by Finch, Fanny
“Yes, Father,” Henry said, crooking his elbow to Lady Eugenia. “Allow me to escort you to the game table, Lady Eugenia. My friends are beginning a game of Loo. Do you know how to play?”
Lady Eugenia grinned. “I do. How lovely. Thank you.”
“Lady Eugenia, I believe I will mingle for a few minutes.”
Lady Eugenia nodded at Hestia. Hestia saw the sparkle in her friend’s eyes. She knew what Hestia was up to. She was glad she was allowed the freedom to explore on her own. She was determined to find a man that would be compatible for her beautiful friend.
There were several groups of people in the large parlor but Hestia wanted to explore further than that. There were people outside of the room, too, looking around the land and admiring it. Surely, there were eligible men she had not met yet.
If she could find one to introduce to Lady Eugenia, it would make her job worthwhile. It would mean that she had proven herself loyal to her friend. Lady Eugenia expected no less from her and she would be given all the respect she deserved. In Hestia’s mind, her friend deserved the best caliber of man, the most loving and kind, one that would care for Lady Eugenia until her final days.
A handsome one was also preferred.
She looked for a servant to ask where she might find refreshments and spotted one standing by a door near the veranda. She did not need to say anything. As soon as she approached, the servant held out one hand to the long table he was standing next to.
“May I make you a plate of fruit, my lady? Would you like a cup of tea?”
Hestia nodded. “Yes. Also, I am here with Lady Eugenia Callow. She is seated there, at the table with the baron’s sons. Please take her a plate and some tea, as well. She is thirsty.”
“I will do that for you right now.”
Without another word, the young man moved around the front of the table and made two large plates of fruits with a tasty dip spooned on top. Hestia’s mouth was watering looking at the fresh fruit. She had not realized how hungry she was until she saw the spread on the table.
The young man worked quickly. He set one plate in front of Hestia, poured her a cup of tea, poured another for Lady Eugenia and turned to pick up the second plate. Without speaking, he nodded at her. She nodded back.
He moved away from her, hurrying to the table where Lady Eugenia was currently laughing about something one of the baron’s sons had said. Her joy made Hestia smile, too.
Hestia moved around the room, wanting to give it one more chance before she went outside. She would be remiss if she did not even try to explore the large parlor room. One wall was lined with books, which she found herself drawn to.
She scanned the many titles, admiring the tall shelf and the collection it held. She spotted several she wanted to pull down but realized she was being distracted from what she was intending to do.
She was not here to read. Perhaps in her downtime, when she was attempting to relax by herself. But now was not the time for that. She was to find new introductions for Lady Eugenia and nothing else.
She backed away from the books, still staring at the titles, wondering if it would be improper for her to take one down for later.
She had set her plate down next to the bookshelves on a small table. When she realized she was leaving it behind, she moved forward again and picked it up.
She turned around and almost dumped the entire plate and all of her tea on a young man sitting in a lounge chair. The man abruptly stood up and looked down at himself.
Hestia flushed with embarrassment. “Oh, I am so sorry, my lord. I should have been paying attention to where I was going. Did you get any on your clothes?”
The man shook his head, scanning the front of his tunic and britches. “I appear to be perfectly safe from harm and mess, my lady. Do not apologize. This wall of books has been fascinating me since I arrived.”
“Again, allow me to apologize.”
The man smiled. “I am surprised I have not been introduced to you, my lady. I wish to find your companion and give them a thorough tongue-lashing for not giving me an opportunity to speak with you before you are snatched away by some other eligible young bachelor.”
“Pardon me?” Hestia was taken by surprise. Her dress was not as fancy as those worn by most of the other women. It was obvious who were the companions in the room and who were the ladies.
However, Hestia was also a lady. Lady Eugenia had introduced her to the baron’s sons as a lady and a companion.
Chapter 6
“It is obvious your chaperone is not doing her job. I wish to be introduced to you properly. Please tell me where I might find her. You must not make introductions for yourself during your first season. It is not proper…”
Hestia stopped his words with a shake of her head. “My lord, I must explain myself. I am only attempting to take initiative for my friend, Lady Eugenia Callow, who is seated just there.”
She turned to look at the table where Lady Eugenia was seated. She held out her hand in Lady Eugenia’s direction so as not to point. “She is seated with the baron’s sons, who have interested her in a game of Loo. I am, in fact, the companion, who seeks a husband for my lady.”
She regretted that Leander’s face turned as red as hers probably was. She could feel the heat on her cheeks. A feeling of excitement passed through her that such a handsome lord had shown attention to her and thought of her as an eligible bachelorette.
She did not want Leander to be embarrassed. She was just as interested in finding a husband for herself but it was not the time or place for her own future goals. Tonight, and as long as Lady Eugenia was a bachelorette, she would take second place.
It was a shame, she thought, because this man was very handsome and had an attractive personality. She could tell by the gentle nature of his voice and his expressed love of books that he was intelligent and kind.
“By all means, tell me your name, then,” he said, bowing to her.
“I am Hestia Stalwood. I am companion to Lady Eugenia Callow, who is the daughter of the Viscount of Culross. Would you like to be introduced to her?”
“I would like that, yes. But it does appear her attention is taken at this time. Perhaps we can walk slowly?”
Hestia tried not to grin. The man was very attractive. It was not just his outward appearance. He was tall and very handsome. It seemed to her he exuded a positive energy that flowed over her like the tide when the moon was full.
She smiled at him, wishing she had met this man the season before, when she had presented herself as a lady. “I need to know who I am introducing to her.”
The man laughed. “It is my turn to apologize, Miss Hestia. I am Lord Leander Price, son of the Earl and Countess of Coventry. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Hestia curtsied to him and he bowed once more.
“Now that we are formally introduced, we must have a conversation.” His smile was radiant, filling her with a nervous anxiety.
Hestia drew her eyebrows together, giving him a quizzical look. “Oh? Are these rules that I was unaware of for society?”
Leander chuckled. “I believe in bending the rules and making life what I can make of it. You seem like a pleasant young lady. I am always interested in hearing that others are interested in reading. You looked as fascinated by the bookshelf as I. Baron Wake has some very interesting titles.”
“He does. I noticed that, as well.”
They began to walk across the room to where Lady Eugenia sat with the baron’s sons. Hestia noticed he was taking his time, stepping forward hesitantly, as if he wanted to just stand and talk to her. It made her feel special. It gave her the feelings she had felt the season before.
“He inherited this land from his father, you know.”
“Did you know the elder baron?” she asked, matching his slow pace, looking around at the people around her. The room had filled up in the brief time she had not been paying attention. She knew many of them by name, having met them the season before.
She smiled when she saw someone she recognized. Most of them knew she had taken employment as a companion. She did not let herself wonder if lowering herself to such a status made her less significant to them.
The looks she was getting did not seem to indicate that. It relieved her in a way.
“I did,” Leander responded. “He was a good man. His son is equally as good. I did not know him well but I had the pleasure of having several conversations with him before he passed.”
“It must have been heartbreaking for the baron and his sons.”
Leander nodded. “Yes, they were very close. It was rare that any of them spoke without mentioning another.”
“It must be nice to be in a family that loves each other so much.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. She had inadvertently implied that her family was not loving in that way. It was only half-true.
She loved her family and knew they loved her. But the devastating financial ruin they were experiencing caused a great deal of arguing among them and the love seemed to dissipate in the fights.
She knew her cheeks were red again. She could feel the heat. It was a dead giveaway to her thoughts, which only made her embarrassment deepen.
Leander did not respond to the comment. He seemed not to hear it.
“You have chosen well, I must say, to be a companion to Lady Eugenia. I have heard many good things about her.”
Hestia looked up at him. “Have you?”
“She has come up in conversation, yes.”
“With whom?” Hestia did not want to appear too bold. It was her job to protect and care for Lady Eugenia. If she was being talked about, Hestia wanted to know what was being said.
She cared greatly for her friend.
Leander stopped walking and looked down at her. “There are many young bachelors looking for wives this season, would you not say? Lady Eugenia is only spoken of as genteel, polite, and I quote ‘sweet’ in nature.”
“You will get along well with her, my lord,” Hestia said, feeling a bit downtrodden by her own statement. She longed to make a match with a man like Leander. Unfortunately, she had resigned herself to independence, such as it was for a woman.
“From what I have heard, she gets along with everyone.”
“I did not know people of the ton were discussing my lady.”
Hestia was not sure how to feel about the news. It made her heart quicken to think Lady Eugenia could easily be married by the end of the season. She glanced at Leander and caught him looking at her. He had a pleasant smile on his face, gazing at her with his clear blue eyes.
She was immediately taken in and could not take her eyes from him for a moment. The length of time she spent gazing at him once again embarrassed her and she looked away quickly. In the corner of her eye, she noticed his grin widen.
“I am embarrassing myself in front of you, my lord, and for that I am sorry. I cannot seem to speak the right words to keep from doing so.”
“How are you embarrassing yourself, Miss Hestia? You have said nothing untoward.”
Hestia’s heart thumped in her chest, nervously. She had never felt this way around a man before. Normally, she easily kept herself in check. Something about him made her want to throw her arms around him in wild abandon.
She resisted the urge to wrap her arms around herself.
“I am glad you feel that way, my lord. I… I do not know what I was thinking questioning you about Lady Eugenia.”
Leander shook his head. “Please do not feel that way. You are the perfect representation of class. I know of other ladies who have much less style than you. I would be remiss if I did not hold a conversation with someone as lovely and intelligent as you.”
Hestia was amazed that the man was continuing a conversation with her when it was obvious she was not there for herself but as a companion.
“I thank you for the compliments. I am not sure I deserve them,” she replied humbly, glancing up at his handsome profile. When he looked back at her, she felt a slight chill run through her body, a pleasant feeling she had never felt before.
She looked away quickly, hoping he did not see her attraction on her face. If she continued looking at him, she knew he would see it. She did not want to take anything from her good friend and Lord Price seemed to be the perfect type of gentleman for a good woman.
Leander stopped walking for a moment, seemingly interested in something on the other side of the room. But instead of bringing up whatever he was supposedly looking at, he said in a low voice, “You seem such a brilliant woman. I would not have taken you for a companion.”
“It is my lot in life, I am afraid,” she responded coolly. It was the first time since she had come to work as a companion that she felt ashamed of herself. She did not want to be ashamed but could not help herself.
“Lord Price!”
They both turned to see Baron Wake approaching them, his smile wide, his hands held out to Leander. “What a pleasure to see you! I was hoping you would come.”
Leander smiled wide. Hestia took a step back and dropped her head slightly.
“Of course I have come, Lord Wake. I would not miss out on such a grand party.”
Baron Wake glanced at Hestia. She could feel his eyes on her and looked up out of respect. “Lord Wake,” she said, curtsying to him.
“Lady Stalwood. I assume you are preparing to introduce Lord Price to Lady Callow?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“That is good.” Baron Wake looked back at Leander. “You will find Lady Callow to be quite a dashing and charming young woman. I fear you will have the competition of my sons, however.” He smiled wide, glancing at the table where the baron’s sons, Lady Eugenia, and the other players were seated. They were laughing and slapping down cards with great gusto.
Leander and Hestia both looked at the game players. “You may be right, my lord. I will give it my best.”
Baron Wake smiled at him again. “I will take my leave so you can try.”
Both men laughed. Hestia smiled but could not bring herself to laugh. She did not want Leander to try. It was to her shame that she wished to have him for herself.
Leander and the baron exchanged a few more words before the baron moved off to speak to some of his other guests. Leander did not move and Hestia would not take a step until he did.
He turned to her slowly and she was forced to lift her eyes to his.
“Lady Hestia?” His face was questioning, his eyebrows lifted. “You are also a lady by birth?”
Hestia clenched her teeth together and nodded. “I am, my lord.”
“Who is your father?”
“I am the daughter of the Earl of Nottingham.”
Leander did not respond for a moment. He seemed to be thinking it over. Without another word, he turned and began walking toward the game players. Hestia wanted to cry.
She held herself in check and walked just slightly behind him. He had placed his hands behind his stiffened back. Just before they reached the table, he turned back to her.
Chapter 7
“My lady, is there a reason you are not in your proper station?”
Leander was confused. He admired Hestia’s fortitude and thought her to be a beautiful woman. But she had not introduced herself to him as a lady. He had instinctively treated her as one simply because she was an interesting character.
He had walked across the room, possibly damaging his reputation with the ton, and Hestia’s, because he was starving for conversation with someone new and stimulating. He knew at any moment, he would hear the dull tones of Miss Drusilla’s voice in his ear.
He was embarrassed by his actions. If he had not been so distraught by his father’s insistence that he marry a woman he did not love, he might not have taken such leave. But Hestia was fascinating to him.
“Yes, my lord. There are reasons.” Hestia said no more, unwilling to give herself away any more than she already had.
When she
did not say another word, Leander closed his mouth and turned back around. When he first saw her, he would have sworn she was a new lady attending her first season in society. Now, he was convinced she had played with him, fooled him.
On the other hand, she had told him of her station and he had continued talking to her, under the guise of going to be introduced to Lady Eugenia.
Hestia was a strong woman, he could see that by her grace and elegance as she walked beside him, just a step behind. He was told of her station and it was of his own accord that he had put both their reputations in jeopardy.
How would he recover from this shame?
“Was there someone in particular you were looking for when we collided, Lady Hestia?” he asked.
“No, my lord, no one in particular. It is my duty as a companion to Lady Eugenia. I did not mean to collide with you. It was quite by accident.”
He knew she could not see his face so he allowed himself a smile. He considered it a happy accident. If he was to spend time with Lady Eugenia, he would have the pleasure of speaking more with Hestia. If he could not make her his wife, he would at least make her his friend.
They reached the table and Lady Eugenia looked up at them both with a smile on her face.
“My dear Hestia!” she exclaimed, pushing her chair back and leaning to give Hestia a kiss on the cheek. “You have missed a good time! I have not won many wagers but I am having a grand time!”
“I am happy to hear that, Lady Eugenia.” As soon as Hestia felt the positive energy from Lady Eugenia, she forgot her uncomfortable feeling and smiled back at her friend.
Lady Eugenia turned back to the table, scooping up her winnings and holding them out to Hestia. “Please put these in your handbag, Hestia. We will count it later. I am afraid it is not much but we will be able to purchase a new dress or two, and that is just fine.”
Hestia grinned. “Yes, my lady.” She held out her bag and Lady Eugenia dumped the money into it. She clasped it back together and held it down in front of her with both hands. “Lady Eugenia Callow, may I introduce Lord Price, son of the Earl and Countess of Coventry. Lord Leander, Lady Eugenia Callow, daughter of the Viscount of Culross.”