“Cendrillon?” she queried. “The tales of Charles Perrault?”
“You know them?”
“Indeed, but in translation. I believe it is Cinderella?”
“Exactly so. I had a French nanny, who had escaped the revolution, and she would read me stories from her homeland in French. I loved to listen and I’m sure it’s why I’m fluent in French. It was very useful to the government in the war,” he added. Marcus continued, “I’m no handsome prince, but you did rather appear, trespassing on my land.”
“Trespassing?”
“Well, the grove is in Hargrove land, and you had wandered away from Leighton Manor that day.”
“Ah,” she responded, “then I was indeed a trespasser.”
“You also disappeared suddenly. One minute you were there, the next you were gathering your notebook and blanket and racing away up the forest track.”
“I cannot deny it,” she said. “I can’t even explain it. Except to say that we broke a lot of the rules of society that day, we hadcertainly not been introduced, and, however pleasant, it was not reality.” She took a sip of her lemonade before continuing. “I risked my reputation, Your Lordship. If we had been discovered, I could have been ruined.”
“I never think of these things,” he admitted. “I can see your predicament. I enjoyed our day together and hoped to see more of you, then suddenly you were gone. So, to me you will always be Cendrillon.”
“I like it,” she laughed, and he found he loved listening to her laughter. “You know my dear friend, Lady Leighton?” she continued. “I stayed a month at Leighton with her.”
“I hadn’t met her, though my cousin Colin, Lord Ludlow, knows Lady Leighton, and my mother has called on her. I tend to avoid social occasions, unless I am forced to attend.”
“Yet you are here tonight?”
“Under duress, believe me. My cousin is seeking a bride. He is keen to fall in love. I am honor bound to accompany him to events.”
“Ah, I understand entirely.”
“You do, how so?”
“My niece, Lady Jocelyn Sherwyn, is looking for love too. It’s her first season. She will be presented at court later this month.”
“And you, Cendrillon, is it your first ball too?”
“Indeed not. I am almost on the shelf. I had my first season five years ago but have rarely been in town since then.”
“How unusual for a young lady to admit to being on the shelf.”
“I see no need to mince words, Your Lordship. I have no desire to make a match.”
“I see. Well I shall enjoy your company this evening.” He looked toward the ballroom and noticed that Colin still danced with Lady Jocelyn.
“I suspect Lord Ludlow has formed an attachment for your niece.”
“And she seems happy in his company,” added Olivia.
“I wonder?” said Marcus, thoughtfully.
“You wonder?” queried Olivia.
“I wonder if we might facilitate the process of them getting to know each other. I have an ulterior motive and am happy to declare it. The sooner Colin is settled and offers for a young lady, then the sooner I can return to my estate.”
“I too long to be quietly at home writing, erm, I mean reading a book.”
“Colin certainly seemed struck by your niece the moment he set eyes on her. He seems entranced by her conversation. I predict he will want to meet her again, and often.”
“If Jocelyn likes your cousin, then I see no harm in our plan. I’ll need to tell Lady Leighton, who is sponsoring Jocelyn.”
