AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Perhaps I will find the mystery woman again tonight.
* * *
Thomas could hear the orchestral music playing from inside Almack's the moment he stepped out of the carriage. Festiveness was in the air, and everyone gathered outside the finely adorned building was dressed in intricately embroidered attire. At a glance, he could recognize the fine fabrics used in the most expensive of the ladies’ dresses and gentlemens’ jackets, as he’d been the one tasked with deciding which linens would be purchased and transported from the Far East less than a year ago.
Thomas had not come here to mourn his time abroad, however, and quickly put such knowledge from his mind.
“Let us go immediately to the ballroom,” he told Gerard, and began walking before his brother could respond.
Gerard caught up and laughed. “What is your great hurry, Thomas? Do you mean to tire yourself out right from the beginning?”
“If she is here, I want to find her.” Thomas breezed through the ornate threshold, and did the bare minimum to acknowledge the attendants at the entrance. Gerard nodded their thanks instead.
They’d scarcely reached the ballroom when Gerard positioned himself right in front of Thomas, blocking his view of the dancers. “Brother, this hastiness is unbecoming of you. If your mystery womanishere, when she sees you, do you want to come across as the oaf clumsily shoving his way through all the other guests?”
Thomas realized he’d been craning his neck rather blatantly to see past Gerard’s shoulder to the crowd dancing beyond. He made himself relax, at least physically. “Perhaps you’re right.”
“Don’t sound so surprised. I only have your best interests at heart.” Gerard clapped him on the shoulder. “Come, now. I am in want of a drink.”
Thomas accompanied Gerard to seek out the champagne. He continued looking for the mystery woman—if only he might catch a glimpse of her raven hair, or the gracefulness of her walk—but managed to keep himself more subdued.
Gerardwasright. Thomas did not want to be perceived as ‘oafish,’ especially after the clumsiness of their initial encounter.
“Where is Jerome?” Thomas asked after they’d claimed their drinks, and located a less crowded area on the edge of the ballroom.
No sooner had the question left his lips than Gerard, apparently failing to hear him, called out, “Lady Leticia. There you are.”
The bottom dropped out of Thomas’ stomach. Indeed, there was Lady Leticia, giggling with her friends several feet away. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Thomas and Gerard, and she hustled over, dress bouncing with every step. Thomas could not help but recognize the fabric of the pink gown. It was one of those he had passed up when he was still abroad—one of their competitors must have seen something in it he hadn’t.
“My Lords.” Lady Leticia threw herself into what Thomas was coming to know as her signature bouncy curtsy.
“Lady Leticia,” Thomas said, managing to keep his voice polite. “I hope you will do me the honor of the next dance.”
“Oh, certainly! I would be quite honored. I’ve been quite anxious to see you again since our time together at Vauxhall Gardens—there is so much to tell you regarding the week I’ve had! That very evening, after we parted ways, Mother grew quite ill after accidentally indulging in shellfish. I’ve personally never had shellfish, for fear that the allergy might have been passed on, though I’ve always been curious. Have you ever had shellfish? Do not answer that, if you say yes and tell me it is delicious, I will not want to dwell on how I may be missing out—”
This monologue went on all the way to the end of the orchestra’s current song. Throughout, Thomas wilted further and further into himself, and Gerard silently abandoned them altogether, his only goodbye an awkward, less-than-regretful smile.
I will have words with my Brother when tonight is over, Thomas thought, annoyed, though not necessarily cross. Perhaps at least now Gerard might have a more first-hand understanding as to why Thomas was not as taken with Lady Leticia as their mother wished him to be.
Thankfully, the beginning of the next song offered the excuse of actually dancing, as opposed to just standing still, pinned in place by Lady Leticia’s chatter. He interrupted as politely as possible by offering his arm, and while she accepted, she did not pause the recounting of her week for even a second.
This is for the best, Thomas told himself, as they moved together on the dance floor.Complete your required time with Lady Leticia now to appease Mother. Then you shall be free to search for the mystery woman properly.
The thought had scarcely crossed his mind when a he caught a glimpse of raven-black hair in the corner of his eye.
