AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Before either of them could say a word, their mother announced, "This evening we are all attending the opera."
"But Mama, I have…" Jonathan began, but the look their mother gave him cut him off. Gabriel had to stifle his laughter. They both knew that the only plans his brother had were the kind that only started more rumours of lechery and drunkenness.
"I have been wishing to go for so long and it is rare that we get an evening where we are all free to go," Lady Sutthers insisted, a gentle whining to her voice that suggested she would continue to plead until they both finally gave in.
"What is so brilliant about the opera?" Jonathan grunted. "It won't be nearly so entertaining as it is back in Italy. The Italians have always done it best."
"Jonathan!" their mother gasped, looking horrified. "Never say such things."
Gabriel flinched at that, knowing that back in the day, their mother would have wholeheartedly agreed with him. She had changed immensely since their moving to England and Gabriel wasn't at all sure it was for the better.
Yet if going to the opera was the worst thing she had planned for their evening, then Gabriel for once would indulge her. After all, they would have their own box to sit and enjoy it from and no need to talk to anyone else unless he so wished. Which he already knew he wouldn't.
Gripping hold of his mother's hand, he pressed his lips to her knuckles and said, "I shall gladly accompany you,madre."
"Ahh, see, then you have no need of me," Jonathan persisted, but both Gabriel and their mother looked at him with deepened scowls.
Knowing that only his word would truly settle the matter as the new head of the household, Gabriel said, "We shall all go and show a united front."
The opera was just as Gabriel would have expected. The theatre was filled with the ton and the other well-to-do gentlefolk of the town. And although they had their own box to watch the show from, they were forced both before and after ingratiating themselves into the crowd, to talk pleasantries with all those they loathed and who loathed them back while there was a smile planted upon every face.
Gabriel's only relief was that their mother looked much more at ease among the crowd than he or his brother, who stayed off to the sidelines trying to avoid as much eye contact as possible. Gabriel did not miss the attentions of several young ladies, all pretty and yet plain and likely as boring as the rest of them.
Though they were polite when approached and addressed and it was quite clear that even though they were, as the rest of thetonwould say, 'mongrels', there were still those who were desperate enough to try and throw their daughters into their path for the chance at the title of countess.
Though he kept himself to himself as much as possible while his brother revelled in the attention of several young ladies, enjoying the chance to rouse further stupid gossip, Gabriel did find himself looking over the crowds of people who streamed from the theatre once the performance was over.
While many of them were distracted by congratulating the performers just as his mother had insisted that they should, he watched the rabble of coloured dresses and top hats wondering whether a single one of them would be worth connecting himself and his family with.
And it was in doing so that he saw her. At first, she had her back to him and merely looked like any other lady of thetondressed in a pale blue gown with white lace accents. But as he skimmed over her, she turned as if feeling his gaze land upon her. And in a moment, Gabriel's heart stopped.Bookstore girl!
She was as beautiful as he remembered, if not even more so. Radiant beneath the chandeliers that cast rainbows through their crystal hangings, she was porcelain pale and her gown perfectly matched the colour of her eyes. If she noticed him standing some distance away, she did not give any inclination. And the moment she turned and walked in the other direction, Gabriel knew he could not stop himself from following her.
"Please excuse me a moment," he said quickly to his brother, and the two young women who had been trying to speak to them both looked more than a little crestfallen as he hurried away.
"Do excuse my brother," he heard Jonathan repeating on his behalf and knew that his brother would have no trouble in holding their attention until he undoubtedly returned. "He is quite the busy earl."
Gabriel cared not for the feelings of the women he had just left to his brother. His only thoughts were on the woman who was disappearing into the crowd ahead of him.
"Pardon me, excuse me," he said desperately, trying to get through the crowd on his way to her. "I must get through, please."
Yet it did not matter how urgently he pleaded for when he made it through to the other side of the crowd, in the very same direction the woman was headed, she appeared to be gone. The door ahead of him was still swinging slightly and so he hurried forth, shoving it open and glancing this way down that down the hall. The place was empty save for a lone theatre attendant who bowed the moment that he saw him.
"May I help you, my lord?" the man asked, but Gabriel grumbled angrily under his breath and quickly returned from whence he had come. Frustration and disappointment battled deep inside of him as he realised that might well have been the only chance he would have gotten to find out who the young bookstore woman truly was. It was a miracle that he had even seen her there in amongst that huge crowd of people.
Yet one thought occurred to him as he rejoined his brother:perhaps she is closer to the ton than I at first realised.Or maybe, just maybe, he had imagined her entirely, only hoping that some random brunette in the crowd had been her.
After all, he had been thinking of her all night and all day. It would be no surprise if his mind were to play such terrible tricks upon him as to make him believe she was one of them and far closer than he might have imagined.
"Ahh, good of you to return to us, brother.” Jonathan smiled when he rejoined them on the other side of the hall. "Matilda and Emily were rather hoping that we might be in agreement to continue what has been such a wonderful evening so far. What do you say, Gabe?"
The devilish smile upon his brother's face suggested that he wasn't merely talking of taking the two young women to dinner or even for a drink. Gabriel grimaced at his brother's behaviour. Though he once would have shared it, he thought,it is no wonder they call us rakes.
"I am afraid I have business to attend to this evening once Mama is returned safely home," Gabriel said swiftly, bowing his head to the two disappointed women. Neither of which was the bookstore girl and so he felt little regret at having turned down their company. "Though I am certain the three of you shall have a wonderful time without me."
He was more than a little relieved when their mother returned from offering her congratulations to the performers. The way she stifled a yawn behind her fan suggested she would have no objections to calling it a night, but Gabriel couldn't help but think,even if I retire home early to my bed, will I be able to sleep without thinking of her?
Chapter 4
