Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Edward stood in front of Lord Edon’s townhouse for a long moment. It looked as if everyone had already arrived at the ball.
His father glanced his way, offering an encouraging smile. “Are you ready?”
Edward wiped his sweaty palms on his handkerchief then tucked the cloth back into his pocket, though he wondered why he even bothered.
He’d probably only bring it out again in another minute or two and wipe his hands again.
Try as he might, he couldn’t calm down. In fact, it was because of him that he and his father were late.
He had spent a ridiculous amount of time agonizing over what to wear.
Once upon a time, he thought only ladies worried about their appearance.
He knew his mother had, and it had delayed their social exploits quite a bit while he grew up.
His father had been patient with her. Thankfully, he’d been patient with him as well.
Even though his father hadn’t issued a single word of criticism, he felt he owed him an apology, so he said, “I’m sorry we’re so late,” as they climbed the steps.
“You are meeting the lady you’ll be marrying tomorrow. You want to make a good impression this evening. Anyone in your situation would want to look their best.”
“I hope we’re not too late. When are we supposed to meet her and her father?”
His father took his pocket watch out just as they crossed the threshold of the townhouse. “We have five minutes to spare.”
Edward’s eyes grew wide. He knew they were late, but he didn’t realize they were that late.
It was a good thing he hadn’t changed his mind after choosing the maroon cravat.
After serious debate, he had opted for that color since it seemed to go better with his dark attire.
His mother used to tell him any shade of red was good for bringing out the color in one’s cheeks.
He thought it might do well to look as lively as possible.
When you look lively, you’re a handsome lad, Edward, she used to tell him.
He could only hope that Miss Kiefer would think so, too.
“I’ll find Lord Covenshire,” his father told him as they entered the crowded ballroom. “Why don’t you wait for me over there?”
Edward offered a nod then proceeded to weave his way around clusters of people who were laughing and having a good time.
He’d heard rumors about Lord Edon’s popularity.
Some whispered that he was even more esteemed than the Cadwaladers themselves.
Given how people pressed in around Edward this evening, he was inclined to believe it.
He couldn’t recall being at a ball with so many people in attendance.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he made it to the edge of the room.
While there were a couple of people seated near the veranda, none were young enough to be the one he was here to meet.
He pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his palms again.
At the time his father told him she wished to meet at a ball, he had been glad for it since the lack of people at a dinner party would make it harder to come up with something to say.
Now, he wished she had chosen the dinner party.
If he wasn’t careful, he would start to smell in an unpleasant way, which would make his bath a couple of hours ago all for nothing.
He took a deep breath, held it for several moments, then released it. That helped. A little.
A sound that made Edward think of cackling hens brought his attention to the area of the ballroom where several people were laughing.
He hadn’t ever had an occasion to speak with Lady Diane or her friends, but his father had warned him to avoid them.
They’re a superficial lot. A gentleman would be better off running off to a monastery in the mountains than to get tangled up with anyone associated with Lady Diane.
Any lady can give a gentleman a child, but only a true one can give him a family and a home.
Edward shivered and turned his attention away from them. It surprised him the gentlemen surrounding them were so smitten with them. Surely, he and his father couldn’t be the only ones who saw how empty their lives were.
His father approached, so he directed his attention to them. “Lord Covenshire and his daughter are on their way over. I don’t mind saying she seems excited to be making your acquaintance.”
“Given the fact that you chose her for me, I’m excited, too.” There was no one wiser than his father. If he thought Lord Covenshire’s daughter would be a good match, then she had to be someone special.
His father gestured to the pair as they emerged from the clusters of people gathered nearby.
At once, Edward was struck by how lovely Miss Kiefer was.
Wavy brown hair which had hints of blonde in it when the candlelight struck it just right, a sweet, heart-shaped face with kind eyes and gentle lips, and a pleasant hourglass figure. She was much better than he had hoped.
Her father made the introductions. “My dear, this is your intended, Edward. Edward, this is my daughter, Marie.”
Edward smiled and offered a slight bow. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Marie.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, too, Edward,” she replied, her tone soft, making him think of how soothing she would be when their children needed someone to comfort them.
Having lost his mother early, he had often missed such tenderness himself. His father was a good gentleman. He both admired and respected him. But there was nothing quite as tender as a mother’s presence.
His father glanced between him and Marie and grinned. “You’re right, Archie,” he told her father. “They do look good together.”
While Edward knew the two had been paired up for marriage, the words spoken aloud by his father were a bit embarrassing. He supposed it couldn’t be helped. His father had been proud of his selection. He supposed it was his father’s due to gloat a bit.
“Marie enjoys taking strolls at Hyde Park in the mornings,” her father spoke up, probably in an effort to ease things. “She says it’s the best time to hear the birds sing.”
“You like to listen to the birds sing?” Edward asked her.
“Yes,” she replied. “Their music is lovely. As much as I’m enjoying the music this evening, I still prefer to listen to the birds.”
He smiled in agreement. “There’s no instrument on Earth that compares to what God’s created.”
His father chuckled. “I remember how Marie used to ask the maid to open the window so she could listen to the birds while we had breakfast at our country estate.”
“It’s hard to hear them in the city unless you’re at Hyde Park,” she added. “Sometimes I go there to hear them.”
That was funny. Edward had never taken the time to listen to the birds while at the park. He’d always been occupied with his duties as headmaster. A walk in nature was the best way to sort through things, whether serious or not, though the more serious the matter, the longer he did spend there.
“Edward likes to eat by the window at the country estate so he can look out at the land,” his father inserted. “I think he also enjoys the fresh air.”
“There is plenty of fresh air at Hyde Park,” her father added. “The two might enjoy taking morning strolls there.”
“It sounds enjoyable,” Marie chimed in, her expectant gaze turning to Edward.
He took in the beauty of her smile for a moment before he softly replied, “Yes, it does.” With her by his side, he wouldn’t dwell so much on his work when he was supposed to be relaxing.
“The leaves are changing color this time of year,” she continued. “It’ll be nice to see them while we listen to the birds. Autumn is a wonderful time of year.”
“This is my favorite time of year,” he informed her.
“That makes our marrying tomorrow even better. When we look at the leaves on the trees and hear the birds sing, we’ll remember our wedding.”
Edward’s smile widened. He liked the sound of that.
Her father shook his head. “I don’t know where this lady came from. She looks like my daughter, but she’s not acting like her.” His gaze went directly to her. “I’ve never seen you this confident.”
Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink, and for a moment, she looked embarrassed. But then, she placed her hand on his arm and said, “For the first time in my life, I am certain about things. I think that’s what you’re noticing.”
“Yes, that must be it.” He patted her hand.
“You are no longer a little girl. You’re now a grown lady.
Soon you’ll be a wife, and not long after that, you’ll be a mother.
All of that is bound to have an effect.” He glanced Edward’s way.
“I don’t want to keep you from your intended. You two ought to dance.”
“While you do,” Edward’s father said, “Lord Covenshire and I will talk for a while.” Then he arched an eyebrow in a way that silently asked Edward how long they should give him and Marie time alone.
It was funny. Edward had been so nervous when he arrived here. Now, he felt very much at ease. Marie wanted to marry him. He could tell it by the way she was looking at him, and truthfully, that was all he cared about.
“Take your time,” Edward told his father. “Marie and I have a lot to talk about.”
“Yes, we do,” Marie agreed.
As their fathers headed for another part of the room, Edward extended his hand to her then escorted her to the dance floor.