Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
The last week had been heaven on earth for Esther.
She had never felt more valued. Every single moment she had spent with Ian had been blissful.
He became a regular visitor, calling upon her every day.
The two would sit in the drawing room of Hathershire Manor and talk while Ruth or her mother watched from a distance, indulgently.
Esther loved that she could talk about anything with him. She could even discuss fashion and other feminine activities from time to time. Ian was a safe space, someone she could go to for anything and everything.
“Lady Esther!” Ruth exclaimed, bringing Esther out of her reverie.
“You startled me, Ruth. Whatever is the matter?” Esther said, who was seated on her bed in her underclothes, reminiscing about her days with Ian.
Only yesterday, the two had discussed the current political systems at length.
What had been refreshing was that, unlike other gentlemen, Ian hadn’t dismissed her opinions as lesser than his.
In fact, he had listened intently and admired her excellent insight.
This had made Esther respect him even more as a man.
He didn’t feel threatened by women with intellect or attempt to belittle her to make himself appear superior.
“You were lost in your thoughts again, My Lady. Must I remind you that you have a soiree to get ready for. At Gilendale Manor, for goodness sake, and you must look your best,” Ruth said, looking exasperated.
Esther didn’t mind her one bit since she knew that Ruth was right.
Esther had been daydreaming far too much lately.
“Oh, Ruth, I am so looking forward to the evening. Ian promised me that he would spend most of his time with me,” Esther sighed, standing up from her bed.
“I am sure you will have a splendid time, My Lady. But to do that you must first get ready to go,” Ruth said once again, and Esther laughed. She walked towards the vanity and sat down at the stool obediently in front of Ruth, allowing her to work her magic on her hair.
“And the gown isn’t too risqué?” Esther asked, her eyes falling to the new dress hanging from the closed door of her dressing room.
The ivory gown had been delivered just this morning, having been rushed at her mother’s behest. Hildred wanted Esther to look her best this evening and had taken her to the modiste with all possible haste.
The dress was simple but dramatic. The neckline showed more of her decolletage than Esther liked, but the delicate embroidery on the bodice was beautiful.
“You will look exactly like what Lord Gilbert has addressed you as on several occasions; his beautiful angel,” Ruth said melodramatically, prolonging the last three words and making Esther blush deeply.
“You evil woman. Are you listening to our conversations?” Esther laughed loudly, still crimson from Ruth’s words about her and Ian.
“I do try my best to give you privacy, My Lady, but it is not easy,” Ruth said with a giggle. Esther knew she was right. Though Esther didn’t mind it at all that much. Ruth was a good friend and only ever wanted the best for Esther.
“You have been the perfect chaperone, Ruth. You are always far too good to me” Esther said with sincerity.
Ruth blushed and busied herself with styling Esther’s hair.
To be honest, Esther was slightly nervous about going to the soiree for she knew everyone in attendance would be watching them.
The gossip columns wrote about them daily, if only to report that Ian had, yet again, visited Esther and stayed for much longer than the expected quarter-hour.
The time she spent with Ian had helped Esther understand him better.
Although she was fully aware of his jaded past, something Astrid delighted in bringing up at every opportunity, Esther knew that Ian cared for her.
His feelings and this courtship were genuine, and he valued her in a way that no one ever had.
She knew that Ian would never hurt her, of that she was certain.
It was as if her happiness was now linked to Ian, and everything about him affected her mood greatly.
“All done, My Lady. Do you like it?” Ruth asked stepping away.
Esther looked up at her reflection in the mirror and instantly fell in love with her hair.
Ruth had arranged her honey-brown tresses in a new style that, while carefully crafted, looked effortlessly beautiful.
Esther fingered the soft curls that framed her face and smiled.
“It looks exquisite Ruth, thank you,” Esther said, completely in awe that her normally dull locks shone in the light.
“I am glad you like it, My Lady. I believe that Lord Gilbert will as well,” Ruth said with a saucy wink.
Ruth helped Esther into the ivory dress. The material practically clung to Esther’s curves as it fell down from the gathered bodice.
“How do I look?” Esther asked, once she had donned her long ivory gloves.
Ruth clasped a simple pearl necklace around Esther’s throat and said, “You will be the most beautiful woman in the room, My Lady,” Ruth said and Esther smiled.
“Well, that will be highly unlikely with Astrid and her friends in attendance, but I appreciate the sentiment,” Esther said.
“My Lady, you are radiant with happiness, and it makes you even more lovely that you already were. I have never failed to marvel at how the members of the ton did not realize what a treasure you are sooner,” Ruth said with uncharacteristic heat and Esther sucked in a sharp breath. Those words meant so much to her.
Esther nodded, unable to find the appropriate words to acknowledge or thank Ruth.
Ruth was neither her sister nor a friend by societal standards.
Though to Esther, Ruth was the one person that had kept her balanced all these years.
She wondered why she couldn’t share such a relationship with Astrid.
She longed to be as close with her sisters.
But this was a happy moment. She made her way quickly downstairs, already looking forward to what she knew would be an enchanting evening indeed.
Ian came from his room and found the entire household going about in a frenzied flurry.
Every servant was busy doing something in preparation for the soiree.
He walked inside the ballroom of the Gilendale Manor and examined the space.
The floor had been highly polished and then chalked with an intricate design to keep the dancers from slipping.
The decorations looked elegant. Great urns of fragrant blooms lined the walls of the room.
The refreshment tables were draped with pristine white cloths and the silver gleamed in the candlelight.
Little nooks were scattered around the room with sofas and chairs strategically placed for those who preferred to observe the dancing.
Ian even spied a few places where a couple could stand shielded from the prying eyes of the matrons behind some cleverly placed greenery.
He smiled, wondering if he would be bold enough to steal a kiss from Esther in one.
“Well, how does everything look?” His mother’s soft yet magnetic voice greeted him from behind, and Ian turned around. She was dressed for the soiree and looked extremely stylish in her sapphire blue dress.
“Just like it always does, Mother. Tasteful and exquisite,” Ian replied with a smile and a kiss to her cheek.
Only five days ago the idea of this soiree had given him a headache but today he was eager for it to begin.
He was perfectly content for his entire focus was on seeing Esther.
Adam and Lisa were simply two people his mother had invited, and he wouldn’t allow them to ruin his mood or the event that was to take place.
“Thank you, son, I am glad you like it,” Grace said with a smile, looking proud of herself.
“Are the refreshments ready? I am ravenous,” Ian asked, making his mother laugh.
“Don’t you dare touch a thing! You’ll ruin the aesthetic before anyone arrives,” She exclaimed with a smile before turning to look at him with a serious expression. “Ian, can I say something to you?”
“Absolutely, Mother,” Ian replied, already knowing that she was going to mention Adam and Lisa. She only turned serious when addressing that matter.
“I wish to thank you so much for pushing aside your differences with Adam and Lisa and agreeing to attend this soiree. I hope you are not cross with me for forcing you into this situation. I just want my family to be whole again,” His mother went on and Ian smiled at her.
“Mother, you know I would do anything for you. I was not pleased that you forced my hand in this way, but I understand your reasons,” Ian told her. He knew there was no point in taking it out on his mother because it obviously wasn’t her fault, though he simply couldn’t help his anger.
“I know that, Ian, and I appreciate both your candor and your sentiment,” his mother said, clearly understanding the tumult of feelings rising inside him.
The butler then entered to inform Grace that the first of the carriages had arrived. Ian escorted his mother to the top of the stairs, where she and his father would greet their guests. He bowed to his parents and moved further into the ballroom, wanting some time to compose himself.
Soon the ballroom was filled as guests began to arrive in great numbers.
Ian busied himself with mingling with everyone in attendance though in his heart, he was only waiting for Esther and her family to arrive.
He was curious to see how she looked tonight as she had hinted that a new gown was being made for the occasion.
Ian excused himself from his latest group and went in search of something to drink. He knew he would only get wine or punch since spirits were discouraged at these types of events, but he didn't really need anything else. Alcohol would only make the warm space unbearable.
He poured himself some punch and stood by the table.
His ears were strained towards the butler who was announced the name of everyone that had arrived.
His eyes widened as two very familiar names were announced, and Ian turned to look towards the door as Adam and Lisa entered the ballroom, hand in hand.
He knew that he couldn’t have escaped them but hoped that Esther would be there before they arrived.
Ian put the glass back on the table and walked towards the back of the room, not ready to meet his brother and sister-in-law without Esther’s calming presence by him.
It had been three years since he had laid eyes on them, and just one look at the two of them brought every single painful memory back to the surface.
Ian knew it wasn’t going to be an easy evening for him and longed for Esther to be by his side.