by Finch, Fanny
“You have more guests coming in,” Leander pointed out, gesturing with his head as two gentlemen came through the parlor door.
“Ah, Baron Wake’s sons. They are always good for a laugh. I believe Mother and Father will start the music soon. I will mingle a bit more and come back before the first dance. I will have my dance card filled by then, I am sure.”
“I am sure you will,” Leander said. “I would be honored to take a spot on it, if you would like.”
Lady Eugenia smiled, handing him the card. “Why yes, that would be fine.”
“I will leave the first dance to the man of your choosing,” Leander said, taking the card and placing his name on the third dance slot. “I do intend for my first dance to be taken.”
He slid his eyes to Hestia and her body shook with sudden adrenaline. She smiled at him.
At that moment, the Viscount of Culross clapped his hands together, drawing attention to himself. He was standing in front of a quartet of musicians. He was facing the crowd.
“Thank you all for coming,” he said in a loud, booming voice. Hestia noticed when he spoke that way, his large belly bounced a little. She remembered his warm voice when he gave her advice and spent just a moment wishing her father was more like him.
“We are honoring our daughter’s first season and would like to invite you all to have a wonderful time, enjoy the dancing and the dinner. We do want you all happy and to go home with full bellies. Cheers.”
The resounding sound of clinking glass filled the room as everyone lifted their hands up in the air, responding with “Cheers” back to the Viscount of Culross.
The viscount turned to the musicians and gave a nod. They began to play the introduction, which would give the dancers time to pair off and meet on the dance floor.
Hestia immediately noticed the room filled with action, as the couples who had signed up for the first dance found each other. She watched the men approaching the seated women all around her, waiting anxiously for Leander to ask her for a dance. If it were proper, she would dance every dance with him.
But it was not possible. She was just grateful Miss Drusilla Sirey was nowhere in sight. She wanted as much time as she could have with Leander when he was not tense and anxious.
Leander seemed to take his time working up the nerve to ask her. She wondered why. She did not think she had hidden her feelings from him very well. If he was nervous to ask her for a dance, it signaled to her that he was experiencing the same feelings as she was.
He was a humble man, it was obvious, and wore his feelings on his sleeve. She liked that about him and vowed to tell him someday.
“Well, I must go find someone to open the dance with,” Lady Eugenia stood up, clutching her dance card in one hand.
“Lady Eugenia, you would do well to wait here for someone to approach you,” Hestia said.
“Do not worry, Hestia,” Lady Eugenia replied. “I will not leave you alone. If you find no one to open the dance with, I will sit it out with you.”
When Lady Eugenia said, “no one to open the dance with,” she opened her eyes wide and stared at Leander, as if to say, “Ask her, you fool!”
Leander looked up at Lady Eugenia and a bright smile covered his face. He turned to Hestia.
“Lady Hestia, would you care to open the dance with me?”
Hestia felt a surge of adrenaline. She swallowed hard and handed the card to him without hesitation. He took it and signed his name at the top. He handed it back, saying, “It is official. Shall we join the others?”
“Yes, that is a wonderful idea.”
Leander looked at Lady Eugenia. “We will wait until you have a partner for the dance, Lady Eugenia.”
“Oh you do not have to…”
Leander shook his head. “Nonsense. I can already see we will not have to wait long.”
He moved his eyes to look beyond her and she turned to see one of Baron Wake’s sons approaching them with a smile.
Chapter 22
Leander and Hestia walked behind the baron’s son and Lady Eugenia as they went down the hallway to the ballroom.
They lined up on the dance floor with the other participants. Leander was pleased to be looking at the lovely, uniquely beautiful face of Hestia, instead of the over-excited look Miss Drusilla always had. He thought twice about it and shook his head.
That look was not present when she looked at him. She did not strike him as being all too infatuated with him. When Hestia looked at him, he saw warmth, compassion, a genuine liking for him. Miss Drusilla looked at him as though he were her pet dog that sometimes got under her skin.
He drank in the warm look Hestia was giving him as they readied themselves for the dance.
As they spun around the floor, Leander was delighted each time they had the opportunity to brush their hands against the other’s, sending warm smiles back and forth.
Leander noticed how graceful Hestia was. She had learned to dance from a good teacher. He could tell by the swaying of her body that she had a natural talent as well as a good teacher.
These were two things missing from Miss Drusilla and her style of dancing. She went through each step as if she had been taking lessons for a week and could not quite grasp the concept of gracefulness.
Leander did not mean to be cruel and was glad that no one but himself could hear his thoughts. He never wanted to make another person feel bad about themselves. But he did not want to sacrifice his own happiness for that purpose either.
When Leander passed Lady Eugenia, he made sure to give her a sly grin, hoping she understood how thankful he was she had requested the party from her parents. From her returning smile, he thought she perhaps did understand.
Leander’s thoughts whirled through his mind at the same rate as he danced with Hestia. He lifted her hand high in the air and passed by her, turning back, still holding her hand.
The light touch sent a tingle down his arm. He was fully aware of their hands being together, no matter how softly.
“You are a wonderful dancer, Lord Price,” Hestia complimented him in a quiet voice. “I enjoy dancing with you.”
“I find you to be the same, Lady Hestia. Perhaps we were meant to dance together. Natural partners, you might say.”
“I might say that,” Hestia nodded. “Yes, Lord Price.”
Leander could not help noticing the vast difference between Miss Drusilla and Hestia’s movements. Miss Drusilla showed her lack of breeding when she danced. It was obvious she was going through the steps as she had learned them.
Hestia was not like that. She moved with the music and seemed to glide across the floor. Leander’s heart would not stop thumping as they moved together.
In the years he had been attending the parties and balls, he had not danced with anyone as graceful as Hestia.
He told himself it was all in his mind, that Hestia was probably a mediocre dancer and his attraction made her more elegant to him.
But the more he danced with her, the more he wanted the tune to last for an hour. He would sacrifice sore feet to stay near her. She exuded a quiet beauty and etiquette that he highly admired.
Through the course of the season so far, he had been tutoring Miss Drusilla in manners, though she rarely listened to him. Her jerky movements while dancing and brash laughter when it was inappropriate lingered in his mind as he danced with Hestia.
He wished he did not have to think of Miss Drusilla so often. He had become so used to her, he had begun to think he would never escape it. He had resigned himself to his fate.
That was before he saw Hestia.
If only Hestia’s family was not in need of financial help. That was a factor his father would find unforgivable. His mother knew of the Stalwood family. He wondered if his father did, as well. He hoped his mother had not revealed who it was Leander was interested in. He wanted to explain it to his father on his own.
It would take him forever to find a way to explain. In the meantime, he planned to enjoy as much time w
ith Hestia as he could. The party was not quite yet in full swing, it being the first dance. He was looking forward to an entire evening of entertainment, free of the constraints he felt when Miss Drusilla was near.
“I am anxious for dinner to be served,” he mentioned in a low voice as they danced close to each other. She smiled at him.
“As am I. The Callows have a wonderful cook. I believe you will be very happy with the food.”
“I have not been eating well. I plan to change that tonight.” He was not going to admit to her that he had been eating light due to a lack of appetite. He had seen such a dismal future for himself for so long, he did not feel like eating.
His appetite had returned with full force when he realized Miss Drusilla would most likely not show this time. He was hungrier than he had been in weeks.
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 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 introduc
e 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 beauty 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.”