Honoria was where his future lay.
Yet, for some reason, his attention kept drifting to Charlotte.
“Lady Honoria, we ladies are planning to go riding in the countryside tomorrow. Would you care to join us?” Mary asked.
“With His Grace’s permission,” she replied, deferring to Nathaniel.
“Of course, you may,” he said. He couldn’t imagine Charlotte asking permission for anything, unless it was done ironically.
Stop comparing her to Charlotte, he thought. The words snapped through his mind. He was so tense that when he went to grab his champagne, he misjudged the distance slightly and almost pushed the glass off the table. He managed to save it, but the error had not gone unnoticed.
“That champagne seems to be going to your head. Look out, Edmund, this could be your night to win at cribbage!” Alfred said, chortling. Nathaniel raised his glass, as if to show everyone that he was still in control.
Everyone was so relaxed that they took the comment in the intended spirit, and warm laughter rose from the table. All except from the seat beside him, where Honoria remained quiet.
“Would you care for some more?” Nathaniel asked.
“I have had enough, thank you, Your Grace,” she said. This time when she smiled, it seemed to come a moment too late, and as he studied her eyes, he sensed something hidden within them. Beatrice continued speaking with Honoria, giving Nathaniel the opportunity to observe her.
She held her posture well, although he noticed moments when she almost lost it and had to force her shoulders back to their rigid position. While she remained engaged with Beatrice, Nathaniel observed her gaze flitting around the table to other people’s dishes, especially Clara’s.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like more dessert? Our cooks are always complimented when all the food is eaten,” he said,smiling warmly in the hopes of encouraging her. It seemed obvious that she wanted more.
But again, she declined.
“Thank you, Your Grace, but I am quite satisfied. Please pass my compliments to the kitchen. I could not eat another bite.”
Nathaniel’s brow furrowed. The instincts he developed by keenly observing people over the years told him that Honoria wasn’t being entirely honest.
In contrast, Charlotte asked for another serving of apple pie. She was not one to deny herself anything she wanted.
Not even a kiss from a stranger.
By her account, it had been an accident, a freak occurrence borne of uncharacteristic panic. Yet that kiss had formed a tether between them. It haunted him to the point that when they were close to each other, he was tempted to relive that first kiss, to find out if the second kiss would be like the first.
Perhaps it might even be better.
Again, his thoughts spiraled out of control. He finished off his serving of apple pie and leaned back in his chair, breathing deeply to help his digestion.
“I do believe it is time for some music,” Beatrice suggested. She led the ladies out toward the drawing room. The men followed shortly. Once everyone had gathered, the trio of musicians began playing immediately.
“I would be honored if you would dance with me, My Lady,” Nathaniel said, rising from his chair and holding out his hand. He knew what Beatrice expected from him. This was the whole reason why the musicians had been brought to the estate tonight anyway.
“I would be honored to dance with you, Your Grace,” Honoria replied, taking his hand and rising from her chair. Her posture was still perfect.
Beatrice wore a wide smile and lightly clapped her hands together as he and Honoria took to the floor. They bowed before each other and were soon joined by Alfred and Mary, and then Edmund and Lydia. His back was turned to the table, and he dared not look back, fearing that his mind would only grow more troubled the more he looked at Charlotte.
Everything would be better once she left his estate, he was certain, although this thought brought with it a strange sense of unease.
With the music filling his senses and Honoria standing before him, it was easy for Nathaniel to think about something other than Charlotte. Honoria was naturally a perfect dancer. She was graceful and poised, never missing a step, and she moved in perfect harmony with the music.
“You show a natural affinity for music,” Nathaniel observed as the dance brought them close together. Her eyes sparkled in a way he hadn’t seen yet, and it made him wonder if she had been wearing a mask since her arrival, one that was only just beginning to slip.
“I have been playing the pianoforte since I was a child, and my mother always encouraged me to learn to dance. She said it would be important given how many events revolve around music. It’s often when I feel most liberated. Music has a way of freeing the soul, but, of course, every song must come to an end.”
He wasn’t sure whether she was so familiar with the piece of music that she knew it was coming to an end or that it was simply a coincidence, but the music faded into silence.
“I hope that you feel liberated here,” he said.
