“I am simply in awe, Sister. Any gentleman would be honored to have you by his side.” Ellen blushed. Andrew was not one to give compliments or show emotion, but here he was, acknowledging that she looked attractive. And he was smiling too!
“Ladies, I believe it is time to go. Ridlington is quite a distance.”
Ellen paused. “I thought it was just outside London?” she asked.
“Exactly what I have been trying to tell your stubborn-headed brother,” Marjorie retorted.
Andrew pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. “Yes, Marjorie. Ridlington is outside London, but we must pass many villages on the Ridlington Estate before we get to the Manor. Do you understand that much, or are you too proud to see past your nose?”
Marjorie huffed in response and turned up her nose. The ride to Ridlington was shockingly pleasant and full of laughter. Even Andrew and Marjorie were cordial with each other. They finally got to the village with the sun high up in the sky and were directed to their lodgings. After they had eaten and freshened up, some of the servants led them toward one of the nearby villages.
Gerard was right. The hills indeed look beautiful,Ellen mused.And the people sound very happy as well.Before they got into the village, they could already hear the sound of music and laughter coming from within. It was clear that the place was vibrant.
Their coach stopped at the designated spot, and they entered the village which had been decorated with banners and balloons. They were all handed a mug of ale, and before Andrew could protest, Ellen informed him that she was going around to look for Gerard, and she left Andrew and Marjorie to their devices. She sipped from her mug as she made her way past the food table, and there were also games at the corner. It was there that Ellen heard Gerard before she saw him. He was laughing out loud holding a little girl as he helped her aim to win a toy. She watched him for a moment, admiring how down-to-earth he was; there was something natural about how he was with the children. One could tell that he was really enjoying himself. It was one of the children who noticed her first.
“I just saw the Princess!” the little boy gasped with his eyes wide.
Ellen giggled. “I have been called many things, but Princess is new.”
She smiled at him and glanced up at Gerard who was now watching her with a look she did not recognize. “Gerard, thank you for inviting me,” she said softly.
But Gerard kept staring, so the little girl Gerard had been helping win a toy nudged him in the side. “I think he’s ‘smitten’ with you, Ma’am. Do forgive his manners.”
At that, she laughed, and Gerard, it would seem, finally spoke. “You look perfect.” And he let his eyes roam, taking in her outfit. Ellen blushed, and the children giggled.
“Are you Ellen?” one of them asked.
“Yes, I believe I am. How do you know that?” Ellen asked.
“Because Lord Ridlington can’t stop talking about you!” the children chorused.
“All right, that’s enough! Go enjoy the dancing, I will be taking Lady Ellen around the village. Go off now.” Gerard briskly sent them off before she could ask them more questions and before they could cause more damage. He held out his hand, and she took it. “Where is that brother of yours?”
Ellen giggled. “He is with Marjorie; they are probably having another drinking contest or something by now.”
Gerard nodded. “There is enough ale to go around.”
“You’re good with the children.”
Gerard shrugged. “How is your search for a husband?”
“Really good, I believe. I have now narrowed them into three, and I believe I should get an offer from one of them very soon.”
Gerard nodded thoughtfully. “I am pleased for you. Come now, I want to show you around the village before the party really starts.”
Ellen took his hand again excitedly as Gerard showed her around. He got her a meal from the table and insisted she take a bite of the bread. Ellen did and promptly told him it was the best bread she had ever had in her life.
Gerard was pleased. He refilled her cup of ale, and they went to watch the horse race for a brief moment. Ellen was shocked to see that Andrew and Marjorie were in the race. She could not possibly imagine what must have led to the duo deciding to compete. In the end, Marjorie was ahead of Andrew by a small margin making her the winner, and she saw Andrew go up to her to shake her hand good-naturedly.
“It would seem that your brother is a good loser. An honorable man.” Gerard nodded approvingly, and Ellen’s heart warmed. For all her brother’s shortcomings, she knew he was a good man at heart.
“Lady Ellen, it is good to see you again,” Gerard’s grandmother said when they saw her again in the village
“My Lady. Thank you for hosting us,” Ellen replied.
The Dowager Countess brushed the comment aside with a wave of her hand. “Thank Gerard who insisted on organizing this to give the villagers a taste of a Society ball. Now, go on my dear, they have begun dancing; don’t stay here with an old woman like me. Gerard, please be a dear and lead Lady Ellen to the middle of the floor for a dance.”
Gerard, with a dramatic flourish that made Ellen burst out laughing, led her to the middle of the floor which had been decorated to look like a ballroom, and they began to waltz. Ellen wasn’t surprised to discover that Gerard was both graceful and smooth on his feet as he looked. She laughed and twirled; she danced with a few people and children until she was so tired she could not move a step. Gerard led her off the dance floor, and they both stood in a corner to talk.
