What would it be like to marry? Forgetting Lord Tarrington’s declaration that her personal preferences did not matter... what would it be like to fall in love? To find someone who took care of her. Talked to her.Likedher. It was the stuff of fairy tales, to be sure. She was being presented with an option she’d not had before in her life.
Escape. Freedom.
It was a draw even stronger than that of the fairy-tale-like love. What was life off Lord Tarrington’s estate like? What would it be like to not be governed by governesses, housekeepers, and her guardian?
Perhaps she did want to marry, after all. On her own terms and with a man whom she loved and respected. And she certainly could not find a husband while sequestering herself away on this terrace.
Squaring her aching shoulders, she stepped toward the door. Unfortunately, she did so at the same moment that a gentleman came walking up the stairs behind her. They collided, which would have been embarrassing enough if the man had not been carrying a drink.
Lord Tarrington had told her not to drink the punch. She imagined he would also object to her wearing it.
Lydia stumbled with the force of the collision back toward her shadowed corner of the terrace.
“Blast! I am so sorry about that.”
She looked up. The man was familiar. He stepped closer, glancing from his empty drink. His mouth pulled into a grimace.
“I ought to have been looking where I was going. Do not blame yourself.” She glanced dismally at her stained front.
“I think I can easily take a large part of the blame. After all, it is notyourdrink all over the two of us. Blast. My mother is going to kill me.” The last part was muttered more to himself, but Lydia was fixated on something else he’d said.
Looking closely, she saw he was correct. The drink was not just on her but on him as well. “I am so sorry. I did not realize—” She trailed off, seeing that he was no longer paying attention.
He was leaning back now, looking into the ballroom. “Listen, I’m terribly sorry, but I cannot have my mother finding out about this.”
She quirked an eyebrow. He was worried about his mother at this moment? She was more worried about becoming the laughingstock of theton. But then something about his lanky frame and nearly red hair found its place in her mind.
“Lord Charles.”
“Yes?” he asked, looking at her as if she might make all of this disappear.
This was the man who had greeted them with their hosts. This was his home. She supposed dumping punch on a guestcouldfrustrate a mother.
“What do you propose we do?”
His jaw slid to the side in thought. “If we can get into the ballroom undetected, there is a side door. We’ll go through the house and call your carriage. No one will be the wiser. That is... if you... Well, do you mind?” His excitement at finding asolution dimmed as he seemed to realize that she had to agree to the scheme as well.
“My guardian will be wondering where I’ve gone.”
He waved that thought off. “I can send a servant for him.”
She bit the inside of her cheek. There was also her reputation to consider. Would it be harmed more by walking through the man’s home or by walking through the crowded ballroom covered in punch? She did not have enough knowledge of Society’s workings to intelligently answer that, but she did know what she wanted to do. The punch had begun seeping into her chemise, and it was growing increasingly uncomfortable.
So she nodded, agreeing to the plan.
He heaved a great sigh, looking over his shoulder at those still milling around on the terrace. None had paid them any heed.
“If you walk closely behind me, we might keep anyone from seeing your dress.”
“What about your waistcoat?” It was streaked with punch as well.
“I’ll cross my arms.” He set his glass on the balustrade, abandoning it there.
She nodded again.
“Follow me.”
She did her best to remain hidden by his back as they entered the ballroom. A couple people tried to intercept Lord Charles—he was, after all, the son of a marquess—but he artfully shrugged them off. In only a matter of minutes, they had reached a door at the side of the room. He pulled it open and hurried her ahead of him.
