Page 22 of The Lady No One Noticed

The thought of spending an entire evening with Fergus dimmed her excitement for the museum. The short time she had spent conversing with the baron yesterday had been painful, but she had endured knowing it would not last long. However, an entire evening seemed torturous. She didn’t know how much longer she could be polite to the man.

A moment later the butler entered. Esther’s eyes widened, praying he was there to announce Ian’s arrival.

“Lord Gilbert is here for Lady Esther, My Lady,” the butler said.

“Send him in,” Esther said without a moment’s delay.

He came!

Her spirits instantly rose, and she faced the doorway in anticipation.

Ian entered the drawing room with a smile that calmed Esther’s as soon as her eyes fell on him. The tension she had been feeling since her mother had imparted the news of another dinner with Fergus disappeared entirely. She felt remarkably at ease when she was in Ian’s presence, as if he had bewitched her somehow.

“Lady Hathershire, Lady Esther,” Ian greeted them formally with a bow and Esther smiled even brighter.

“Lord Gilbert. Delighted to see you once again,” Her mother replied. Ian nodded, ignoring the coolness in Hildred’s tone.

Ian looked at Esther and for a moment it felt as though his hazel eyes had captured hers and that she simply couldn’t look away. The two continued to silently look at one another, and Esther knew if she didn’t avert her gaze her mother would deem it scandalous. But the eye contact they shared was enough to make Esther’s entire body hum with awareness, and she had no idea how to classify the foreign feeling that took root within her bosom.

The moment was broken when Astrid stepped into the room, practically stomping I her haste.

“Lady Astrid,” Ian greeted with a cursory nod, but Astrid did not seem to notice. It was evident that she was unhappy. Lady Danbury had taken great pains in coming to personally inform Astrid this morning that the duke had been seen escorting Lady Tracy during promenade hour yesterday. She was the daughter of Lord Pembrooke, an extremely wealthy duke who was rumored to be giving Lady Tracy an outrageously large dowry.

Astrid had been in a sour mood since. She simply refused to believe that the duke would seriously court anyone other than herself, but he had not yet called upon her a second time.

“We should depart, Lady Esther,” Ian said, holding out his arm for Esther.

“Of course, My Lord,” Esther smiled, taking his arm, and turning around to look at her mother. Ruth was already waiting by the door, ready to go with the pair as a chaperone.

“Enjoy the museum. Be sure to be back in plenty of time to dress for dinner, Esther,” her mother called out and Esther nodded before turning around and walking out of the drawing room. She would not let the dismal prospect of a meal with Fergus dull her happiness at being on Ian’s arm.

She quite enjoyed the strange feeling of being the center of attention in the household after being forced to live in her sisters’ shadows. Ian’s interest in her had certainly forced her parents to look at her in a new light, and she couldn’t help but feel a bit triumphant that Astrid did not have a suitor. Nonetheless, she knew it was unworthy of her, so she squashed the thought.

At that moment, she did not care if Ian was a rogue or if his intentions towards her were not noble. She was ready to set her pride aside to simply be with him and to experience what a courtship felt like.

They walked out and made their way towards Ian’s carriage. The coachman opened the door for Esther, and Ian helped her inside. Ruth sat down beside her, and Ian sat opposite them on the luxuriously overstuffed blue velvet seats.

“I hope you are comfortable, Lady Esther,” Ian said as soon as he sat down. He suddenly felt immensely close within the carriage’s confines. It was as if the outside world had closed in around them and they were the only two people left in the world. She barely even registered Ruth’s quiet presence next to her when she gazed at Ian.

“Yes, My Lord, I am quite comfortable,” She answered softly. Ian smiled, and Esther’s heart skipped a beat. His smile did something to her insides, and she wished he would never stop.

On their way to the museum, Esther looked out of the carriage windows. The curtains were put aside, and the sunlight filtered in.

“Do you remember the last time we were in a carriage together?” Esther suddenly asked him.

“We were going to the county fair that was held every year near your father’s country seat,” Ian replied promptly.

Esther had not expected him to remember and was stunned when he answered correctly. Ian must have noticed her expression since he erupted into laughter.

“You thought I wouldn’t remember?” he asked, his expression amused.

“You keep surprising me, My Lord. It is clear that I should stop making assumptions about you,” she replied honestly. She had already noticed how he remembered small details about her, and this gave her immense pleasure. It indicated that he cared, and Esther wanted nothing more.

“Those were good days; how could I forget? Do you remember the time Neil pushed Madeline into the pond at Willmeade Manor?” Ian questioned, trying to control his laughter.

Esther began to laugh as the event came rushing back to her. She had only been eleven, but the day was etched into her memory. It had been hilarious.

“I remember the incident perfectly! Madeline was furious and swore to never talk to Neil again. I had never seen her that angry before,” Esther recounted.