“And what it’s like to be given a helping hand,” Lady Fielding added.
“We also know it’s important to follow one’s heart.” Hawthorne swept his arm around his wife and pulled her close to his side. Society had been shocked when the Earl of Cumberland’s heir, a renowned rake by all accounts, had declared himself in love some five years earlier.
“I owe you everything,” Guthrie told Marcus. “It goes without saying that I’ll do all I can to make sure you’ve a place among us.”
“And as the best ophthalmologist of my acquaintance,” Redding said from behind Marcus and Louise, “it’s high time people begin appreciating you.”
Marcus turned to meet his friend’s gaze. “Thank you.”
The duke tilted his head. “No need. We were all in agreement.”
“Still, you’ve done a lot for both of us tonight with this public display of support.” Marcus drew Louise a bit closer. “We won’t forget it.”
“I should hope not,” the Earl of Fielding said. “I’ll expect you to repay the favor once my eyes begin to fail.”
“So shall I,” remarked Coventry. “In fact, it’s possible I’ll be needing spectacles sooner rather than later. The fine print in the morning paper is starting to give me trouble.”
“You’re welcome to visit me at St. Agatha’s any time,” Marcus said, then amended, “or come by my home for a drink, and I will assess you while we savor a bottle of brandy.”
“Do you know, I like your style, Berkly,” Mr. Lowell said. He turned to Louise. “I believe our dance is about to begin.”
Louise squeezed Marcus’s arm and gave him a parting smile before accompanying Mr. Lowell to the dance floor.
Marcus glanced at Mrs. Lowell. “Shall we?”
They took their positions next to their spouses, awaited their turn, and stepped toward each other in time with the music.
“Thank you for helping Louise raise funds for the school, Mrs. Lowell. Your efforts have made it possible for her to move ahead with plans that would have taken over a year otherwise.”
“It’s been a pleasure,” Mrs. Lowell said while Marcus led her past the colonnade of dancers. “Your wife is doing the city of London great service by teaching blind children to cope. She’s quite remarkable.”
Marcus heartily agreed, and as much as he liked Mrs. Lowell, he was glad when his dance with her ended so he could sweep Louise onto the dance floor next. To his immense satisfaction, he heard the beginnings of a waltz, allowing him to hold her closer than what was otherwise deemed proper.
“You have incredible friends,” she said while he swirled her about.
There were still several disgruntled frowns to be found among those who watched them, but Marcus no longer cared. How could he when he was distracted by the loveliest lady in the world?
“I hope we can host them for dinner one evening?”
“I’m sure they would like that tremendously,” Marcus told her. Their home wasn’t large, but they’d manage somehow. He drew her closer. “It’s good we came tonight. My return to Society was long overdue. Thank you for encouraging me to take the leap.”
“It’s what we’re both here for, wouldn’t you say? To support and cheer each other on?”
Unable to resist, Marcus lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her right there in the middle of the Redding ballroom for all thetonto see. It was scandalous in the extreme and utterly perfect.
Louise sipped her champagne while enjoying a light conversation with her siblings, their spouses, and Marcus. She was immensely pleased with how the evening was turning out. Not even Lady Deidre’s sour expression could ruin her mood. Rather, she’d had to suppress a chuckle when she’d overheard Mr. Fairbanks say, “It’s probably best if you shut up, dearest, before you offend someone from whom I cannot protect you.”
Lady Deidre had stared daggers at her husband, but she’d held her tongue, much to Louise’s amazement. Perhaps Mr. Fairbanks had more strength of character than she’d believed.
“We’ve decided to rent a cottage this summer,” Kimberly said with a smile directed at her husband. “We could all go together.”
“Our children would certainly love a chance to spend more time with their cousins,” Albert said.
“Unfortunately,” Louise told him before he or the others got too carried away, “Marcus and I will have to decline. Going on holiday any time soon is out of the question for me now that I’ve got a school to run. And besides, I fear Papa will never speak with any of you again if he learns you’ve been meeting with us in secret behind his back once a week for afternoon tea.”
“At least we don’t live with him, unlike Mama,” Helen pointed out.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about her,” Albert said. “She’s always managed to hold her own against him.”
