“Don’t be silly; the marquess was merely being polite.”
Charlotte accepted a glass of champagne and gingerly sipped the bubbling liquid, ignoring her friend’s teasing smile. The truth was that she had found the marquess to be far more attractive than any man she had ever encountered.
She just hadn’t considered the fact that he could have been attracted to her in the same kind of way. The pit of her stomach fluttered again in a strange way that made her wonder if she wasn’t ill.
“In any case. You seem to have caused quite a stir with your little dance. I’d be careful if I were you,” Isabella spoke up again and nodded subtly towards two ladies who were privately nestled together in a corner, whispering to each other behind their gloved hands. Both seemed to be glancing in Charlotte’s direction at regular intervals.
“Perhaps I have something on my face.” Charlotte lifted a hand to check if she hadn’t accidentally got a crumb of sorts on her cheeks or the corner of her mouth.
Rolling her eyes, Isabella shook her head in exasperation. “You know, Charlotte, if self-awareness were a person, it certainly wouldn’t be you. They are staring at you because one of them is obviously envious of your connection with Jameson. There is no need to be so oblivious all of the time.”
Charlotte recognized the first woman as the same brown-haired, plain-looking lady who had been glaring at her from across the floor when Jameson had asked her to dance. The second was Jameson’s younger sister, Elizabeth, who, while not as hostile as her friend, was shooting curious glances in her direction.
The unwanted attention made Charlotte wonder if Jameson didn’t already have some prospects when it came to women, but still, she couldn’t help recalling the way he had held her in his arms.
***
Jameson swirled the amber liquid in his glass as he lounged in the relaxed atmosphere of the billiard room. Men sat around the dimly lit room in groups, either playing poker, billiards, or cards as others chatted over the latest news and events. Clouds of smoke filtered up to the ceiling, leaving the men smoking their cigars in a sweet-smelling haze.
“You seemed quite captivated with the young woman,” Jameson addressed his friend as a light round of applause erupted in the room. The sound of billiard balls bouncing off one another signalled the continuation of a game in progress.
“She was quite lovely,” Michael spoke stiffly, sipping his drink while keeping his eyes on the game that was quickly coming to an end.
One of the players readied his cue stick, slamming the balls into one another and declaring his victory amidst the loud clatter and applause.
“Is that all you care to venture on the matter?” Jameson probed gently, aware of the fact that love and women were subjects that the earl would rather avoid.
Michael Ashburton had been a loyal friend to Jameson since their days together in Eaton. His previous experience with love had left him with a broken heart after his true love had chosen wealth over affection, running away with a duke whose prospects were far greater than his, even with the vast estates he now controlled.
“She doesn’t seem to be too interested in money; in fact, she never even asked once what my title entailed. She was far more interested in asking about my likes and interests.” He opened up a little more about the young lady he had been taken with the moment he had spotted her from across the floor.
“That seems promising.” Jameson gave as much encouragement as he could while still remaining cautious. The last thing he wanted was to push his friend into another heartache that would undoubtedly cause a downward spiral. He’d barely been able to keep him away from the bottle the last time his heart had been broken.
“I hope to see her again in the future; in the meantime, I’ll do a bit of digging into her family before I get my hopes up.” Michael downed his drink and placed the glass back on the side table that sat between the chairs.
That seems a bit more accurate.
Jameson smiled to himself; he was beginning to think that the young lady had got under his skin, but there was still a small semblance of the paranoia that had served Michael well in the past after his heartache.
“And you?” Michael raised his eyebrows as he turned to Jameson with a questioning look.
“And me what?” Jameson cleared his throat and shifted in his seat, thinking of Charlotte and the warmth of her skin that had emanated through her dress during their dance. Her lithe figure had glided across the floor, pressing against his body in an intoxicating manner.
“Don’t play coy with me now; I saw the way you were dancing with Lady Isabella’s friend. You were quite distracted.” Michael smirked at his friend, diverting the attention away from himself.
“Perhaps you weren’t all that taken with your companion if you were able to keep such a close watch on me,” Jameson shot back at his friend, narrowing his eyes. Banter with Michael came easily after many years of friendship; they knew when to jest and when to hold back.
Chuckling from deep within in his throat, Michael shook his head and lifted his hands in surrender. “I’m just wondering if your sudden interest in the lovely young woman had anything to do with you wanting to escape Lady Henrietta or if her beauty had genuinely captivated you?”
Jameson’s mind wandered back to the garden and the startled look in her gorgeous hazel eyes. It was true that Charlotte’s beauty had captivated him from the start, yet it was more than that.
The melody she had been humming spoke of sadness that only those who had been through trials could understand. There was something in the way she carried herself that made him want to get to know her better.
Her pale skin had glowed in the light of the moon, drawing him closer to her iridescent form. There had been a moment during their dance where he had fought the urge to kiss her perfect lips.
“I was genuinely interested in her.” Jameson decided to be honest about his attraction.
“Well, she is far more alluring than Lady Henrietta; when are you going to make it clear to her and that bird’s nest atop her head that you just aren’t interested? Or are you waiting for the vicar to ask you if you take her as your wife?” Michael teased him playfully.
