Had she been mistaken about him? Was the reason he hadn’t spoken to her previously because he was not as intelligent as she’d hoped. It would be a shame if he had nothing to offer other than being quite dashing with excellent dancing skills.
“She has, um, a limp.”
“Do you know the cause?” Althea inquired.
Major Ambrose frowned further. “No.”
Goodness, this encounter was rather disappointing. One would think a gentleman who had been in the cavalry and in command of men would be better at conversation.
“I apologize for interrupting. I’ll leave you to see to your horse.” With a sigh of disappointment, Althea turned away.
“Wait,” he called anxiously. “I was rude, I…well…I apologize.”
Was Major Ambrose nervous?
“I interrupted you,” she insisted as her curiosity of him returned. “You were in the cavalry, correct?”
“Yes, eight years.”
He was a gentleman of few words.
“Is this your first Season?”
He smiled. “I attended once. Before I purchased a commission.”
“Was that Season the cause of you joining the Cavalry?” she teased.
“No, I, um…”
“I wouldn’t blame you if it had,” she quickly assured him. “I wish women were afforded a choice for I’d like nothing better than to spend spring somewhere other than London.”
This time, he did chuckle, much to her relief. “I well understand.”
“It must be terribly difficult not knowing many people.”
“I know five,” he answered.
“Now you know six if you include me.”
At her words, he seemed to relax in that his shoulders drooped. “I would like that, Miss Claywell.”
She’d never met a shy and nervous gentleman before and found it quite endearing. He couldn’t lack all confidence, however, or he wouldn’t have been able to command men. Perhaps that was where he was most comfortable because he did seem almost out of place in the park, and in the ballroom.
“I should leave you to your horse,” she finally offered as she was the one making conversation and he was simply responding.
“I, um…would you walk with me? That is, well, unless you need to leave.” He gestured to his horse. “I cannot ride her now and thought to walk her.”
So, he wasn’t completely disinterested, which was quite a relief. Althea gifted him with a smile. “I’d like that very much, Major Ambrose.”
He returned her smile with less shyness.
“How long have you been in England.” Given Napoleon had been defeated nearly a year ago and sent to the island of Elba, it was likely he hadn’t remained on the Continent.
“I returned last May,” he offered.
“And you’d been gone the entire eight years?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered.
