Page 30

Grosvenor Square, Mayfair

London, England

L ydia only ate random bites of her breakfast that morning. Mostly, she pushed the food about her plate, moving forkfuls of fluffy, golden, scrambled eggs from one side to the other or cutting the hamsteak into tiny, little squares.

Tonight, she would accompany Alexander to a ball hosted by one of his mother’s friends.

And that was why she was beset by a bad case of the nerves.

Not for going out into society. She did that numerous times during the regular Season.

A summer event wouldn’t be any different, though there might not be as many notables in attendance since they were still enjoying leisure time at their country estates.

No, the nerves were exclusively for doing all of that at Alexander’s side.

Not that there was anything wrong with attending a ball.

Over the past week or so, she had consented to let him court her, and they’d done a few things together where the gossips had apparently seen them.

It was just that going to a ball was akin to making a direct statement.

Did she want that? She snorted as she ferried a bite of eggs to the other side of her plate.

So it would seem, especially after that last coupling with the viscount.

There had been emotion shared between them, as if pieces of their souls had mingled to resettle in a combined entity, as odd as it sounded.

That afternoon they’d bonded, and deep down inside she knew they were irrevocably bound together, come what may.

She’d never felt that way when she’d been engaged to Colin, and while that was wildly telling, it also brought with it more second guessing as well as fear.

What if she was only deluding herself because she was trying to chase something she thought she should have?

“Everything will come out well in the end, you know,” her father said as he came into the morning room and immediately went to the sideboard for a cup of the fragrant coffee that had been brewed.

“In reference to what?” She let her fork fall onto her plate with a clatter.

“Don’t play coy, my girl. I mean Lord Wexley. That’s who you’re mooning about, isn’t it? And that is why you suddenly have no appetite?”

Heat blazed in her cheeks. It would seem she’d become that sort of woman. The kind who let a man possess all the spaces of her mind when she should be thinking about things that would benefit humanity instead. “Yes, it’s him I’m thinking about.”

“Oh? Has something monumental occurred in your rather unorthodox relationship?” As he spoke, he came toward the round table and took a seat beside her while a footman brought over a plate with all her father’s breakfast favorites upon it.

“I don’t know how monumental it is.” With a sigh, she pushed away her plate. There was no use pretending that she was hungry. “Two days ago, I went to the salon with the intention of breaking our courtship.”

“Why?” He frowned. “Do you suddenly not suit?”

“No.” With the shake of her head, she uttered another sigh.

“I allowed myself to let my fears and thoughts consume me, and I panicked.” When she met her father’s gaze, his understanding smile disarmed her.

“But Wexley sucked me back in. He used logic on me, explained to me that hiding behind my fears helped me to push people and things away so I wouldn’t have a chance to be hurt or disappointed. ”

“He’s not wrong, and it sounds as if he has good sense, as well as the wont to look after you.”

“But why, though?”

“Oh, poppet.” A laugh escaped him. “It means he’s tip over tail for you, and if he has enough wherewithal to make you change your mind about giving up on a courtship before it’s truly gotten started, there is every possibility you’ll be wed to him before the year is out.”

When a wave of familiar panic would have rushed through her chest, it unexpectedly died before it could take hold. In its place came a warm, gentle feeling of calm, because she knew with Alexander, everything would truly turn out right as rain if she would let it. “It’s all so confusing.”

“That is generally what love is, my girl. Confusing, messy, it will make you run the gambit of emotions, put you through the proverbial wringer, and then make you fly.”

Love . Is that where she was headed, then? Of course it was. There was no use in denying it. “I’ve committed to going to a ball with him tonight.”

“Wonderful!” He patted her hand. “That is a lovely first step, my girl.”

“What if—”

“None of that, now. You will be amazing and look beautiful. Everyone you meet will think you lovely and a good match for Lord Wexley.”

“Will you come with me?”

“I wish I could, but I have a commitment elsewhere tonight. Er, really not tonight, per say, but rather in the gloaming before dawn.”

“Are you meeting clandestinely with a woman, then?” He truly did need to marry again, for he was one of those men who was happiest with a woman in his life.

“Of course not.” He chuckled, then tucked into his breakfast. “Perhaps once I see you settled and married. As a matter of course, I’ll be the attending physician for a bare-knuckle boxing match in the morning.”

“Ah.” Since Alexander hadn’t mentioned anything about that to her, she assumed he wouldn’t be one of the fighters, and that set her mind at ease. “Well, I hope you have fun. I would rather not see another of those bouts if I can at all help it.”

His expression was difficult to read, but he wouldn’t immediately meet her gaze. “If you continue on with Lord Wexley, I’ll wager he’ll not let go of his ties to the boxing world.”

“And neither should he. That is part of who he is, but he can be so much more.” She blew out a breath. “I just hope he’ll do fewer of those bouts.”

Her father cleared his throat. “I’m sure he can hold his own, poppet. Have some faith in your man.”

“I do, of course, I just worry.” Thank goodness Alexander would be with her tonight.

*

Willingham House

Hanover Square

Mayfair, London

After clearing the reception line and meeting the Marquess and Marchioness of Quince, Alexander had encouraged her to go ahead into the ballroom of the large townhouse and that he would catch her up in a few moments, for he wished to speak with his brother as well as an acquaintance or two.

“You don’t wish to introduce me to them?”

“Absolutely I do, and that will occur a bit later in the evening, I promise.” Then, with a wink, he’d loped away and soon disappeared into the crowded corridor.

Not wishing to socialize, Lydia stood at one of the walls while taking a few deep breaths to calm her nerves.

There had been no time to compliment Alexander on his attire in the carriage, for when he’d called at her home to escort her to the ball, he’d come in an open carriage that also conveyed the Earl and Countess of Lethbridge.

At least she would know another couple at the event, and she was seated on the bench next to the countess, so there had been no opportunity to speak candidly with Alexander or even try to steal a kiss.

As the first country reel got underway, she smoothed her gloved hands down the front of her gown.

Made of watered green taffeta, golden sequins lined the lower hem, the short, puffed sleeves as well as the low bodice; she liked it for its glittering properties and how cooling the fabric was against her legs.

The hue set off her red hair to its best advantage, and gave her pale skin a bit of color and life.

Yet Alexander hadn’t said one word about her toilette tonight. Perhaps like her, he hadn’t had the time or opportunity.

After what seemed like an eternity and in the middle of the second dance of the evening, the viscount finally came back to her location.

“I apologize for being away. There was something I needed to talk to Lewis and Duncan about that couldn’t wait.

” Then he raked his gaze slowly up and down her person, and she swore she felt that as if he’d caressed her.

“You put me in mind of a forest fairy or even an elf who has materialized in this ballroom exclusively for my pleasure.”

Heat jumped into her cheeks from his praise.

“Thank you. My maid spent a copious amount of time on my toilette. She insisted that my hair be set in an elaborate style.” As she spoke, Lydia touched her tresses that had been dressed in curls and braids with gold ribbons woven through before the heavy mass had been secured with pins.

“Well, her pains were rewarded, for you are every inch a princess and easily one of the most beautiful women here tonight.”

“Do stop, Wexley. That is excessive, even for you.” Yet her insides threatened to turn to mush from his charm, even though she knew after studying medicine that it simply wasn’t possible. “And someone could overhear.”

“What if they do?” He waggled his eyebrows and dared to come closer to her a few steps. Citrus wafted to her nose from his shaving soap or cologne. “Then the gossip about us being in a romantic relationship will gain wings and sweep faster through the gathered crowd.”

“Oh.” Her traitorous heart fluttered. Romance and flirting were too distracting, wasn’t it, or should she, for once, let herself enjoy the fall?

“ Does everyone need to know?” Yet after what they’d shared in the office of the boxing salon the other day, she had more or less committed to him, had even encouraged him to continue with his courtship, and gone so far as to tell him they would work through any complications that should arise.

It wasn’t as frightening now as it had been, but the future was still unknown, and she needed to square with that.

“I would like them to, yes.” His grin was positively infectious, and she couldn’t help but smile back. “Also, I asked my valet to take special care in dressing tonight, which meant I had to borrow this waistcoat from Duncan at the last minute.”