by Abby Ayles
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 Miss 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 matter 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.”
“That depends on how you intend to direct that boldness,” Natalie replied.
“I am hoping that I could persuade you to come into the side parlor with me,” he said. “I know where it is, although it has been some years since I have visited the house.”
Here it was, Natalie thought. Could it be that he was going to ask her of his own accord without any prompting?
It made her wonder what was going on in his life that he would be leaping through the steps of courtship so quickly. She knew why she was, of course, but what compelled him?
His estate wasn’t also held by Lord Pettifer, was it?
Oh, that would be the cruelest jest the universe could bestow upon her. Yet, she did not think so. It must be for some other reason then.
Louisa was standing to the side and watching them, her hands clasped nicely in front of her.
“If you will tell my sister where we are going so that she is aware, then certainly,” Natalie said.
She did not think that anything improper was going to happen. But better to be safe than to be sorry later. Mother had been fond of saying that. Bridget had taken it up after Mother’s death.
Oh, Mother. If only you were here now. There would be no need for any of this nonsense if only you were still around.
Father wouldn’t have turned to gambling. He wouldn’t have lost to Lord Pettifer. And none of them would be in this mess.
But really, what was the use in being upset over something as silly as a bout of pneumonia? What had happened, happened.
She had to focus on the now, which was the possibility of being proposed to by the son of an earl.
Lord Ridgecleff returned, with Louisa by his side.
“Very well,” Louisa said. Her voice was soft, as always. “I shall be just outside the door for if I am needed.”
The three of them moved off to the side, to where there was a door. There were many doors leading off from the large ballroom where the dancing was being held.
Natalie was not well enough acquainted with Lord and Lady Morrison’s estate to know which door led to which room. Many rooms were full and contained people sitting and chatting. Others still had food in them for people to nibble. A couple had pianofortes where people might play.
Lord Ridgecleff clearly knew the house more intimately than Natalie did. He led them straight to the door of his choosing and opened it to reveal an empty study.
“Lord Morrison has had me in here while we were writing correspondence, when I visited,” Lord Ridgecleff explained. He held the door open for her. “After you.”
Natalie entered and Louisa took up her post just outside the door.
It was commonly accepted that a proposal of marriage be done in private. Almost all things regarding romance were to be done in a private manner.
Natalie had often found this ironic, seeing as the courtship itself had to be public so that nothing untoward could happen between the two lovebirds before marriage.
Nevertheless, proposals were in general private. This was also because the lady had the right to refuse the proposal. No man had the right to demand that she justify her reasoning. If she wished to give a reason, she could. But she did not have to.
To be rejected in front of others could be a mortifying thing for any person. This was doubled, nay, tripled when it came to asking for the hand of a person in marriage. All of one’s hopes of happiness rode upon such a question.
Lord Ridgecleff closed the door behind Natalie and faced her. They were still some distance apart, as was proper. His face, for the first time since she had met him an hour or two ago, was no longer charming. He looked deathly serious.
Fortunately, it made him look even more handsome. Natalie was quite happy with her decision to say yes should he be proposing right now as she suspected.
Not that she had much choice in the matter but a girl could pretend, could she not?
“Miss Natalie,” Lord Ridgecleff said, “I know that this must seem extremely forward of me. We have known each other for barely an hour’s time. Yet I am about to ask you a most serious question.
“I feel it is only fair that you understand the situation at hand. Not to make too fine a point of it, but I am bound to arrive home in just a short while with a woman to whom I am either engaged or married. If I do not, my father shall cut me off from my inheritance.
“He has not gone so far as to threaten to disown me. That is a small kindness. But he will strip me of any annual income and my right to the title upon his death and bestow it all upon my younger brother.
“My brother, Edward, I know does not wish for this. He has always
expressed a desire to travel as I have. I believe his heart lies in artistry and sketching, although I am not entirely certain.
“I personally do not wish to be cut off from my family home or my inheritance either. And so you find me here, being rather untoward and making bold assumptions to a lady I have just met.
“Your sister informed me that you are all also in dire need of marriage. I thought that perhaps we could come to an agreement and… not to sound dramatic, but, save one another.”
He looked remarkably earnest, his gray-green eyes boring into hers. Even had she not been in need of a husband herself, Natalie would have been tempted to say yes merely on the strength of his entreaty.
After all, when a rich, handsome man asks you to help him to save his fortune, how can a lady say no?
“You are right,” she said. “We are in dire need of marriage, all five of us. In proposing to me you would be doing me a kindness.
“If you were to propose, I would accept, and gladly. I would go to your father’s estate, as it seems you must, and would be happy to be on your arm and show your father that you have fulfilled his terms.”
Lord Ridgecleff relaxed a little. Tension went out of his shoulders and some of the lines around his eyes vanished.
“I am glad to have confirmation. I did hear from your sister—and I do trust her, I must say; she did not strike me as the kind of woman who would lie about something such as this.
“But I wanted to be certain. I did not want you to think me too forward or think that I did this often or without thought.”
“My lord, I’m sure you do many things, but none of them without thought,” Natalie replied with a smile.
“You would be surprised,” Lord Ridgecleff said. “But no longer. I must return to my father and prove to him that I am worthy of the title. Including having secured the future of the estate by marrying a woman with whom I can have heirs.”
Natalie nodded. “I understand.”
Lord Ridgecleff gave her a small, relieved smile. Natalie could feel relief bubbling up in her own chest. She wasn’t going to be the only one not engaged!