What is it that is missing?
“Ah, Lady Esther.” He bowed to her, determined to be polite and kind. “How are you?”
“I am well, though I am hoping you could settle some gossip for me.”
“Gossip? What kind of gossip?” he asked. Lady Esther easily took his arm. It was a rather charming action as she led him away from the group she had just been talking to, so they could whisper together.
“I hear you intend to marry, is it true, Your Grace?”
“It seems you have been talking to my mother.”
“That I have,” she admitted with a laugh. “Though your uncle denies it.”
“My uncle? Is he here?” Timothy looked round, searching for his uncle, yet he couldn’t be seen. The rooms were so busy and filled with people, that it was rather difficult at times to discern anyone from the crowd.
“Is it true, Your Grace?” Lady Esther asked. Distracted by his search for his uncle, Timothy found himself answering rather offhandedly.
“It is true I am considering the idea.”
“Oh, I see,” Lady Esther smiled a little, then the smile vanished as she looked up to him again. “Are you considering marrying Lady Rebecca Felton?”
Chapter Seven
“Ibeg your pardon?” Timothy snapped his gaze back toward Lady Esther, certain he had heard her wrong. She seemed rather amused by his reaction.
“Oh good, it is not true then?” she asked. “Your shock is great indeed.”
“Lady Esther, there seems to be some confusion here.” He hurried to answer her and pull his arm free of hers. “What on earth would make you consider the idea that I am marrying Lady Rebecca?”
“We are old friends, Your Grace,” she said sweetly. “Your mother and I have known each other for years, you forget that I know you well by now. I do not remember seeing you spend so much time in another lady’s company.” She gestured her head across the room. Timothy followed the gesture, noticing she was pointing out Lady Rebecca.
Lady Rebecca was talking to friends. Her laugh made Timothy smile, longing to know what the jest was to make her smile in such a way.
“Have I misunderstood, Your Grace?” Lady Esther’s words called Timothy to look back to her, where he found himself animatedly shaking his head.
“Yes, greatly,” he said hurriedly. He liked Lady Rebecca, he already knew that, but it was a dangerous feeling. He did not do attachments, nothing more than lasted a night or two, and he certainly had a reputation for being a rake for a reason. “Lady Rebecca and I are friends. We have been much in each other’s company as of late as my friend is courting her sister. That is all.”
He found the latter words coming surprisingly firmly from his lips.
Yes, that is truly all. I do not do attachments, and I am certainly not attached to Lady Rebecca.
“Thank you for clearing up the misunderstanding,” Lady Esther said hurriedly. “I see I have upset you, perhaps I could make it up to you. Would you care for a dance?”
Timothy looked over his shoulder, feeling what deep inside of him he wanted to do. He wished to cross the assembly room and find Lady Rebecca once more, yet that realization shook him to his core.
I must stop this. Now.
He turned back to Lady Esther and offered a smile.
“I would be delighted,” he spoke rather eagerly and took her hand, drawing her toward the dance floor. As they took up their place for a cotillion, he did not miss the way Lady Esther smiled greatly, as if they were doing the very thing she had longed for all night, yet his eyes couldn’t last on her for long. The more they danced, the more his gaze lifted from her and searched across the room, trying to glimpse Lady Rebecca another time.
He found her at last. She was no longer talking to her friends but standing nearby, watching him. He smiled to her, wanting some kind of connection, yet she looked away, as if she had been burned by that smile.
Is she ashamed to have been caught looking at me?
* * *
“Timothy, I need your help. I am truly hopeless at this.” Alexander walked around the shop with a lost look on his face, urging Timothy to follow him and grab hold of his shoulders, prompting him to pause.
