“Rather bold of you to assume that you know everyone in attendance, my lord,” she responded.
He chuckled. “Perhaps I do. Perhaps I am the duke himself. Then it would make sense for me to know who is here, wouldn’t it?”
“Are you the duke?” she asked curiously. Amelia had never seen the Duke of Stanhope, nor had many members of the ton. Apparently, he was a nigh-on impossible man to get a hold of, making the balls he hosted all the more grander affairs.
The gentleman only sipped his lemonade before saying, “We shall find out soon enough, won’t we?”
There was something about the way he said those words that made her think she was not speaking to the Duke of Stanhope. And why any gentleman would pretend to be the duke was beyond her. Still, she had no intention of pointing out the oddity.
For now, for the sake of her plan, she would play along. “Then,Your Grace, how are you enjoying the ball so far?”
“It has only just begun. There are more people to see, dances to be danced. But I do believe it will be quite the spectacle.”
“I must agree. I, myself, am hoping to share my first dance with a handsome and kind gentleman.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Amelia flushed. She’d been a little bold just now but there was a sudden boredom to his tone that made her feel embarrassed. A small silence settled over them and she racked her brain for some way to be rid of it.
“So, Your Grace, are you here with your fam—”
“Forgive me, my lady, but you must excuse me,” the gentleman cut in, suddenly distracted. “It was lovely to meet you.”
Without waiting for a response, he walked away. Amelia watched as he approached a blond-haired lady, who gave him a broad smile and a deep curtsy. Mortified at how quickly she had been dismissed, Amelia put aside her untouched lemonadeand walked away. For the first time since the night began, she was happy that hardly anyone paid any heed to her. As if they did, being ignored like this with such little afterthought would’ve only been all the more humiliating.
Amelia sighed, finding a corner she could linger in. She skimmed her gaze through the guests but no one seemed as out of place as she did. As a matter of fact, everyone seemed to know someone, bodies drifting back and forth as they greeted their peers. Amelia shifted awkwardly, not knowing what to do with herself. Now and again, she thought a gentleman was approaching her but was met with bitter disappointment when he headed elsewhere. It was as if she was not even present.
She didn’t know how much time had passed, though she supposed it was probably an hour or so. She had a long night ahead of her and it was already off to a bad start. Perhaps if she cleared her head, it would help a little.
Grazing past the sides of the ballroom, she searched for a door that would take her away from this place and offer her that needed speck of respite. A few moments alone to get herself together before throwing herself back into the fray.
With that as her new temporary goal, she continued her stroll, letting her mind wander. Even though she usually preferred going for walks outdoors, it calmed her a bit now. Without even realizing it, she drifted out of the ballroom through an adjoining door, landing her in a parlor that was already filling up with gentlemen. As the men began to claim seats for their card game, she hastily retreated.
Exiting through a separate door, she found herself in an empty hallway. She headed down it, taking slow, deep breaths to calm her nerves and steel her resolve. When she returned to the ballroom, she would try to be a little more outgoing, she promised herself. She couldn’t let another ball pass with her remaining unnoticed the entire time.
Ifshe found her way back, she thought, when she realized that she might be a little lost. Still determined, she kept pushing forward, and soon enough, she found a set of double doors that she hoped would lead her to the gardens. When she stepped through, however, she found herself on an outdoor balcony instead.
This will do, she thought, closing the door behind her. The muffled sounds of the ballroom could be forgotten now that she was alone.
The balcony was quite vast, she noticed, though she supposed it wasn’t all too surprising if any other chamber of this castle was anything to go by. An ornately carved balustrade stood before her and another set of doors stood to her left.
Amelia made her way over to the balcony’s railing and leaned against it, letting out a sigh. She would have leaned further over it for better reprieve and the nice view below, but she didn’t want to risk the breeze ruining her hair.
“Welcome to Castle Stanhope, my lady.”
Amelia gasped, whirling at the voice. Directly behind her stood a gentleman in all black except for his gold-buttoned tailcoat, with the shadows from the moon cloaking his features. He seemed to have come through the door to the left and as he approached, swaths of moonlight illuminated his black, curly hair. It was the first thing Amelia noticed about him—other than his height.
The gentleman wore an easy smile as he came closer still. Each step sent Amelia’s heart skittering through her chest, her words failing on her tongue. Deep hazel eyes stared through to her soul, which sat atop a high, pointed nose. He had a faint stubble stretching across his jaws. Even though most of his features were shadowed by the moonlight still, Amelia had no doubt that this gentleman was unbelievably handsome.
And they were alone. On a balcony. Her father must be rolling in his grave.
“Thank you,” she murmured, finally finding her words.
His lips twitched into a wider smile. He stopped just a few feet away from her. “I take it, it was not too much trouble finding this spot?”
“No more trouble than it would be for anyone else,” Amelia answered, a little confused. “…Unless you are lost?”
That made him chuckle, the deep sound reverberating against her body. “I think I am quite fine, but I appreciate your misplaced concern.”
