.
Watching Lord Karl greet Reuben was like watching two predators circle one another in a fight to see who was dominant, and though Karl’s family name was Wolfgang, to her, he seemed more like a fox. He had striking red hair, and pale brown eyes that seemed to glitter whenever he grinned. He was handsome and tall, and always gave of the feeling that he knew things, long before they would ever occur. He watched the world like a man in a box at a theatre, amused by the actors, never caring if the scene were comedic or tragic.
Reuben, on the other hand, was very serious as he held Karl’s eyes, unreadable, and watchful as a lynx, ready to strike when something didn’t go as expected. Rachel once again regretted bringing Reuben. She feared the delight in Karl’s eyes, and hoped the lord had no plans to pull Reuben into anything untoward.
So intent was Rachel on their conversation, that she was unaware of the noise around her, the clinking of glass, the laughter, the ringing of a soloist’s voice, as he sang to a tune that Rachel knew to have double meanings, all flowing into the foyer from other rooms. There were even raised voices and shouting from the parlor. Had the debates started already?
Karl looked at Rachel. “I love your pretty face, Rachel. Even though you never join in the fun or venture far from the wall, you make a benevolent statue, my lady.”
Rachel didn’t know what to say to that, but smiled and said, “Thank you.”
He winked, before turning to Reuben again. “Though it seems you are breaking character, my lady, for you have brought me the most intriguing guest.”
Reuben spoke stiffly. “I hope my unexpected presence doesn’t upset you.”
Karl jolted suddenly, which made Rachel do likewise. His expression was one of distress. “Upset? Good man, do you know who you are? Lord Eastridge.” He opened his arms dramatically and chuckled, his sharp white teeth a contrast to his tan skin. “You’re like a sunrise, the dawning of a new day, declaring the ways of the past as dead, and putting fear into the hearts of the genteel. Why, had I thought of it, I would have invited you, myself. Let me introduce you to some important people.”
Rachel cut in. “Oh, that won’t be necessary, my lord. You’ve so many other guests to greet.”
Karl didn’t bother turning to her. “Oh, my brother can greet the rest.”
Rachel glanced over to where Jolan stood greeting some of the other guests. He looked like Karl, but was clearly the more civilized of the two. His aunt, a dreadfully shy woman, stood quietly by his side.
Karl held out an arm that pointed further into the townhouse. “After you, Lord Eastridge.”
Rachel tightened her hand on Reuben, but her escort patted her fingers gently, and she let him go.
He pulled his eyes from Karl and told her, “I won’t be long.” Then he was gone.
Rachel had to fight back the urge to follow and protect Reuben. He was a grown man. He didn’t need her mothering him. And yet…
She took a step.
“Rachel. There you are!” Susanna broke from her handsome knight of a husband, and came to stand next to her. “Was that Lord Eastridge I saw you arrive with?” Her friend was dressed in mauve, that made her skin glow whiter than ever. A matching fan fluttered briskly in one hand, while the other grabbed Rachel and steered her into the sitting room.
Rachel took a glass of champagne from a passing server. “He came along with my aunt.” Then Rachel told her all about her day, and the idea of going to the docks.
“I find it quite odd that Lord Eastridge would ask you to accompany him.” Susanna stood on the side of the sitting room, still fanning herself.
Rachel tapped her fingers rhythmically against the cup between her hands. “Well, we were friends once upon a time. Why not ask for my assistance?” She had yet to tell her oldest friend about her attraction to Reuben, though she didn’t know why, when it had been so easy to tell Rose.
Susanna sighed and sipped her drink. “I suppose you’ve the right of it. Who else could he have asked? You and I are likely the only true ladies of his acquaintance.”
“His sisters are true ladies,” Rachel rebutted, slightly too forcefully to her own ears.
“Oh, of course!” Susanna placed a hand over her heart dramatically. “I didn’t mean to offend. I only meant that they’d likely not know how a Society room should be situated. They weren’t brought up to oversee such things as we were.”
Rachel settled back within herself and nodded. “Yes, it’s true.”
“Where is Lord Eastridge anyway?” her friend asked.
That was what Rachel was wondering herself. “I don’t know. Perhaps, I should go look for him.” There was the sound of something breaking in a room some distance away, and then a loud shout.
Susanna sighed. “I understand why Karl invites the commoners. They can be rather entertaining at times.”
Rachel wasn’t sure if it were the businessmen, or the ton, who were the true entertainment for the evening, for it always seemed that the moment a gentleman stepped over the threshold of his home, he became a wild thing, a man out to prove himself. There was such a tension in the air, that it was just as frightening as it was thrilling. It was why Rachel, and anyone else who was invited, always attended. She could simply not resist being a part of it all, even if she were always more wallflower than anything.
The thought reminded her of the conversation she’d had with Reuben, outside.
She turned to her friend. “Susanna, was I afraid of Society when we were young women?”
Susanna’s gray-blue eyes flew to her. “Afraid? I didn’t think so. I simply assumed you only liked me.” The lady added a smile. “It made other girls quite envious of me, and any gentleman that took interest in you would always seek me out for advice.”
Susanna and Reuben seemed to have different accounts of the past. One thought her afraid, while the other thought her delivering the cut direct. And yet the effect was the same. She’d not been social. She didn’t have time to ask another question, because Susanna cut her off.
“Oh, my husband is calling me for a dance.”
Rachel looked to where Sir Cull stood, with a bedeviling look focused on his wife. Rachel did not see dancing in his eyes, but something else, something that contained activities best kept from the public. She wondered if Cull was always this way, or if perhaps he was being affected by the excitement in the air.
Susanna smiled at Rachel as she tapped her fan on her shoulder. “I’ll see you later.”
Rachel waved her friend away, and then a moment later her attention was called.
“Lady Rachel.” Lord Stephen Dew walked over, with Lady Anne on his arm. He wore a grin, while his fiancée looked as though she’d eaten something quite bitter.
“I had no clue you’d be here,” Stephen said, his eyes on Rachel.
She lifted a brow. “Why not? I come every year.”
“Oh.” He seemed at a loss for words.
Anne, who was rarely without words to say, cut in with a smile that would have likely sent children running for the hills. “Lady Rachel, I saw that you arrived with Lord Eastridge. Is there something between the two of you?”
“He and I are friends,” Rachel said. “And he was very kind to have seen me and my aunt Lady Esther here safely.” She made sure to add that another woman had been with them, in order to dissuade the start of gossip.
Stephen’s smile widened. “Of course. I’m sure escort was a task he found easy. The rumor is, he was once a footman.” He laughed at his own joke, and Ann joined in.
Rachel felt rage burn in her gut.
Then Stephen straightened. “Lady Rachel, I believe I hear a country number about to begin. Won’t you dance with me?” He gently untangled his arm from Anne’s, and held out his hand to Rachel.
She couldn’t help but notice the other lady’s glance of outrage right before she regained control of her features.
Rachel wanted to tell him no, but knew that if she did, there would be no way she could later say yes when Reuben asked— if he asked. She sighed and put on her best face, before accepting Stephen’s hand.
He took her into the ballroom that was adjacent to the sitting room, and quickly joined the others who’d already lined up for the dance.