“May I say just how beautiful you look this evening?”

Harmonia flushed as she smiled into Lord Newford’s eyes, finding his presence near her almost entirely overwhelming.

“Thank you, my lord,” she said, softly, as he smiled gently at her. “You are most kind.”

“But honest,” he replied, quietly. “I believe your gentle beauty outshines every other lady here. I am honored to have you with me.”

Amelia, who was sitting at the back of the box, giving Lord Newford and Harmonia space to talk without interruption whilst still keeping a firm eye on her younger sister for the sake of propriety, suddenly rose to her feet.

“Is that…...?”

Harmonia, confused, turned towards where Amelia was looking but saw no-one of note. “Amelia?” she asked, frowning. “Did you see someone you knew?”

“I thought I did,” Amelia murmured, sitting back down and shaking her head. “But I believe I was mistaken. I thought it to be Luke.”

Lord Newford frowned suddenly, his expression turning somewhat grim. “Your cousin, Luke?” he asked, glancing from one sister to the next. “Do not tell me that he has returned to call upon you again?”

Harmonia shook her head and saw the relief in his expression. “No, he has not. In fact, Amelia and I were commenting only earlier this afternoon that we have not seen him for some time. That is rather surprising, given that he is usually seen about London.”

“But I suppose he has never been so firmly told that he is no longer welcome to press his attentions on you,” Lord Newford commented with a slight sigh. “That, mayhap, could have sent him into something of a depression where he might choose not to enter into society for a time.”

Amelia looked at them both thoughtfully for a few moments. “Whilst I agree that such a thing might very well occur, I would suggest that it is not like our cousin to be so willing to simply accept what he has been told. Even though Harmonia was very forthright, he warned that he would not allow such a thing to occur, as though he were the one who had every right to tell Harmonia what choices she ought to be making! I am surprised not to have seen him for such a long time and that is why I thought I might have seen him here this evening.”

“But it was not him?” Lord Northfell asked, glancing towards the stage where the curtain was still down.

“No, it was not,” Amelia replied, with a small frown. “I am being rather foolish in worrying about where our cousin might be, but it is important to me that nothing disrupts Harmonia’s season. Not when it is going so well thus far.” She arched one eyebrow and gave a light smile towards them both, making Harmonia blush and look away. Thankfully, she was saved from having to reply by the curtain slowly beginning to be raised and the orchestra tuning up in preparation for the first song.

However, Harmonia could not forget what Amelia had expressed in her concern for their cousin and where he might be. She could not quite forget what he had said to her when she had told him that there would be nothing between them, recalling how frightened of his anger and rage she had been. Her skin prickled still, even as she thought of it. Luke could be a rather intimidating man at times, using his fierce anger to try and get what he wanted.

And yet, she was not sure that he would attempt to do anything untoward, not when she had Lord Newford by her side. Surely any man would see that there was very little chance of breaking apart something that had already begun to flourish!

“Did you speak to your father about Luke?”

Lord Newford was whispering in an attempt not to interrupt the play that had only just begun but Harmonia found that she was much more interested in speaking to him than in paying any attention to what was going on in front of her.

“Yes, we did,” she murmured, as quietly as she could. “He was not pleased at all and is grateful to you for speaking to us about him.”

Lord Newford nodded, his eyes darting to hers before turning back to the stage. “We did not have a chance to speak of it when I saw him this afternoon.”

Harmonia smiled to herself, recalling this afternoon when she had been half dragged out of the house towards the bookshop so that Lord Newford and her father could have a private conversation. Harmonia had argued with Amelia that there was no need for them to leave the house for they could easily have sat in another room whilst the conversation was going on, but Amelia had insisted. She had thought that in staying in the house whilst Lord Newford was present, Harmonia would end up in a state of nerves even though she knew her father had every intention of agreeing to Lord Newford’s request to court her. By the time they had reached the bookshop, Harmonia had come to agree with Amelia’s thinking, discovering that she could barely keep her thoughts on anything else. It had taken all of Amelia’s cajoling for them to remain in the bookshop for a time, browsing and looking at various novels before Harmonia had finally been allowed to return to the house – only to discover that their father had gone out on some business! It had been some hours before he returned and since she had already started her preparations for the theatre by that time. It had been another torturous wait until she had been able to speak to her father about the conversation.

Her father had laughed and assured her that all had gone well, and that he had found Lord Newford to be as pleasant and respectable sort of gentleman as the first time they met, and that, of course, he had agreed to his request to court Harmonia. His eyes had grown serious then as he’d looked down at her, murmuring something about how proud her mother would have been, and Harmonia had felt her eyes well up with tears. She could not imagine what her father must be thinking and feeling, knowing that the last of his daughters was seeking a husband of her own. He would be all alone soon, his house empty and children gone. Harmonia hoped that his health would not suffer because of it.

“I am glad he approved of me.”

Lord Newford’s whisper interrupted her thoughts and Harmonia gave him a warm smile, boldly reaching for his hand as they sat close together. It was dark enough for no-one to see, even though she knew that the ton would be more than aware that they were now courting since she was ensconced in the box next to him, whilst her sister sat a little further behind. They would, most likely, have a great many visitors to their box when the time came for the interval, with many of the beau monde seeking to find out even the smallest titbit of gossip that they could then spread about the theatre.

Her gloved hand found his and, for a few minutes, they simply sat together, not looking at the stage but at one another. The intensity of his eyes never faded, making her heart quicken its pace, her breath catching as she looked back at him. She could not take her eyes away, her happiness at her situation deepening all the more. This was a man who had taken the time to seek out her character, not just her connections and her dowry, as Luke had done. Lord Newford knew her heart, even though there was much more for them to learn about one another, Harmonia knew that he cared about what she thought, what she felt and what she desired. The shared vulnerability they had was the deep foundation on which they could then begin to build a strong connection. Harmonia had no doubt that, soon, they would begin to talk of the future and how they might move forward together. It brought her such happiness to know that the man who held her hand loved her heart and soul, caring nothing for her dowry or what connections she might bring to him. There was nothing hidden there, nothing unknown or startling. He was just as he appeared, his affection for her no longer hidden from the world.

The first half of the play passed by them without much notice. They talked in whispers, laughed softly and enjoyed being in one another’s company. Whether or not Amelia noticed, Harmonia could not say, for whenever she glanced back at her sister, she saw her staring fixedly at the stage, although her lips curved gently into a small smile.

“And now we have the interval,” Lord Newford said, with a small sigh. “If we are quick, then we might escape the crush! Of course, you are welcome to stay here, and I will bring you both some refreshments.”

He got to his feet and Harmonia followed suit. “I will join you, I think.” She turned towards Amelia, who simply smiled.

“I will be quite content here,” she replied calmly. “Although I would care for a glass of something, whatever it might be.”

“But of course,” Lord Newford said, with a smile. “Come then, Lady Harmonia. Let us leave at once else we shall get stuck in amongst the crowd!”

Harmonia followed him at once. The other theatre goers had not yet made their way from their boxes and so she found it to be fairly quiet.

“This way, I think,” Lord Newford murmured, rounding a corner and finding that it led to nowhere other than another door. He glanced over his shoulder at her, his expression a little embarrassed. “I confess that this I am a little lost,” he said, with a wry smile. “Might we try in here, do you think?”

Looking behind her, Harmonia saw a few guests begin to come into the foyer and a footman standing nearby whom they could ask. However, as she turned back to say that she had seen some others, Lord Newford caught her hand and, before she could say a word, pulled her into the small room beyond the door.

It closed behind her, enveloping her in darkness. Lord Newford’s arms were around her in a moment and, despite the impropriety of the situation, Harmonia felt herself reaching for him, standing on tiptoes as her arms slipped about his neck.

“My dear Harmonia,” he whispered, his mouth so close to hers that his warm breath fluttered across her cheek. “I am taking a great liberty, I know, so you must tell me to stop should I be in the wrong. I confess that I have been quite unable to get you from my mind of late, ever since that night in the library.”

The noise and conversation of the other guests made Harmonia’s heart clench with a sudden anxiety, but she pushed it away. The room was completely dark and, should someone come in, then it would be very difficult for them to be seen.

“I have thought of that night also,” she whispered, excitement swirling in her belly. “And no, Newford, I would not dream of sending you away.”

He did not say another word but pressed his lips to hers. Harmonia could do nothing but melt against him, feeling his hands tighten on her waist as her gloved hands remained around his neck. It was soft and sweet and tender all at once, leaving Harmonia feeling as though she were burning from the inside out.

“Harmonia,” he said again, his lips against her mouth. “I confess that my heart is filled with none but you. I love you with all that is in me, more than I ever thought possible.”

She laughed softly and twined her fingers into his hair. “And I love you, Newford,” she replied at once. “My heart has been yours since the first moment I saw you.”

He kissed her again, softly, before letting her go. Harmonia heard a long breath escape him, his hand finding hers in the darkness.

“I should get you back to your sister,” he whispered, softly. “Forgive me. I could not help myself.”

Harmonia laughed softly. “My dear Newford,” she replied, with a warm smile. “There is nothing to forgive. I am glad that you told me what was on your heart.”

“As am I, my dear Harmonia,” he replied. “As am I.”