Her heart fluttered a little as she cast a sidelong glance at his profile. He truly exuded a rakish aura but it was one that she could not help being attracted to.
Chapter 8
The morning after the Ridley ball, Claire changed into her riding habit once more, eager for a jaunt along Rotten Row with Moonbeam, the mare that Oliver had brought to London for her particular use. She allowed Mary, her lady’s maid, to arrange her hair for her, keeping the lush black locks from crowding into her face. Finally, a jaunty hat complimented the whole outfit.
She found His Grace and Lady Suzanna at the mews, both of them in tailored riding jackets as well. The duke was stroking the mane of his favorite stallion, Midnight, while his sister was getting ready to ride on Hera, her mare.
“Good morning!” she called out jovially, walking towards Moonbeam. The groom in charge of the mare assisted her to mount the mare.
Lady Suzanna raised an eyebrow at her as a knowing smile curved her lips. “My, someone is rather cheerful today.”
Oliver mounted Midnight with an effortless grace that left Claire amazed. His masterful control of his gigantic thoroughbred was always a feast for the eyes and she had always liked coming to watch him ride. It was as though he was one with his mount, sitting tall as Midnight ambled down the familiar paths.
“Please do not mind him,” his sister smiled apologetically. “He did not appear to be in the best mood even before you came.” She mounted her horse and together they both slowly started down toward Rotten Row. “There must be something wrong with business or some other thing. I have never seen him so disgruntled before.”
Claire mused on it for a second before she spoke quietly, “Could it be that His Grace is courting a lady?”
Lady Suzanna laughed. “You are rather smart for your years, dear heart, and you speak your mind with such refreshing candor. Now that I think of it, I have never seen Oliver so grouchy before and it does make sense if he is having problems with matters of the heart.” She paused and looked ahead, biting her lip. “I would think that the lady he marries will be quite fortunate. He and I are both set on marrying for love and whoever she is, I believe she will be cherished beyond measure.”
What a lovely thought.
Claire steered Moonbeam down the street beside Lady Suzanna, both ladies talking about the events of the night before at the Ridley ball. Of who had a torn gown and who danced with who.
“It has been rumored that Lord Throckmorton will be making an arrangement with Lord Richmond anytime soon,” Lady Suzanna informed her. “He dancedtwicewith Lady Caroline last night at the ball and if that was not making his intentions known, dear heart, then I do not know what is.”
* * *
It would seem that in the days after Queen Charlotte’s Ball, more and more matches were made by the day. Young lords called upon the young ladies they had particular interest in and many dressmakers had started to turn their attentions to crafting a trousseau for their favored clientele instead of making day dresses, evening gowns, and riding habits. In a few more weeks, they would be attending more weddings as their friends made matches.
Claire herself had several young men call on her over the weeks but there were none who caught her fancy the way Lord Draydon did. She had only met him last night but she felt something for him that she had never felt for her other suitors.
He was smart with a dry sense of humor and one was never quite sure if he was just being funny or if he was seriously mocking the other members of Polite Society. There were even times that he bordered on being rude but instead of being aghast, Claire found it intriguing to find someone so willing to speak his mind without mincing words.
I wonder if he would appreciate my rather unconventional hobbies.
She had not shared her passion for architectural design with anyone but the Duke and Lady Suzanna simply because she knew that the shallower members of thetonwould never understand and might even mock her for it.
But Lord Draydon was different. She had a feeling that he might even appreciate her rather unconventional tastes, if she dared to share them.
Maybe I can show him my sketches.Although, I do not think I can bear it if he does not find them to his liking.
“How humiliating,” she muttered to herself.
And how was it that the person you think of, the person you are talking of, always somehow manages to show up right in front of you?
“Good day, Lady Suzanna, Lady Claire,” Lord Draydon greeted them as he steered his steed towards the both of them.
Claire noted that just like Oliver, he was quite adept at managing his mount, although his posture was a touch haughtier than that of the Duke. For that morning, he wore a tailored hunter green jacket that clung to his wide shoulders, emphasizing his male physique.
“Good day, Lord Draydon,” both ladies greeted him.
“I was just out for a short jaunt before breakfast. I never imagined I would come upon two of the most beautiful ladies in London this morning,” he smirked.
Lady Suzanna merely laughed lightly as Claire struggled with the warmth in her cheeks. How she wished she had Lady Suzanna’s grace and finesse when it came to handling compliments, whether sincere or not.
“We were out for that very same purpose, My Lord,” Lady Suzanna said with a bright smile. “In fact, Claire and I are just about to head home after this round. Nothing quite like a breath of fresh air in the morning.”
He smiled and nodded a little. “Would you mind it terribly if I called on you?”
