Judith chuckled softly. “And how did you manage that?”
“Well,” Lord Leeds said, his tone light as he recounted the tale, “I was convinced there was a bird’s nest at the top, and I wanted to see if there were any eggs. Of course, I didn’t get very far before I lost my footing and tumbled down. The next few weekswere spent with my foot elevated, being pampered by my mother and sisters. They didn’t let me forget my folly for a long time, however. My sister took to calling me egghead because I had only eggs on my mind, according to her.”
Judith laughed, genuinely amused. “It seems boys are the same everywhere, always finding ways to worry their mothers. John broke his during a riding lesson.”
Lord Leeds laughed with her, and for a moment, she felt a warmth toward him. He was charming and kind, his demeanor pleasant and easy. But from the corner of her eye, she kept watching Aaron, who stood a little distance away, his expression unreadable.
As Lord Leeds continued talking, Judith found herself torn. The Earl was undoubtedly a good man, and any woman would be fortunate to have his attention. Yet, her heart kept yearning for Aaron, the man who had been there for her in her moments of need, the man who made her feel a flutter of emotions she couldn’t quite understand or control.
She tried to focus on Lord Leeds, to give him the attention he deserved, but a part of her couldn’t help but wish that it was Aaron standing before her, speaking with her, making her laugh.
She sighed inwardly, knowing that she was in a complicated position, caught between duty and desire, between what was expected of her and what her heart longed for.
As the music swelled, Lord Leeds extended his hand to her. “Would you do me the honor of this dance, Lady Judith?”
She nodded, grateful it wasn’t the waltz. “Of course, My Lord.”
She took his hand, and they lined up with the other dancers. When it came time to step onto the dance floor, he easily took her hands, and they moved gracefully across the dance floor, joining the others in a lively quadrille.
“You are a divine dancer,” he remarked.
“I thank you. Aaron—His Grace helped me, for I had been quite rusty, given my father’s passing.”
“Ah, I had heard. My condolences for your loss,” Lord Leeds offered. His face reflected his words, showing her they were not empty as such words often were. “One can never know when life will come to a sudden end. My father’s passing made me realize that. I hadn’t planned on being Earl so soon.”
“Is that why you are looking to start a family soon?” Judith asked, knowing it was blunt, but they both knew why they had been introduced.
Lord Leeds’ light conversation floated over the music. “Indeed, I decided it was time. I recently purchased a new house in Mayfair. It’s a beautiful property, and I hope to start a family there soon.”
Judith smiled politely, trying to engage. “That sounds lovely. Mayfair is such a charming place. May I ask where exactly the house is?”
Lord Leeds described the house and its location in detail, but Judith found her thoughts wandering. She knew she should be more interested, should be more engaged, but her mind kept drifting back to Aaron. She longed to be with him, to hear his voice, to feel the comfort of his presence.
“Lady Judith, are you quite alright?” Lord Leeds’ concerned voice broke through her reverie. “You seem a bit quiet, perhaps even sad.”
She sighed softly. “No, it’s just… lingering upset over the incident at my brother John’s school.”
He tilted his head to the side. “Pray, what happened?”
She sighed deeply with frustration. “When we tried to remove him from school, the headmaster refused us on account of our gender. Women cannot remove a child from school without a man’s presence, even if they are his family. Aaron—His Grace had to step in.”
Lord Leeds frowned, clearly displeased. “That’s outrageous. Women should be treated far better than they are. I might be considered a bit too forward-thinking for my time, but I believe women should even have equal rights. Aaron feels the same way, you know. I wish there were more of us.”
Judith’s heart swelled at this revelation. “Does he? I’m pleased to hear it.”
At that moment, the music signaled a partner change, and Judith found herself face-to-face with Lord Pembroke. His enthusiasm was immediate and overwhelming.
“Lady Judith!” he exclaimed, his eyes sweeping over her in a way that made her uncomfortable. “You look absolutely stunning this evening. I missed you at Almack’s.”
Not wanting to repeat the ordeal they had undergone with John, she simply smiled at him.
“Thank you, Lord Pembroke,” she replied politely, though she found his gaze unsettling.
“I had hoped to see you. I have had much good fortune recently and found myself the winner of not one, not two, but three curricle races,” he said.
“Is that so?” she uttered.
There was little she disliked more than curricle races. A reckless undertaking that served no purpose but to bolster the ego of those partaking—she thought it a useless activity. Of course, she knew better than to say that. Instead, she did what Aaron had taught her to do—she encouraged her partner’s interests.
