AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Nine
L
ynette’s heartbeat raced, for Stephen was coming toward her with a wicked twinkle in his eye. When he’d danced with his sister and then subsequently with his niece, a part of her heart was lost to him, for he’d treated them with gallant respect and affection. Beyond that, he hadn’t danced with anyone else in the room, even though there were a bevy of young, unattached women in attendance.
Did that mean he truly wished to make another go at a relationship between him and her?
At her side, John tugged on her hand. “Mama, you should dance with Lord Tilbury.”
“Oh? Why is that?” She spared her son a glance but soon Stephen would be upon them.
Serious honesty shone in his eyes. He looked like a little man in his dark suit and dress shoes... the very image of her husband. “I think he means to court you.” One of his brown eyebrows rose. “And it might be jolly fun to let him do so.”
For the space of a heartbeat, her breath froze in her lungs. “Why? Did someone from the Ivy family tell you that?”
“No, but I heard one of the footmen say he meant to court one of the kitchen maids the other day, and he had the same twinkle in his eye that Lord Tilbury has now.” John peered at Stephen, who was nearly upon them. Then he met her gaze once more. “It’s all right if he does, isn’t Mama? Papa wouldn’t mind, as long as he makes you happy.”
Flutters took hold of her heart. How was it possible her son could see things that even a grown person couldn’t at times? She brushed his hair into some semblance of a style with her fingers while blinking away quick tears. “I suppose you might be on to something.”
“Then you’ll let him?” Excitement threaded through his voice.
“I’ll entertain the idea of it. Will that satisfy you?”
“Ever so much.” Then there was no more time for conversation; Stephen had joined them.
“Good evening, Mrs. Hodgins.” He took her gloved hand, brought it to his lips and then kissed the middle knuckle. “You are a vision tonight.”
“Thank you.” She couldn’t quell the excited thump of her pulse. Her son had more or less given his permission for her to let Stephen pay his addresses. All she needed to do was find the courage to utter those simple words. “You’re quite handsome yourself this evening.”
And so he was. The requisite dark evening clothes fit his form with elegance and care, which spoke to the skill of his tailor. The crimson waistcoat embroidered with golden thread into a plaid design called attention to his flat stomach, but it was the tiny ruby stickpin in the snowy folds of his cravat that sent tingles of awareness down her spine. She’d given that pin to him as a gift ten years before—a wedding gift as it were, a week before their nuptial ceremony was to have taken place.
He’d kept it all along.
When she would have mentioned it, his attention was on John. He extended a gloved hand to the child. “Good evening, Master Hodgins. I trust you’re well?”
“Oh, quite,” her son responded, his face wreathed in a grin that sent heat into her cheeks as he shook the offered hand. “Are you here to dance with my mother?”
“I am if you’ll grant me permission.” A trace of vulnerability scudded across Stephen’s face, and she lost another piece of her heart to him. No doubt he worried over her reception, even after they’d shared two kisses, and one of which was hardly chaste.
“I will indeed.” He threw a speaking glance to her. “My mother likes to dance, and if you’ll do it, perhaps she’ll stop badgering me about having a go ‘round the parlor all the time.” Nothing but seriousness reflected in his eyes.
Both Stephen and she shared a laugh. Then he sobered. “I’d be delighted.” He rested his chocolate-hued gaze on her face, meeting her eyes. A question lurked deep in those rich depths that stole away her ability to breathe. Would he ask it tonight? And if he did, how would she respond? As the orchestra struck up the notes of a country reel, he extended his hand to her. “Mrs. Hodgins, would you do me the honor of dancing the next set with me?”
“Of course I will.” She slipped her fingers into his palm, and he immediately closed his hand around hers. Heat skipped up her arm from the point of contact.
“That’s the spirit, Mama,” John said as Stephen led her out onto the already crowded floor.
Both she and Stephen laughed, for John had a way of putting things into the simplest perspective. Had she let fear hold her back all this time? As the simple country reel began and the steps carried her away from Stephen, she had ample time to think. She certainly had ten years ago when she’d broken their engagement, and when she’d not allowed an explanation, she’d further put distance between them.
But now?
When the steps brought her back into Stephen’s vicinity and he grinned, the gesture crinkling the corners of his eyes, her heartbeat bounced into double time. It was time to break free from those rusty fetters and once more let love sweep her away. He had changed over the years, and perhaps so had she. Was she brave enough to start over, confident enough to chase a second chance at love?
By the end of the dance, her smile felt genuine as she came back together with Stephen again. Though slightly winded from the exercise, she held onto his hand a touch tighter than necessary, squeezing his fingers in a silent message she hoped he understood. He glanced from their joined hands to her eyes and one of his dark eyebrows rose. She nodded. Warm happiness bubbled into her chest while excitement buzzed at the base of her spine.
Yes, she wanted the opportunity to move forward—with him.
A panicked cry rang out through the ballroom, followed by a wave of murmured alarm. Guests clustered about in a tight knot at the far side of the room near the terrace doors.
