dinner and Delicacies

“Good evening, Lord Langley,” Uncle Matthew said as he bowed his head to the tall gentleman that had walked through the doors.

“Good evening, Lord Barrington,” the man replied.

Madelene watched him from the other side of the foyer as she stood beside Julia. He wore a tall hat and a coat of deep forest green. He had dark hair like a raven, a straight, pointed nose, and narrow, sharp eyes of brightest green. She assumed the jacket only accentuated them.

“He’s quite handsome, is he not?” Julia whispered to Madelene, gently touching the elbow of her dress.

Madelene shifted in the dress; it was a lovely material, yet she felt out of place wearing it. She had never worn something so nice, and she felt as if she stood out from the rest of her family.

“Is something the matter?” Julia asked, noticing her cousin continually pulling at her sleeves.

“Oh, no, I’m quite fine,” Madelene said.

“Here,” said Julia, and she deftly straightened some fabric on the back of her dress. Immediately, the fabric loosened and fit her form as if it was made for her.

“Thank you,” Madelene breathed. “I am not sure what you just did, but –”

“A piece of the ribbon in the back was twisted and taut. It happens to me all the time.”

Madelene grinned at her.

“And how is my friend doing this evening?”

Madelene and Julia looked up to see Lord Langley standing before them.

Julia smiled a languid smile at him, dipping her head. “Lord Langley, what a pleasure it is to have you in our home this evening.”

“Ah, the pleasure is all mine, dear friend,” he replied, a small smile on his face.

Now that he was so close, Madelene was able to study his features. He had a strong, pointed chin and high cheekbones. His brow was wide, and as he stood before them, she saw a twinkle of something she could not identify in his eyes.

“Lord Langley, may I introduce Miss Madelene Blackmore, my dear niece, daughter of my wife’s sister.”

“Blackmore, you say? Mr. Blackmore the doctor?”

“The very same!” Madelene replied.

Lord Langley looked at her in the face, and she found her heart pounding in her chest. She was unsure the last time she had ever been in the presence of someone in such high social standing, and she knew that he was aware of her status simply by her Uncle’s introduction. He searched her face, his eyes narrow.

“Well, it is a pleasure to meet you,” Lord Langley said, bowing his head to her.

“Oh, it is a pleasure to meet you as well, Lord Langley.” She hesitated for a moment, and then wished to disappear into the walls from shame before she bowed to him in return.

“Right this way, Lord Langley, we have tea in the drawing room waiting for you.”

He paused for a moment before following her uncle, watching Madelene’s face. It appeared he was looking for something. When he did not find it, he simply removed his hat and turned away from her without another word.

Julia and Madelene exchanged glances when he stepped away from them.

“How very strange,” Julia said rather quietly.

“What is strange?” Madelene asked, looking over at her cousin.

“Lord Langley is always quite a pleasant gentleman. I have never seen him quite so…curt before. It was just strange.”

“Is it something I said?” Madelene asked nervously. The absolute last thing she wished to do was do anything to offend her aunt and uncle’s friend.

“I highly doubt that,” she said.

Madelene swallowed nervously.

“Come,” said Julia. “Let’s not keep them waiting.”

Madelene spent the next hour or so catching glances from the tall Lord Langley. He didn’t direct any of the conversation in her direction, and Madelene didn’t engage in any of it. She simply sat and listened, and continually noticed his looks in her direction.

She wished to question the man. Perhaps there was something on her face? Was her dress ill-fitting? Was her silence offending him?

“Lord Langley, you must tell me how your mother is,” Aunt Edith said as they sat down to dinner.

Lord Langley dabbed his mouth with his napkin before smiling at her. “Quite well, Lady Barrington. She has suffered with a cold for the last week or so, but she has valiantly fought through it. She hopes to be better by Christmas.”

“That is wonderful to hear,” Aunt Edith said, a wide smile on her face.

“And your brother?” Uncle Matthew asked.

“Fine as well. His wife is due with their first child within the next three months.”

“Oh, she must be delighted,” Aunt Edith said.

“Indeed. My mother is continually asking me why I have not yet had the same joy as my brother, being married and with child.”

“Well, why is that?” Uncle Matthew said. “You are such an amiable gentleman, and quite handsome. Surely some lady has caught your eye.”

Lord Langley glanced down the table at Madelene, and quickly moved his eyes across Julia and Aunt Edith and Uncle Matthew, but Madelene had the sneaking suspicion that he didn’t want to be seen looking so plainly at her.

“Not yet, Lord Barrington, not yet. Much to my mother’s dismay. I have yet to find a lady of the caliber that I expect in a wife. My brother was quite fortunate to find such a woman.” He took a draw from his wine glass before looking back down the table. “I do not intend to offend the present company, of course. I am certain that you ladies have all of the adequate skills to please a man.”

Julia smiled at him.

“Quite right they do,” said Uncle Matthew, though he was clearly not troubled by Lord Langley’s words. “Our Julia learned the piano forte at an age far younger than most young ladies. And she speaks fluent French, Italian, and even some German.”

“Vast accomplishments, I am aware,” Lord Langley said. “I remember she was far more accomplished than I in many ways when we were but children.”

Julia grinned at him in a way that Madelene assumed she had done many times as a child.

“And not only her, but Miss Madelene is also quite accomplished. Her father has seen to it that she had one of the most prestigious governesses teaching her from a very young age. There are few ladies in society who would be her equal in terms of education and elegance.”

“Indeed?” Lord Langley said, dropping his gaze to his glass.

“Oh, yes,” said Aunt Edith, smiling down the table at Madelene. “She is quite adept at sewing, as well as riding a horse.”

“Truly?” Lord Langley replied, yet his gaze would not meet hers.

How very strange, she thought, that he spent so much time in the drawing room watching her, and now as he was doing everything he could to avoid looking at her.

“And, her biggest accomplishment, but perhaps not in her mind, is that she writes beautiful poetry.”

Madelene felt her face flush. How long had it been since she had shared her writing with her aunt and uncle?

She noticed Julia’s smile out of the corner of her eye, and turned to look at her. It became apparent; all of the poems she had shared with her cousin had apparently been shared with the entire family.

“I have never read such striking verses, except perhaps in Psalms themselves,” said Aunt Edith.

Madelene looked down at the table in front of her, her cheeks hot. How could she respond to something like that?

“Interesting,” Lord Langley said, looking down the table at her. “I have not met many people who have such a skill in writing. It is a difficult accomplishment.” He sat up in his chair slightly straighter. “I myself have dabbled in writing some.”

“Truly?” Julia asked. “I never would have considered you one much for writing, or being indoors for that matter. I always assumed you would have preferred to spend your time hunting. Or in town.”

“Preposterous,” Lord Langley said.

Madelene watched him. Was he perhaps jealous of her ability?

“I enjoy reading just as much as the next gentlemen. In fact, I just finished the most engaging book. Lord Barrington, surely you will enjoy this…”

Soon after dinner, they retired to the sitting room for some music and conversation. Uncle Matthew and Aunt Edith sat beside the fire, and Julia and Madelene sat beside the windows. Lord Langley seemed confused about where to sit, and eventually chose the chair across from Madelene.

She still felt unsure that he was enjoying her company. He seemed distant with her, but she told herself that it must have simply been due to the fact that she was a stranger, and the rest of her family was very familiar with him.

He crossed his leg over the other, and gazed at Madelene.

“So, you are a writer?” He asked, folding his hands behind his back. “How did you come upon such an endeavor?”

Madelene folded her hands in her lap, squeezing them together tightly. “I find it to be quite a pleasant pastime. There are few things in life as satisfying as exploring one’s own soul.”

Lord Langley made a sound like laughter, but it seemed hollow. “Beg your pardon, but even that sounded like a piece of prose.”

“Her poetry is absolutely lovely, Lord Langley. She has written me many letters and enclosed some of her latest work. I look forward to it every time.”

Madelene’s heart swelled at her cousin’s praise. “I had no idea that you felt that way,” Madelene said plainly.

Julia shrugged one shoulder, smiling. “I have saved every one of them.”

“Have you really?” Madelene said. For a moment, she forgot that they were joined by the dapper Lord Langley.

“Of course I have, they are magnificent!” Julia replied, laughing. “What did you think? I would simply read them and then dispose of them? What kind of cousin would that make me?”

“A far more dedicated one than I had come to believe!” Madelene said, laughing as well.

Lord Langley cleared his throat rather loudly after the girls shared a laugh for a moment.

“That is all quite well and good,” he said, and looked from one girl to another. “But I hear that you are going to be having a grand ball before Christmas?” He asked, turning to Julia.

“I am indeed,” Julia replied. “Are you perhaps asking for an invitation?”

“Perhaps I am,” he replied. “I would hate to miss the birthday of such a dear friend of mine.”

“Well, you may have an invitation under one condition,” she replied.

“And what might that be?”

Julia’s face suddenly narrowed, and a wide smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. She looked at Madelene intently. “I insist that you would share a dance with my dear cousin here.”

Lord Langley glanced over at Madelene, whom Julia was gesturing to. He hesitated for a moment before sitting back in his chair. “Such a simple request? Think nothing of it. I will dance with your cousin, and I will be happy to join you at the ball.”

The evening wound down shortly after that, and they bid their farewells to Lord Langley, who left in his carriage for home. As they stood out on the drive waving as the carriage drove away, Madelene turned to Julia.

“I was wondering, Cousin, why you made such a request of Lord Langley?”

Julia turned with her parents and they all walked back into the house. “Whatever do you mean, Madelene?”

“You know quite well what I mean,” Madelene replied as Uncle Matthew closed the door behind them.

“I am sure that I don’t,” she replied as she started walking toward the stairs, away from Madelene.

“Why did you wish for Lord Langley to dance with me at the ball?” Madelene asked plainly.

Aunt Edith and Uncle Matthew stopped and looked at the girls. It was apparent they had not heard Julia’s request she had offered Lord Langley.

Julia slowly turned around, and Madelene was surprised to see a smile on her face.

“Isn’t it obvious?” She winked at Madelene. “I think he would be the perfect match for you.”