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“Do you think it looks right?” Eloise asked Delphine when she came to help her dress later that afternoon.
“I think it looks very fine, My Lady. You’ll look beautiful,” Delphine reassured.
She helped Eloise to dress. Jackson had sent word that he would collect her in his carriage, though his uncle would not be joining them owing to a gout attack. Eloise was secretly glad of this, for she did not relish the thought of the Baron of Loxbury’s company on such an auspicious occasion. Her father, too, had declined the invitation, muttering something about frivolities before retreating to his study.
“I hope the Duke likes it,” Eloise said, as she placed her mother’s tiara on her head.
“It hardly matters if he does or doesn’t, My Lady. It’s just a ruse, isn’t it?” Delphine reminded her, raising her eyebrows.
Eloise blushed. She did not know quite what to say. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to want to impress Jackson, even as she knew Delphine’s words were right. But despite this, Delphine did want to impress the Duke. It was a strange feeling, one she had not expected to entertain. She reminded herself it was just a ruse – a false impression designed to create the illusion of courtship. But there was something about the Duke that made Eloise wonder if her own feelings were changing.
“Well, it’s got to look right, hasn’t it?” she countered, and her maid smiled, even as Eloise knew she was deluding herself if she did not admit there was something more to this than just a lie.
Soon, Eloise was ready. She wrapped a delicate silk shawl around her shoulders, before making her way downstairs to wait for Jackson’s arrival. She had been thinking of nothing else all day, and the prospect of seeing him again filled her heart with delight. Delphine came, too, and she stood at the window watching the street, while Eloise paced up and down. She was nervous at the prospect of them being seen together, even though she knew it was what she wanted.
“It’ll be all right, My Lady,” Delphine said, and Eloise smiled.
“I know. It’s just… well, I want it to look right,” she murmured.
“You want what to look right?” her father asked, emerging unexpectedly from his study and fixing Eloise with a questioning look.
“Oh… the dancing. I’m so terrible at it, Father. I’ve been practicing upstairs, but I want it to look right. I don’t want to embarrass myself,” Eloise deflected, thankful for her quick thinking.
“I thought you liked to dance,” her father pointed out.
“But it’s got to be just right tonight. You know how important the Midsummer Ball is.” Eloise sent her father what she hoped was a convincing smile.
It was hard to tell what he was thinking, and she wondered if he believed what she was saying. Whether he approved of the match was uncertain. He had not actively moved against it, nor had he entirely dismissed the idea of her marrying Lord Crawford, or so it seemed.
“Yes,” was all he said, and to her relief, Delphine now informed her of Jackson’s arrival.
“What a beautiful carriage, My Lady. And he looks so handsome,” she gushed, peering out the hallway window.
Eloise’s father returned to his study, and Delphine opened the front door, much to Anderton’s indignation.
“The hallway is a butler’s domain,” he snapped, as he emerged from the servant’s staircase.
“Oh, Mr. Anderton, I wanted to see her Ladyship on her way,” Delphine stated, as Eloise stepped forward to meet Jackson, who had hurried up the steps to greet her.
“You look beautiful!” he exclaimed, and Eloise blushed.
“And you look very handsome,” she complimented, as he offered her his arm.
He was wearing a red velvet frock coat and a blue cravat, with a white shirt and black breeches. Delphine bid them goodbye, and together they made their way down the steps to the waiting carriage. It was a beautiful evening – the height of midsummer – and the birds were singing a chorus in the trees, as though serenading the happy couple who now climbed into the carriage.
“I’ve been very much looking forward to this evening,” Jackson said, as they sat back, and the carriage set off for the journey across the city.
“As have I.” Eloise smiled.
CHAPTER12
The Midsummer Ball was held at the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, a delightful setting on a summer’s evening, where the dancing would be held outside amidst the sweet scent of roses and lavender. Eloise saw no reason not to admit her feelings as to the occasion. In her mind, this was no longer a pretense or a ruse. She would have chosen marriage to Jackson, even if circumstances had not brought them together in such an unusual manner. How she wished they had met before, even as their chance encounter had brought with it untold delights. He slipped his hand into hers, and she rested her head on his shoulder, grateful to him for all he had done for her.
“There will be a procession of courting couples. It’s the same every year. They make a show of it, with flaming torches to lead us and musicians playing. We’re to be presented to society. You know how it works,” Jackson said, and Eloise nodded.
“Oh, yes. I’ve been there before, but I never expected to be part of the procession. It’s wonderful, isn’t it?”
He turned to her and smiled. She blushed, wondering if she had overstepped the mark and revealed her feelings without ascertaining his.
