* * *
“How very pleasant tosee you again, Lady Elizabeth.”
The way his heart leaped presented Felix with something of a difficulty. Yes, he had made the young lady’s acquaintance with the intention of returning her brooch in some way, but he was now becoming rather fond of her, which was most inconsiderate of his heart. There was no thought in his mind of revealing the truth of his highwayman ways to anyone, especially not to a young lady, not even if her blue eyes were particularly delightful, or her smile sent his heart into a flutter. He had never expected himself to feel anything but general contentment after being in any young lady’s company, but when it came to Lady Elizabeth, Felix realized he was beginning to seek her out at various events, which was all the more concerning to him.
“How pleasant to see you also.”
The timbre of her voice expressed nothing but genuine delight, and when he asked for her dance card, she gave it willingly and with great speed, as though she had been hopeful of him doing so. Writing his initials for the quadrille, he paused for a moment, considering the second dance.
I want very much to take her waltz.
It would be the second time he had waltzed with her and would, no doubt, be noticed by some – including Lord Bramwell. Hesitating, he bit his lip. If he did not take her waltz, then another gentleman would do so. Glancing around him, he saw three other gentlemen standing near, each looking at Lady Elizabeth and, immediately, he wrote his initials for her waltz also. It seemed his heart did not want anyone else to waltz with her.
“I thank you.”
Handing back her dance card, he smiled when Lady Elizabeth’s eyebrows lifted a little.
“You have taken my waltz again. I see.” Lady Elizabeth tilted her head to one side, her eyelashes fluttering just a little. “That means that my previous waltz was not as poorly danced as I feared.”
“My dear lady!” Felix threw up his hands. “It was not poorly danced at all. You do not mean to say that you think I am a mediocre dancer, I hope?”
“No, indeed not!” Lady Elizabeth laughed and reached out to touch his hand for a moment. It was only a brief touch but the intensity it brought was quite extraordinary. “I found our dance most delightful. I was a little nervous, I confess, for I had not danced the waltz in some time.”
“Well, I would never have known.” It took him a moment longer than he had wanted to respond, finding his heart a little faster than before, his mouth suddenly dry. “Mayhap, Lady Elizabeth, we might do more than dance the waltz on occasion.”
Her eyes widened and instantly, Felix squeezed his closed.
“Forgive me, I did not mean to suggest…” Taking a breath, he attempted to find the composure he was always so used to, only for it to evade him. “Allow me to make myself plain.” With a small smile, he tipped his head to his right and then to his left, letting his eyes slide to either side as he did so. “I can see that our conversation must soon come to a close, for there are a good many gentlemen hovering around us, clearly eager to make your acquaintance or to steal your dance card for themselves.” The words were coming a little more easily now and Felix managed a smile, relieved when she returned it. “I confess that I am a little frustrated that our time together must be ended. Perhaps I might come to call upon you?” Lady Elizabeth opened her mouth, only for Felix to recall something. “Although, wait a moment,” he continued quickly before she had a chance to respond. “We might take a walk through the park instead, for I imagine a lady with your beauty and such a gentle character will, no doubt, have many gentlemen coming to call upon her. Therefore, I would once again be presented with the very same problem.”
Lady Elizabeth put one hand on his arm, and Felix stuttered to a stop, slowly becoming aware that he had spoken very quickly indeed and without pause. He did not often find himself overcome in such a way, did not often find himself stumbling through what he wished to express. Why was it then, that simply by looking at her, he found himself doing so?”
“Are you asking if you might walk with me in the park, Lord Winterbrook?”
He nodded, pressing his lips together for fear that he might say more, and that it would come out in a torrent as it had done before. The last thing Lady Elizabeth required from him was to be overwhelmed, even though he feared he had done so already.
“I see.” With a gentle smile that sent light into her features, she tilted her head. “Then I should be very glad to do so. What day do you propose we go together?”
He released a deep breath as his shoulders dropped, tension fading from him.
“Shall we say tomorrow?” Biting his lip, he frowned suddenly. “Or the day after that – or even the day that follows!” When she laughed, Felix paused, closed his eyes, and groaned. “Forgive me, Lady Elizabeth. Again, I am making something of a fool of myself.” Lifting his chin, he looked directly at her. “What I mean to say is, I should be glad to walk with you in the park at any time when you are available, be it this week or the next. I will be glad to wait.”
“That is very generous of you.” Lady Elizabeth’s cheeks were a little pink. “Shall we say tomorrow?”
What Felix hadnotexpected was for his heart to leap so furiously that he could not catch his breath. This was not how he was! He knew himself to be a gentleman always stable with his emotions, never allowing anything to overwhelm him, refusing to permit a tug of his heart to affect his behavior. So why was he struggling to find a simple response? Why was he failing to make his delight known to her? All he was doing was standing mute, looking at Lady Elizabeth and she, with her gently lifted eyebrow, looking back at him.
“Lord Winterbrook?”
Felix cleared his throat and looked away, his face growing hot.
“Forgive me, Lady Elizabeth.” Thinking that it would probably be best to tell her the truth, he allowed himself a small laugh. “You find me a little lost for words, such is my gladness. I did not think that you would be so eager in your willingness to walk with me, and I am truly happy because of it.”
There came a blush into her cheeks, but Felix took the opportunity to incline his head and turn away. Excusing himself from her company. Immediately, three other gentlemen came into his place, but Felix walked away quickly with his head held high. Keeping a broad smile across his face, he waited until he was a short distance from her before he allowed it to fade.
I have never before felt such strength of emotion as this.
What was it about Lady Elizabeth which was capturing him so? Why was his heart so tumultuous in its beating? Why were his hands sweating, his forehead damp? Why had he fought to speak, why had he been unable to find the words which had so easily come to him before?
“Ho!”
