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Chapter 6
One week later, Percy was given the chance he so desired to speak with Lydia again: Lewis’ birthday dinner. It turned out that Lydia was good friends with Marianne Haggerston, who Lewis’ family was well acquainted with, and so both young women were set to be in attendance at tonight’s dinner. When Percy found that out from Lewis, he tried desperately to hide his happiness, but his friend noticed right away.
“What is it with that look on your face, man?” Lewis demanded. “You look as though I’ve just told you that your future wife will be in attendance at tonight’s dinner.” Lewis studied him further, and then he figured it out. “My goodness, that’s because you fancy one of them, don’t you, you scoundrel?”
“Certainly not,” Percy said gruffly. “I am only happy because those two tend to bring a great deal of ... fun with them wherever they go.”
Lewis cocked his head to the side and placed the back of his hand on Percy’s forehead.
“No, you’re not feverish,” he said, drawing his hand away. “But there must be something going on with you, for I don’t believe I’ve ever heard you say a sentence like that in your life.”
Percy began panicking. “I’m just happy, all right? I enjoy it when there are beautiful young women in attendance, and tonight is no exception. I was only happy to hear that they were coming, nothing more.”
Lewis did not look as though he believed a single word that Percy was saying, but he nodded along with him. “If you say so.” He turned away from his friend and went back to preparing for the dinner that evening, much to Percy’s relief.
When it came time for the dinner to begin later on that evening, Percy tried to remain as nonchalant as possible while keeping an eye out for Lydia. He made idle conversation with the other guests, ate whatever was handed to him by Lewis and drank as slowly as he could so that he was not intoxicated by the time he ran into her. That was the last thing he needed right now.
The party had been going on for about an hour, and there was still no sign whatsoever of Lydia or Marianne. Percy was beginning to worry that Lydia had not wished to come because she knew that he would be in attendance. Guilt and disappointment started gnawing at his stomach as he stood by the back doors, pretending to admire the gardens.
Right at that moment, however, he saw Marianne’s reflection in the glass, and a second later, Lydia appeared beside her. Percy’s pulse began racing, and he did not know how he would be able to talk with her when there was so much on his mind that he needed to remember. But then, he saw Lydia spy him, and she did not seem to see that he was looking at her in the reflection. As she looked at him, a small, girlish smile came across her face, and Percy’s heart leapt.
If that is how she is looking at me when my back is turned, then perhaps I might have a chance with her after all!
Percy turned around slowly and pretended not to see Lydia at first. When his eyes finally landed on her, to his delight, he saw that she was still staring at him. She gave him a tiny wave, and then Percy carefully approached the two young women.
As he was walking over, he scanned the surrounding area for their chaperones and quickly spied them sitting on a bench a short distance away. When Lydia’s chaperone, who he currently could not remember the name of, spied him, she did not look pleased. That only added to Percy’s nerves, but he told himself that he had to try and talk to Lydia; otherwise, he would regret it for the rest of his life.
“Good evening Miss Seymour, Miss ...” To Percy’s horror, he somehow managed to forget Marianne’s last name, and so he just stared.
“Haggerston,” she said, “but you can call me Miss Marianne as well, as I am the only daughter in my family.” Marianne gave him an encouraging smile, which surprised him. He had worried that by now, she might have a very poor opinion of him, but to see her looking that way at him reassured him that he might still have a chance when it came to Lydia.
“Miss Haggerston,” he said gratefully while looking at her. “My profuse apologies for forgetting your name like that.”
Marianne crossed her arms and gave him a playful look. “It seems that you have something to apologize for each time we see you, Your Grace.”
Percy chuckled. “You would be right about that, Miss Haggerston, but I do not plan on making it a habit any longer.” Percy was proud of that response, and as he looked to Lydia, it seemed that he had impressed her enough to warrant a conversation with her. “Might I draw you away for a moment? I promise I shall not take long.”
Lydia nodded. “Certainly, Your Grace,” she said rather formally, but there was something about the way she said it this time that seemed less ... annoyed. Perhaps Lydia had accepted his apology more and was now coming around to the idea of him.
The two young people walked away together, and immediately, Percy felt Mabel’s eyes on him. He did not care, though, for he now had a bit more confidence in himself and knew that he would make a far better impression upon Lydia this time.
“How are you enjoying your evening so far?” Percy began casually.
“Quite well, thank you,” Lydia responded, smoothing down some of her perfectly coiled hair. “I was very touched to have received an invitation. I did not think that Lewis was acquainted with me well enough to invite me, but it seems that I was wrong.”
“He thinks quite highly of you and Miss Haggerston from what I can gather,” Percy responded. “Although you may not be well acquainted, it is my opinion that he very much enjoys having the two of you at his gatherings as you bring a great deal of ... fun.”
Percy knew that he was beginning to ramble, but he couldn’t help himself. There was something about Lydia that made him feel nervous, even when he was feeling confident as he was now. Lydia, however, did not seem to mind. He would have loved to have known what was going through her mind right now so that he could stop overthinking every single thing that he did.
“That is very kind of him to think that,” Lydia said graciously. “Was there anything in particular that you wished to speak to me about, Your Grace?”
Percy knew he had to try to follow Georgiana’s recommendations and show Lydia that he was not a rude man, but he also felt compelled to apologize to her once more for his behaviour.
“Yes,” he managed to get out finally. The two of them had reached the other side of the room, where there was hardly anyone, and they could hear each other well. Percy was silently thanking Lewis for not inviting a thousand people to his birthday party so that he and Lydia could have a quiet moment alone together.
“I feel that I did not express myself fully when I stumbled into you at the haberdashery,” he explained. “Part of that was because I was too nervous to speak in front of your chaperone and Miss Haggerston, but another part was simply because I feared judgement.”
Lydia looked at him queerly. “Judgement? Why would I be judging you for anything?”
