Page 34 of The Lady No One Noticed

“I believe we should make our way back to the carriage now,” Ian stated, and Esther nodded once again, silently walking beside him. They drove in silence except for a few casual remarks about the scenery passing along the way. The ride was short, and they soon reached Esther’s home.

Esther remained silent as Ian walked with her to the main doors of the manor. The pair stopped and faced each other, neither of them willing to say goodbye.

“I had an excellent time today, My Lord. Thank you for the picnic,” Esther said, not wanting to bid him farewell so soon. It was as if no matter how much time she spent with him, it would never be enough.

“I had an excellent time too, My Lady. Thank you for allowing me the pleasure of your lovely company,” Ian replied making Esther blush once again.

“I am glad you feel that way,” Esther said, not knowing what else to say but simply wishing to prolong the conversation.

“I will call on you in two days’ time, if I may?” Ian asked, and Esther looked at him with a smile.

“I shall look forward to it, My Lord,” she answered before walking inside the house after one final glance at Ian.

She was already counting the minutes, and two days seemed ages away.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Esther woke up feeling as if she had been asleep for ages. She felt refreshed, and her mind was clear. She stretched loudly and watched as Ruth opened the curtains to allow the early morning sun to flood into the bed chamber. Esther welcomed the light with a smile. The previous day felt like a distant dream. From finding out that Ian had asked her father for permission to properly court her to being relieved that Fergus never asked for her hand in marriage to finally going to her planned picnic with Ian. Everything with and about Ian felt like a dream, a very happy dream indeed.

“My Lady, won’t you get out of bed?” Ruth asked, and Esther turned to look at her.

“I am out already.” Esther laughed sitting up and getting out of the covers immediately. She allowed Ruth to help her get dressed in a yellow morning dress. The color represented her feelings, and Esther wished to put her happiness on display. It was rare for her to have such happy mornings, and when she had one, she wanted everyone around her to know it.

Once she was dressed, she skipped downstairs and then walked swiftly to the dining room, where her family was already seated.

“Good morning, everyone,” Esther greeted before sitting down beside her mother at the breakfast table. Both her parents greeted her back and Astrid remained quiet as usual. Esther had no idea when this rivalry had developed between her and Astrid, but she knew she truly wished to have a warmer relationship with her.

Esther noticed how Astrid’s face was twisted in a frown, and she appeared rather sullen.

“Is everything all right, Astrid? You seem out of sorts,” Esther asked, truly concerned. Astrid looked up from the paper she was reading and gazed at Esther with a murderous expression on her face.

“Are you trying to make fun of me? You know perfectly well how my mood is, and you go about pointing it anyway.” Astrid shrieked, and Esther had never been more stunned. She was only asking Astrid out of goodwill since she actually didn’t know what the matter was.

Just then, Esther’s eyes fell on the paper Astrid was reading, the most sought-after gossip column amongst the ton. Everyone read it daily. Esther thought that perhaps the column had mentioned the Duke of Alewood being seen with another lady. Esther knew how much Astrid wished for the duke to propose to her, but things hadn’t turned out in her favor.

“That is quite enough, Astrid,” Esther’s mother scolded. Astrid simply ignored her and continued sipping her tea.

“Esther, how was your picnic with Lord Gilbert yesterday?” Her father’s voice suddenly forced them to shift their attention away from Astrid.

“It was wonderful, Father, we had a lovely time,” Esther answered a smile creeping onto her face at the mention of Ian.

“Your outing with Ian is mentioned in the gossip sheet!” Hildred exclaimed, and Esther stared at her, stunned. She had never once been mentioned in the gossip column throughout all her failed seasons. Esther was certain that whoever the writer was didn’t even knew she existed.

“You mean my name is mentioned in the column?” Esther choked on her tea and set down the cup at once. She extended her hand and picked up the paper that Astrid had been reading earlier.

“Yes, darling, it is mentioned in great detail,” her mother laughed.

Esther began reading and much to her surprise her mother was right.

“The middle daughter of the Earl of Hathershire, Lady Esther, seems to have caught the eye of our very own and very handsome Marquess of Ilenshire, heir to a very prominent dukedom. Lady Esther was considered quite the wallflower prior to being courted by Lord Gilbert. Lord Gilbert is attractive, wealthy, titled and could have his pick from amongst the ton, but seems to have settled on Lady Esther, which shows us she is indeed a prized gem that the ton failed to notice earlier.

The couple was first seen visiting the Egyptian Hall and were then seen yesterday at Hyde Park enjoying a picnic and a lovely stroll after. Sources tell us that they seemed to be having a good time since the two couldn’t wipe away the smiles and laughter from their faces. Could we be expecting a proposal soon? The daughter of an Earl and a future Duke, what more could one desire?! It would be the match of the season! I will keep you updated about any further outings or calls to the Lady’s home, and hopefully and more, interestingly a proposal!”

“The author is certainly effusive,” Esther commented, still trying to wrap her mind around her name being mentioned in the gossip column.

“That is how they sell their papers, my dear, by making everything sound so decadent,” Hildred laughed, and Esther knew she was right. Esther noticed that her mother’s laugh was actually genuine. The fact that she seemed pleased with Esther for the first time in over a decade was shocking. Esther had stopped trying to make her happy a long time ago, and this sudden change was rather challenging to grasp. Her heart was somersaulting inside her chest after reading the column. She was glad that Ian hadn’t been mentioned with another lady, which showed he was truly devoted to her and her alone. The fact gave her immense pleasure.

“All these gossip columns write nothing but gibberish. I would be much more interested in reading about your engagement to Lord Gilbert,” her father chimed, and Astrid looked up to stare at him with widened eyes.