Chapter Sixteen #2
He took his turn, and then I went back for another longer look.
“Jupiter is the largest planet in this solar system, and that’s why we can see it relatively clearly,” I murmured.
“Galileo Galilei discovered the moons in 1610, over two hundred years ago. He thought they were stars at first, and then realized they revolved around the planet.”
“Did you know it’s the fastest rotating planet?” Mr. Biggs asked.
“Truly?”
He nodded. “It takes about ten hours for a full rotation.”
“Marvelous,” I whispered. Mr. Biggs clasped his hands behind his back, waiting for me to finish my extended perusal, taking in everything including the strange red spot I noticed between the horizontal bands. “It’s so fascinating.”
“Let me know if you have any more questions,” he said. “I shall leave you to explore at your leisure while I continue my work on the mural quadrant.”
Tarik’s eyes were warm as he stared at me, walking forward to take my shaking hands in his. “Newton also used Jupiter’s moons as evidence of gravitational theory, similar to the Earth and the sun.”
I nodded. “Proving that it’s universal.”
“Correct. I have one more thing to show you,” Tarik said, leading me over to the first reflecting telescope we had seen. “Go on, have a look.”
His lean frame bracketed mine as I leaned down to the eyepiece and let the image come into focus.
What appeared to be a bright star at first, slowly separated into two distinct stars, one a reddish orange and the other a glowing cobalt blue.
I carefully adjusted the focus, sharpening the picture so the brighter star took on a more golden hue. “Is that…Beta Cygni?” I whispered.
“Yes, Albireo,” he said softly. “Twin stars.”
My eyes stung, feeling like they were glossing over, and for a moment, the image blurred.
I had no idea why I was crying, only that I had never imagined ever seeing such a thing so clearly.
“A binary pair,” I murmured in wonder, remembering the conversation we had had about double stars, though I’d been Ansel then and couldn’t bring it up now.
The twinge of guilt deepened, feeling much heavier than usual.
“The Astronomer Royal James Bradley discovered it was a double star in 1753,” Tarik said. “And Herschel himself observed it two and a half decades later.”
When I was finally able to tear myself away from the telescope, I leaped into Tarik’s arms and pressed my lips to his before even realizing what I was doing. I felt his surprise as I peppered his face with kisses between words as he laughed and spun me in a slow circle.
“I. Cannot. Believe. This. You. Are. Unbelievable,” I said between kisses.
“I take it you enjoyed your surprise, then?” he asked, chuckling, when I stopped to draw a full breath.
“Enjoyed it? I loved it,” I exclaimed. “You’ve outdone yourself, and I have no idea what I even did to deserve something this special. Being here is a dream come true.”
He smiled, eyes twinkling. “Good. I meant it when I said that you deserve to have everything you ever wanted. And now we must get the most beautiful girl to the ball before her coach turns into a pumpkin.”
“Dear God, what time is it?” I asked. I was so wrapped up in the whole experience that I hadn’t even checked the clock.
“It’s only nine. We will be back before ten.”
Together, we retraced our steps back to the front entrance, and after making our goodbyes and giving fervent thanks to Mr. Pond, we exited to where Henry was patiently waiting with the carriage. Before long, we were on our way back to Mayfair.
Once more, I switched out my shoes, this time for my dancing slippers while Tarik watched me with interest. I could feel myself blushing even though I was fully covered by the length of my hem and stockings. But something about the nature of it felt much too intimate for the interior of a coach.
“You have tiny feet,” he said when he saw me blushing. “I suppose it was smart to keep your gold-and-silver slippers safe, unlike the maiden from the story, who lost hers.”
“A gentleman would not stare, you know.”
His brows rose. “Good thing I’m not a gentleman, then.”
“You’re supposed to be pretending to be one, aren’t you?” I retorted and then wrinkled my nose at what he’d said about the slipper, and earlier about the pumpkin. “Did you reference Cinderella by Charles Perrault?”
He smirked. “Does that surprise you?”
“Well yes, you’re a mathematician,” I said. “With your studies, how on earth do you have time for fairy tales?”
“Everyone should make time for fairy tales,” he responded sagely.
“They teach important moral lessons, inspire imagination, bridge cultural gaps, and provide hours of reading entertainment. In Cinderella, one learns that grace is of more value than beauty, that compassion and empathy are the true signs of one’s character. ”
I had to work to keep my mouth from falling open.
“I prefer the bloodier ones,” I shot back, grinning. “Like the version of Cinderella written by the Brothers Grimm that published about eight years ago. The sisters cut off their toes and heels to fit the slipper.”
Tarik laughed, the sound low and rich and full of something I could not name but that made me shiver all the same. “You’re a violent little creature, aren’t you?”
“A rose without its thorns is hardly a rose,” I quipped.
“Just so.” Tarik canted his head and leaned back against the seat. “I suppose there is also a moral to that story, considering the sisters were so dishonest as to injure themselves to fit into the slipper. Their eyes were pecked out for their deceit.”
The guilt I’d felt before about my deception returned in force.
My eyes probably deserved to be pecked out.
Dear God, how am I ever going to tell him? And will he forgive me?
The ball was in full swing by the time we arrived, with dozens of carriages lined up and down the street.
I smoothed my dress for the hundredth time and patted my hair to make sure everything was in place.
I was slightly rumpled from the journey as well as leaning over the telescopes, but nothing that would be noticed by anyone other than Anna.
I draped my cloak on my shoulders and pulled the hood over my head.
“I’ll meet you in the ballroom,” I told Tarik, deciding to descend first so we didn’t arouse any unnecessary gossip.
“Wait.” He gripped my fingers and pulled me back toward him into the darkened interior of our coach, pressing a quick but heated kiss to my lips. “Will Lord Ansel be here tonight? I haven’t seen him in a while, and we really must discuss his progress. Mr. Peacock required an update.”
I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. How on earth was I going to be my cousin tonight? And there would be no good reason why he wasn’t at our family’s ball. Illness, perhaps? My mind raced and my belly churned with nerves.
“He should be,” I said brightly, knowing I probably should have confessed everything then and there, but it didn’t feel like the right moment.
I was starting to doubt that there would ever be a right moment.
The fear of jeopardizing our rapport and his obvious esteem toward me was too much to bear.
I didn’t want to ruin a perfect evening.
Later. I’ll explain it all later.
“Rosalin,” he said and when I turned the carriage door handle, his smile was dazzling. “Save me a dance.”
“All my dances are yours, sir,” I said, and meant it. There was no one else worth dancing with.
My insides buzzing with a nauseating mix of exhilaration and anxiety, I walked briskly up the footpath and entered through the kitchens, hurrying past the bustling space.
I discarded my cloak and dashed up the servants’ staircase to my bedroom, where Anna was pacing a hole in the plush carpets.
Her face was so red she looked like she’d rubbed beetroot juice all over it.
“Good heavens, my lady,” she hissed, eyes widening comically when she caught sight of me slipping into my chambers.
“Where in creation have you been? I’ve been having conniptions for hours, and the duchess is convinced I’m lying to her, which I am.
Father, forgive me.” She made the sign of the cross and stamped her feet in a fit of frustration that made me want to giggle, but it would be in awful form, so I kept my lips zipped shut.
“And then, Lady Ela and Lord Ridley arrived without you.”
My mirth instantly vanished. “Oh no.”
“Indeed,” she pronounced grimly. “But by the grace of heaven, I narrowly avoided chaos by waylaying the marchioness’s maid in the foyer and begging for Sally’s assistance to explain your continued absence to her mistress.”
“And did she?” I asked, wondering in a mild state of panic if my mother was going to storm into my room and demand to know where I’d been if I hadn’t been with the Marchioness of Ridley.
“Luckily, yes. Lady Ela helpfully informed the duke and the duchess that you were en route with Lady Zenobia because of a gown emergency. Right now, Sally is waiting for the lady to arrive to inform her of the plan.”
My breath rushed out. Okay. That was good. I was safe for the moment.
Suddenly, my heart quaked. “Wait, did you say the duke? Has Papa returned?”
“Yes, just this evening. His ship put into port earlier than planned. Don’t worry. He, too, is unaware of your tomfooleries.”
Grinning, I threw my arms around her and squeezed. “That is why you are the best lady’s maid in all of Britain!”
“Flattery will not get you anywhere, my lady,” she groused. “Let me look at you.” She adjusted my bodice and smoothed down the skirts, before fussing over one or two loosened strands of hair. “Excellent. Are you wearing lip stain?” Her eyes narrowed on my mouth.
I blinked at the odd question. “No?”
“Your lips are quite red,” she muttered, staring at them again and frowning until I had the urge to cover my mouth with my palm. “I hope you’re not coming down with a cold. Chapped lips are quite unbecoming, though yours look rather swollen to tell the truth.”