“Father, you must find Lettington’s cousin and make his acquaintance.” Hettie prompted as soon as we set foot upon the Fitzhugh’s cobblestone steps. I held my tongue, knowing no one would appreciate any stark comment I had about Lettington’s cousin. I had heard nothing on any other subject for a whole week. I had had enough of Lettington’s cousin, and I hadn’t even met the guy.
“I cannot promise anything, but I will be on the look out for him.” My father seemed distant, his mind probably on business rather than the people at hand. Things like Lettington’s cousin were trivial, nothing but a passing phase.
Hettie gave a smile in approval, and both her and Minevera bent over in whispers as we approached the large manor and were led inside. The ball was well underway already, as father had insisted we come later, after all his business at home had been put away.
People of all manners were crowded both in the hallway and in the rooms beyond. I couldn’t see how large the party was, but as a guess, I would have said about 200 people had come, a large ball for these parts.
The Fitzhugh household was impressively dressed for the event; elegantly placed candlesticks gave the place a whole new look. Their manor was impressive enough alone. Mr. Fitzhugh was a merchant of some kind and had a decent income, thus making his household one of the better in our part of the country.
“Miss Ainsworth, you seem to be looking lovelier than usual.” The male voice whispered the phrase into my ear only, catching me off guard. An instant grin came upon my face at the familiarity in his voice.
I wasted no time swiveling around, making not only my father, but also Hettie and Minevera stop in their tracks.
“Hodges! I didn’t think you’d be back in town so soon!” I stepped towards him as he swept my arm up in a dramatic arc until the back of my hand met his lips.
“You know me, just can’t keep away from my favorite girl.” He grinned and swept a hand through his copper-colored hair. Such a tease, but that’s what made Bertram Hodges who he was. He had been my best friend and neighbor since before I could remember. Our mothers had been best friends themselves, hoping against all hope that they could someday get the two of us engaged and eventually married. Try as they might, it hadn’t worked out, especially after my mother died. Mrs. Hodges hadn’t been her same self ever after. Her poor health kept her restricted to her own household, and out of her son’s business.
Hodges navy eyes jumped from me to my father and sisters, and he nodded politely. “Mr. Ainsworth, glad to see you out and about. That bank has about swallowed you whole, eh?”
“Thankfully, not yet Bertram. I seem to have a few more years in the business yet.” My father gave a warm handshake to Hodges. “Would you mind escorting my beautiful young girls for a few minutes? I was suppose to find Mr. Singh tonight and clear up a few last business details.”
“It would be my sincerest pleasure.” Hodges grinned, and my father thanked him before heading off, just as he always did. It didn’t bother me so much now, now that I realized that was the only way for my father to grieve. He kept himself so busy he didn’t have to think twice about the loss of my mother, or us, for that matter.
“I haven’t seen any sign of Lettington’s cousin.” Minevera complained, her eyes keenly scanning over the crowded hallway. “Maybe he’s in the dancehall?”
“Undoubtedly!” Hettie nodded, and the two linked arms and headed that way, expecting Hodges and I to follow after.
The two of us maneuvered through the crowd, as Hodges looked to me for an explanation and I shook my head in disapproval. “Their latest bachelor of interest. He’s knew in town and has yet to meet his two greatest admirers.”
“Ah, young foolish love.” Hodges stopped in his tracks, and just as I suspected, his eye had caught sight of a certain young woman, and I let out a loud laugh.
“What?” Hodges came back to earth, and began to walk again, offering his arm to me and I took it loosely within my hands.
“Seems London couldn’t make you forget a certain Abigale Murray.” I looked back at the girl in question, who seemed deeply engaged in a conversation with a man I didn’t recognize.
“Oh but only if it could. Maybe then I wouldn’t be in such a mess.” I felt sympathy for Hodges, and wanted to do something, but knew I couldn’t. Mr. Murray wasn’t going to give his daughter to someone with less than 15 thousand pounds a year, and sadly, Hodges fell well below the bar on that.
“It’s not so bad as it seems.” I assured, offering the only truthful consoling words I could find. He gave a small grimace in return.
“Seems bad mannered to be letting underage girls running amuck. My parents would have never allowed such a thing. Probably the only worst fate is being left to die an old maid. ” The words turned my blood cold. Charlotte Evans- the county’s self-appointed advisor. I felt very unladylike whenever I was around her, and it took all of my strength not to do something I would later regret.
“Miss Evans, nice to see you again.” I gave a slight curtsey towards her, and she returned it.
“Not as nice as to see you here, with you’re… sisters.” She gave a fake grin, but not before I noticed plain disgust pass across her face seconds before.
So Hettie’s coming out was next year. It wasn’t a crime to bring her to a ball a year earlier, and same for Minevera. It was ultimately my father’s choice to decide if they could, and after my mother’s death, he had allowed them to come along if only to appease them in someway. Only Nelly was forced to stay at home with her governness, and even that took a lot of restraint on my father's part.
I opened my mouth to deliver a reply, and Hettie and Minevera briskly walked towards Hodges and I, excitement seen obviously in their body language.
“He’s here Nora! You must come see him!” Hettie pulled on my arm, pulling me away from Charlotte.
“He’s more handsome than I anticipated.” Minevera sighed. “If only father could get his acquaintance. I’m sure we could spark his interest.”
“Minevera!” I whispered, horrified, but still smiled at her boldness.
“Just come Nora!” Minevera pulled me along, and Hodges, obligingly followed.
We walked along, moving through the crowded dancehall into the smaller sitting room, which was only slightly less crowded than the dancehall had been. The music drifted in from the other room, but not as loud as it had been in the dancehall.
“He’s right there! The only one in the pinstriped trousers.” Hettie pointed him out, and my eyes grew wide at his luxurious outfit. He was handsome all right; his light blonde hair was cut shorter than most men’s, but still had enough bangs that fell upon his forehead. His blue eyes looked as if they were dancing, from amusement, as if he were in on some big joke. And although He stood tall, taller than any other man gathered in the small group he was talking in, what really struck me were his facial features, which were strongly defined, especially his sharp nose and high cheekbones.
“If his outfit is any indication, he sure is a show off with his money.” I noted, and Hettie and Minevera barely took mark of my words as they ogled the poor fellow.
The room was small enough for us to hear every syllable of the man’s conversation, and although rude, I was intrigued enough to stand still long enough to hear a few snippets of what the group was talking about.
Charles Lettington, and his wife, stood next to the man, giving introductions to both sides. After he introduced each member to his cousin, he turned to introduce the man. “Fellows, this is Elliot Sn-“
“Samuelson.” The blonde-haired man thrust his hand out, and shook each of the men’s own hands.
“My cousin.” Charles added, giving a strange look to his cousin, but soon recovering enough to smile. It was subtle, but it definitely had been there, I was certain.
I hesitated. What could it mean? Mr. Lettington behavior was odd enough, but so was the man himself. He seemed too much at ease, with something just slightly off that I couldn’t place. I reasoned with myself it had to be nothing, and besides, I wasn’t all that interested to get involved with the man anyways.
“Thank you Bertram for your indispensable service.” Our party all turned at once, as my father came up from behind, already holding some sort of drink in his hands. “I think I can handle it from here.”
“Mr. Ainsworth.” Hodges bowed, and my father bowed in return. “Miss Ainsworth, may I be honored with a dance from you tonight?” Hodges turned to me and I nodded. He bowed to me and my sisters each in turn, and we each curtsied before he took off, as I assumed to see after an Abigale Murray.
*
The music began a familiar tune and I turned to search after Hodges, hoping to claim his dance. He wasn’t to be found in either the sitting room or the dancehall. Last chance, I hoped to find him outside, maybe stepping out for some fresh air.
Taking a side door, I looked around, but found no one. I moved to the front porch but stopped short at the sound of voices.
“What happened to letting me do all the talking?”
“I got a little carried away. Sorry.” I could hear the playful tone in the second speaker.
“I noticed. And where exactly did you get Samuelson?” The first speaker shuffled, muffling a laugh.
“Well-“ I stepped, and a board creaked underneath my foot. Cringing, the two speakers stopped talking, and shuffled around the house, finding me helplessly stopped in my tracks. I recognized the two at once- Mr. Samuelson, and Mr. Lettington. Of course, the two held a secret; I knew it.
I gathered my wits about me, realizing I had two choices. Either I could stay caught in the act and explain myself, or bite the bullet and run. I chose the latter.
I took a deep breath, and before either gentleman could say anything, I began. “May I suggest if you are to have a private conversation, having it somewhere a bit more private, perhaps?” Curtsying, I scurried past the two and back into the house, not looking back once.
I closed my eyes, knowing I had now placed myself in a dangerous position.
No comments:
Post a Comment