Page 8 of All Roads Lead To Earls (To All The Earls I’ve Loved Before #2)
Chapter Six
T he evening of the ball arrived. With it came a squally wind and torrential rain. A pang of homesickness caught Patrick by surprise as the weather reminded him of childhood winters in Tullamore.
Instead of people announcing themselves with style and grace, they dashed from the portico and into the ballroom, where footmen offered cups of hot spiced wine from crowded trays.
This type of wine usually wasn’t served until Christmastide, but perhaps this was a local custom to celebrate …
he wracked his brains … St Clement’s Day?
No matter the actual date, the wine delivered the desired effect; warming him from within and spreading good cheer on this miserable evening.
As more guests arrived, the press of bodies created greater warmth inside. People’s cheeks and foreheads glowed pink with the effects of the wine.
As the guest of honor, Patrick stood beside Lady Mary as she made introductions. The highest ranked were gentlemen’s daughters. Their mama’s eyes were out on stalks at the prospect of making an incredible match. Lady Mary would most likely be delighted to claim the match for her enterprise.
Tonight promised to be most diverting.
On the other side of the room, he caught sight of Miss Jones, chatting with a small coterie of ladies of her own age.
They were dressed beautifully. She wore a delightful emerald green again, which matched some of the stitching on his waistcoat.
He suspected that had to be Lady Mary’s doing, rather than simple coincidence.
When the music began he found himself dancing with a country miss, who was a good deal shorter than he. It was easy to scan the room over the top of her head and keep track of Miss Jones, who, drat her to the devil, was smiling and having fun as she danced with another gentleman.
Any moment now she will look my way, and see how much I am not bothered in the slightest that she is dancing with another .
How strange, he thought, that she didn’t look his way. Not even a flicker of recognition.
The music ended and he returned his dance partner to her mama.
His next partner was all too eager to take her turn.
This one was delightful as well, although she was the same height as he.
Looking elsewhere for Miss Jones became more difficult.
She danced well and asked him about the weather, a safe topic of discussion.
Later, if he’d been asked to describe her, he would have failed miserably.
In fact, if he’d been asked to describe any of the ladies he’d danced with, he would not have been able to identify their most basic attributes.
Hair color? No clue. Dress details? A blur of muslin and ribbons.
He’d kept looking across the room where each time his eyes landed on a delightful Welsh Miss having so much fun he may as well not be in the room at all.
How dare she not be jealous of the many ladies he’d been dancing with?
What a charmingly lovely evening! Hannah was thoroughly enjoying the ball.
She danced with a well-to-do sheep farmer from Penrhyn, an engineer from London who was here for the roads, the son of the publican from Llandygai and several men in various fields of commerce from Bangor itself.
To a man, they were excited about the construction of the bridge and the road repairs, and how it would enhance trade and prosperity for the area.
Their enthusiasm for the changes and improvements coming their way proved infectious.
Until now, she’d thought discussions of bridges and roads had been dull, but she couldn’t help becoming caught up in their interest. More people coming to the area meant they would require more goods and services.
She did her best to keep track of it all, promising to inform Lady Mary of the opportunities ahead to expand her dinner enterprises.
The sight of the Alwyns dancing nearby reminded her of another business opportunity. “I’m sure there will be even more people visiting the spring bucks as well.”
“Indeed, they will draw a crowd from hither and yon,” her dance partner said. They were progressing in a country dance at this point, and were able to converse freely while the leading couple progressed down the line.
Such a whirl of an evening, Hannah should have been tired, but instead she accepted more dances from more gentlemen. The next was a quadrille and the frequent change of partners meant fewer opportunities for conversations.
Her heart tripped extra time when Lord Tullamore hove into view.
He looked splendid and full of health, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
She had about three seconds to acknowledge him before the steps demanded they return to their places.
She couldn’t think of what to say, so all she could do was deliver a small smile and then be on her way.
The Marquess and his wife joined the dancers for a gentle waltz.
Hannah remained attentive to the Marchioness, to see whether she might be required for any companion duties.
The two danced so beautifully together, the warmest smiles upon their faces.
A pang of jealousy caught Hannah unawares as she recognized the obvious love between the couple.
It was so natural, so warm and reciprocated.
A marriage of equals that was so deeply rare.
It didn’t sit well with her that she’d boasted to the earl that she’d make him fall in love with her.
It was clear to her that love wasn’t something you could demand of a person.
It had to be natural; occur at its own pace.
As soon as she had the chance, she’d apologize to the earl for her past behavior.
It had been lovely to kiss him, and she wasn’t sorry for that at all.
She only caught brief glimpses of him for the last few dances, which were slower, with less exacting steps as the evening finished. She would leave him be, there would be time to find him tomorrow and hopefully explain herself properly. He’d have a good laugh at her expense, and she’d deserve it.
As the footmen opened the doors to allow guests to leave, a gale blew directly in, bringing with it a flurry of dead leaves, drenching rain and even a tree branch.
With haste, the footmen ushered guests back inside and closed the doors.
It looked like the end of the world outside!
“Dearest guests,” Lady Mary announced. “It is far too dangerous for many of you to return home. We shall arrange lodgings and refreshments for all until the storm blows itself out.”
The musicians appeared to be packing up, but stopped themselves with this announcement. In mere moments, a maid appeared with a tray of small cups, which the musicians accepted.
Probably spiced wine.
As if nothing untoward was happening outside at all, the party resumed with a lively tune.
Hannah had been on her feet all evening and sought out a quiet place to rest for a while.
There was a room off to the side of the hall.
The candles had burned themselves out and it was dark and unoccupied.
She left the door open so that light from the hall could shine in.
There were several comfortable chairs so she sat herself in one, and rested her feet on another, giggling to herself at the luxury of it all.
She couldn’t stay in here for too much longer, she’d be needed to help settle guests who were unable to return home. But just for now, she gave herself permission to rest.
A few minutes later, the light at the doorway dimmed and who should walk in but the Earl of Tullamore.
“My lord,” she said, pulling her feet off the chair.
“Don’t get up,” he said, “I’m looking for somewhere to hide.”
“Hiding, my lord?”
“From pursuit. Eager-eyed ingénues and their mamas, to be precise.”
Hannah felt sorry for him, but only a little. “You could retreat to your rooms?”
“Ah, it was already occupied.”
Hannah slapped her hand over her mouth to stop from laughing.
His voice was low and frustrated. “If you’ve quite recovered.”
She nodded, understanding his dilemma. The very reason he was at Rosstrevor Hall was his lack of a carriage. Even if the storm outside abated, he was unable to leave. “I am glad you’re not out on the London road in this weather,” she offered by way of consolation.
“Not sure what’s more dangerous; the road or the desperate young ladies and their mamas.”
“Do not disparage my countrywomen. You’re the most exciting thing to happen in these parts of late, and they are so starved for fun.”
“They are trying to ensnare me into betrothal, by fair means or foul.”
Hannah had an idea. As much as her feet hurt, the best place for the Earl would be out in the open, as close to Lady Mary as possible.
“You are hardly safe in this darkened room with me, in that case,” she reminded him.
Lady Mary is still in the ballroom and …
” she looked through the gap in the door, “The footmen are serving another round of spiced wine. Come and warm yourself in the midst of company, and your reputation shall remain unblemished.”
Nobody would be able to accuse him of anything if he were out in the open. Darkened rooms with no chaperone, on the other hand, were another matter.
“Also, it behooves me to apologize for teasing you most unfairly while you were visiting the spring bucks.”
He stood up and muttered something about how he knew she couldn’t have been serious. “I did not believe you were the sort to play the long game.”
She had no idea what that meant, but he rose at the same time she did and they were about to head out the door.
He first – so that all eyes would follow him as he sought out Lady Mary.
When everyone was distracted, she’d leave too.
Or she might remain and put her feet back up. That was also an option.
This well-thought-out plan had one small flaw. Other people. Namely, a young lady who slipped into the room before he could leave. The lady blinked as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, then she made a soft, “Oh” of surprise as she took in the sight of the earl.
It was Miss Gideon, from the dinner!
The earl stepped back to create more distance. Miss Gideon’s eyes were only on his lordship, she hadn’t even noticed that Hannah was still here. The lady thought she was quite alone in a room with an earl.
How far would she take this?
Quietly, Hannah slipped behind the chair so she could observe but not interfere. There was hardly any cause for her to be quiet, as the young lady began to gasp theatrically and overly loudly. “Oh my Lord! No I couldn’t possibly!”
Hannah rolled her eyes, knowing exactly where this was headed.
The young lady then turned to the open doorway so her voice would carry outwards. “This is so very improper!” she said.
Mentally, Hannah counted backwards from five. When she reached two, the lady’s Mama pulled the door open even wider and stood there on the threshold. Her hand flew to her chest in shock and indignation. “My daughter alone with the Earl of Tullamore! Compromised!”