Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. “I was just telling my daughter that it is a pity the Countess is not married, for she shall soon fritter away her fortune if she holds lavish events like this with no husband to fund it.”
“The Countess is adept in the art of business, Lady Druidstone,” Nathaniel told her. “Why, I do believe the Crown has funded most of this to improve public opinion.”
“I told you!” Leah cried, evidently thrilled.
Sarah winced. “Forgive my daughter, Your Grace. She is not usually so loud.”
“I do not mind her loudness,” Nathaniel replied, offering his arm to Leah. “I relish it, in truth, for when we first met, she was much too quiet. I knew there was a livelier spirit within her, and I am grateful to have been granted an audience with that side of her.”
Sarah seemed utterly bemused. “Is there a dance floor somewhere? I think you should dance. My daughter is such an elegant dancer, and it would cheer my heart to see it once more.”
“Mama,” Leah hissed under her breath, clearly embarrassed by her mother’s interjections, but Nathaniel found them endearing, just as he found the pink of Leah’s cheeks completely breathtaking. In the weeks he had known her, he had never seen her look more beautiful—her eyes shining, her demeanor excited, her entire being so full of life and vitality that he would have danced all night with her if society would not have scorned her for it. And if it would not have muddied the waters of their arrangement.
“It would be a pity to waste that gown, for it makes you look angelic,” Nathaniel said, reminding himself that he was only complimenting her as an increasingly dear friend. “I believe there is a dance floor beside the Long Water. Might I dance the next set or two with you if your card is not already overflowing?”
Leah smiled, and opened her mouth to reply, but Sarah jumped in first, “She has no names upon her card, Your Grace. It would be improper if she did, considering the two of you are courting. Certainly, she will dance the next two sets with you.”
“Which I would have said if you had allowed me to speak,” Leah muttered, sighing.
“And thank you ever-so kindly for your generous gift,” Sarah continued to Leah’s obvious dismay. “Itdoesbecome her well, does it not? I am only sorry about that awful business with the brooch. Nevertheless, she looks beautiful. You have excellent taste, Your Grace.”
Leah rolled her eyes. “Which I also would have said. Mama, whatisthe matter with you this evening?”
“Nothing,” Sarah protested. “I just want to ensure that… that you have a lovely evening, and everyone remembers their manners.”
You want to ensure that I do not lose interest as Jonathan did,Nathaniel guessed, pitying the poor woman, for it appeared that Sarah knew the truth of that failed wedding day in a way that Leah’s father did not. Though Nathaniel himself did not know all of the details, he had pieced enough together to understand who was at fault, and it was not the exquisite young lady standing beside him, holding onto his arm.
“Shall we?” Nathaniel asked, tilting his head toward the dance floor in the distance.
Leah smiled up at him. “We shall.”
A short while later, they stood opposite one another on the dance floor that had been created for the event with a large complement of fellow couples. Nathaniel could feel the stares coming from every direction, but Leah gazed only at him, her attention fixed as if he were the only person there. He could not have looked away even if he had wanted to. There was an angel in front of him, and it was unwise to turn away in the face of something heavenly.
A full orchestra struck up a lively tune as the lead dancers called for a country dance. Other guests had come to watch, joyful faces flashing by as Nathaniel turned in a circle while Leah did the same, echoing one another. But it was the part where they stepped closer to each other, pressing palm upon palm, that he was looking forward to.
“Do you truly like the gown, or are you being polite?” he asked, his hand finding hers, joining them as they turned a circle together.
She chuckled. “I adore it, I really do, but there was no reason for you to buy me such a lavish gift, nor for you to go to the trouble of giving me that brooch, however temporarily.” Her eyes met his shyly. “After all, this is just a ruse.”
How could seven small words feel like a punch to the gut? Or, rather, like seven fearsome blows from his stomach to his chest, the bruise of each one pulsing in his veins, making him sore. Yet, what right did he have to feel pained by what was, in essence, the truth? He could not understand it. She had said nothing untoward, she had said nothing false, so why on Earth did he feel… disappointed? Clearly, it was the effort of maintaining their ruse, addling his mind temporarily. That was the only reason he was willing to consider.
“Can a dear friend not give another dear friend a gift?” he replied, his tone colder than he had intended.
Leah flinched, the gleam in her eyes dimming for a moment. “Of course. I merely meant to not expect me to return the favor. I have barely enough pin money to buy a new ribbon, much less one of your gaudy tailcoats.”
“Gaudy?” He snorted. “What would you have me wear instead? Something drab and dreary?”
She looked away from him. “That is not what I meant, either.”
“It moves perfectly when you dance,” Nathaniel said, eager to see her smile again. He had allowed some pettiness to slip from his lips and needed to claw it back, for he had not meant to be curt with her, either.
I will not be him,he told himself, feeling dark sparks of his father’s shadow. It was like the beginning of a fever where something felt wrong within him, but no further symptoms had revealed themselves yet.
Leah mustered a smile, but her vigor had diminished. “I am terrified of tripping by accident. The seamstress could not raise the hem in time.”
“Then, of course, you would be at risk of flashing an ankle,” he teased, cursing himself for responding so churlishly when his tailcoatsweregaudy at times.
She chuckled. “Goodness, I would be cast out of society altogether.” She paused. “Did you see the mermaids on the pond? Would it be possible for us to take one of the boats to see them more closely?”
