He stopped, releasing her before taking her hand and facing her. “May I?” He held out his other hand.
For a moment, she didn’t understand what he wanted but finally, comprehension dawned and she put her other gloved hand in his.
He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his neck. How odd it was that men had one and women didn’t. She hadn’t read the reason for the difference. But then again, there were many differences between the genders.
“Lady Dorothea, surely, you have remarked on what high esteem I hold you in. I mean that I hold you in the highestesteem.” His right eye twitched. “Your grace and your beauty have won me over, and I find my heart is full when with you.”
“My lord, I am honored.” Honored, but also uncomfortable, as she could not reciprocate his feelings. Her heart had died and to feel was to be in pain. Could he not tell? It was much better to be angry.
“No, I am honored that you would grant me your attentions on so many occasions. I have become quite dependent upon them. So much so that the thought of leaving this lovely place and not seeing you again until in Town once more fills me with such sorrow that I cannot bear it.”
Surely, he did not wish to visit her at school? If he asked, she would say it was not allowed, though she wasn’t sure if that were the truth. She tried to remember if any of her classmates had been visited by anyone not of their family. The squeezing of both her hands brought her back to Lord Dearling, who gazed at her as if she were the most beautiful woman in all of England.
“Lady Dorothea, I fear I cannot live without seeing you daily. So to that end, I would ask you to consider becoming my betrothed. I have already written my dear mother and told her of my feelings toward you, so I know she will approve. I will, of course, travel to request your father’s permission as soon as the morrow, but I wish to know you would be amenable to it. We could be married in your parish church, as I would travel far and wide to have you as my wife. I find my heart beats only for you and this strong emotion I have inside me can only be labeled love. I believe you may hold some small affection for me, and I’m sure that in time, it would grow. Would you consider such an arrangement?”
She stared at him in shock. He was asking her to marry him? She forced the fire in her mind to be covered and studied him, knowing he was kind and would no doubt treat her well. This had been her hope in coming to Sunnydale, that she finda man who would consider her for marriage before her mother embroiled the family in a scandal. She blinked, trying to find some emotion for the man, but she could not. Another had shown her what it was to be in love and had killed that feeling. “My lord, you have truly surprised me.”
His neck turned red. “I did not mean to. I thought my feelings were quite clear.”
As she looked back upon it, they were. It was her own focus on Harewood and her feelings for that man that had led her to ignore what was before her. Even as she thought of Harewood and the fact that she was an experiment, the fire threw flames out from beneath its cover. She wanted to turn away from Lord Dearling’s offer simply to prove Harewood wrong. But as she looked into Dearling’s hopeful eyes, she could not in good conscience do him such an injustice. She needed to sort out her own situation. She would probably never love a man again, and now that she knew what it was to be led astray, she couldn’t be so cruel.
She managed a small smile. “Yes, you have made your feelings very clear. I simply did not expect such a proposal this evening. Your enthusiasm is very flattering.”
His stiffened body relaxed and he grinned. “I am pleased. It was only this morning that I decided I must ask you. Do you find my proposition favorable, then?”
It was all she had hoped for before the end of the season, before she’d fallen in love with the wrong man. Though two other men had danced attendance on her, she could not be sure either Lord Manning or Mr. Retfield would ask for her hand in time. Despite the panic that started in her chest, she took a deep breath and nodded. This was what she must do. She had no alternative. “I do.”
Chapter Eighteen
No sooner hadshe said the words than Dory wished them back.
Lord Dearling’s smile grew wide, but before he could say anything, Lord and Lady Sommerset’s voices caught their attention. They seemed to be arguing in hushed tones that were growing louder. Thankful for any excuse to escape from what she’d just done, she looked to Lord Dearling and shrugged.
Rather than be alarmed, he appeared pleased and started to lean toward her.
She released his hands. “I do believe we should wait to announce our betrothal until you have permission from my father.”
He pulled back at her statement. “Yes, of course. That would be appropriate. Good news such as ours flies on the wind, and it would not do to have your parent surprised. I wish to present my best self to him.”
She almost told him to wear gray and not black but held her tongue. What did it matter what he wore? He would be her husband. He loved her. That should have been important, but she could find no enthusiasm at the prospect of marrying anyone.
He held his arm out to her. “Would you like to return to the ball? I’m sure there are a few friends of yours you wish to tell.”
Besides Rose, there were many friends she wished to tell back at school. Hopefully, she could hold off the wedding untilat least the first term. She’d promised both Rose and Lissette that she would be there, after all. She looked toward the earl and countess, not willing to go in without them. “Just one moment.”
She walked slowly toward the couple, catching phrases here and there as she drew closer. There was little doubt in her mind it had to be about the proposal she’d just accepted. But who was pleased by it and who was not was unclear. “Lady Sommerset, would it be acceptable to rejoin the ball?”
The countess turned, obviously surprised by her presence. “So soon?” Her usual secret smile was missing from her face.
Did that mean she wasn’t happy and her husband was? Why would she not be pleased? “Yes, we had a lovely conversation, but it would be rude to remain when Lady Enderly has put so much thought and creativity into this Night Faerie ball.”
“You are correct.” Lady Sommerset walked forward and hooked her arm in hers. “Let us return post-haste. I believe Joanna will be anxious to talk to us.”
Not a little surprised, Dory could do nothing as the countess escorted her past Lord Dearling. She gave him a crooked smile. No doubt he’d expected to ask her to dance once they reentered so they could celebrate. She wasn’t disappointed said dance would have to wait. She would prefer to cry than to dance. How her life had changed so much in just a matter of hours.
Lady Northwick welcomed them back in with a smile. “I am pleased to see that you have caught the eye of Lord Dearling.”
Before she could answer, Lady Sommerset rolled her eyes. “Not just Lord Dearling, but Lords Manning, Mr. Retfield, and Harewood.”
