might work out after all.
“You would not believe how many men measure themselves against one another,” Miss Natalie said. “Some think that if some men have decided not to pursue you that it must be with good reason and they will leave off you as well.
“Others see it as a pleasure and a source of pride if you choose them where others have received the signs of rejection. It makes it all the better in their minds if they win you.”
“Well, I am not the kind of man who cares what other men think of a lady. And besides…”
The end of the dance brought them in close, giving John the opportunity to lower his voice. “If I am the last man to woo you, then what does it matter who came before? They did not get you. I did.”
Miss Natalie stared up at him, her blue eyes fairly burning. Yes, he could feel it—that electric spark of attraction. That feeling that comes when you are intrigued by someone and know that they are intrigued by you.
If only that could be fanned into a flame.
As the dance ended, John knew that his mind was made up. Or, rather, that the circumstances had made up his mind for him.
Miss Natalie had a good family name. She had a reason, although he did not know what, to marry quickly. She was beautiful beyond his imaginings. Surely, he could handle all the rest.
Now, there was only the mat
ter of asking the lady and then announcing the engagement.
The latter, he thought, could be more easily figured out.
They were both friends of Lord and Lady Morrison, so it was natural that they should meet at a ball hosted by them. John did not need to announce his engagement to all. Only his family and local neighbors needed to know.
And why should they also know that he had only just met the girl? He would coach Miss Natalie on pretending they had known one another for longer.
Perhaps he could even persuade her to go along with the idea that they had known one another before Father’s letter. Yes. Then the letter, he could claim, was simply the push he needed to ask her for her hand.
Father would be pleased with that.
Then by the time they announced their engagement to everyone else, it wouldn’t be seen as too hasty at all. And besides, even if they were a little short on time, who would say no when the heir of an earl asked for your hand in marriage?
Although he did still have to figure that part out.
The asking.
Chapter 9
Natalie could hardly believe it. This man was charming and everything she could have hoped for.
Now if only he would propose.
She had to find a way to introduce the idea to him. Where was Bridget when she needed her? Probably dealing with Regina.
Why could her sister never pay attention to anyone besides their youngest? Yes, Regina had been too young to remember Mother. Yes, she had needed more of a guiding hand.
But Natalie and the others needed Bridget as well. It wasn’t fair that Regina got all of her sister’s time and attention.
If Bridget were simply nearby, she could introduce the subject of marriage. Bridget had a way of doing these things that made people listen to her and want to do whatever she asked.
Besides, Natalie herself couldn’t ask. It would be the height of rudeness. To demand that a man ask for your hand in marriage? Absurd.
Fortunately, luck continued to be on her side tonight. After the dance ended, Lord Ridgecleff cleared his throat. “I wonder if I might be especially bold with you.”