Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Oscar

I have not attended a ball since I was twenty-two and my mother forced a season on me. Once she realized I was hopeless, she let me stay home with my experiments. I remember the anxiousness caused by swarms of people and the mothers with young daughters of a marrying age. That familiar knot twists in my stomach as we enter the Markelson Ball.

Louisa's hand tightens around my arm. "Uncle, I may be sick."

It wouldn't do to tell her that I may join her, so I pat her hand. "You look beautiful and we shall get through this together."

Her large green eyes stare at me. "Do you really think so?"

I force a smile. "I do. One step at a time, my dear. You'll dance with a few gentlemen, Miss Wittman will make sure they act the part, and I will escort you home in a few hours."

Ann steps out from behind us and whispers, "You might even try to enjoy the process. You like to dance. I know you like music. Have a good time." She gives me a hard look.

Looking terrified, Louisa releases my arm and strides to a group of ladies around her age.

"I thought my sister might make an appearance." I scan the room. "I don't see her. Perhaps she really does trust you. I'm certain she doesn't trust me."

"You might try giving her a reason to." Ann steps back so that she's partially hidden by a potted tree. The things are all over the room, creating privacy.

"Are you hiding?" I can't help frowning at the navy-blue gown that covers almost every inch of her and looks as if it should be worn by someone twice her age.

"What are you scowling at, and no. I'm keeping my place. I'm a servant, not a debutante." Somehow, she makes herself even smaller.

"You know, when you said you had appropriate clothes for a ball, I didn't expect you to wear some maiden aunt's frock. Though you can make anything look lovely." I long to touch her, but keep my hands clasped behind my back.

Lifting her shoulders, she cocks her head. "You just complimented me." She stares into the crowd. "Thank you. I gave away my party gowns long ago. What I have is suitable for my current position in life."

I wish I could hide under the tree, but I'm a brutishly large man and all I can do is draw attention to myself. Before I can ask why someone who, based on her educated language and manners, was raised in society, never found a husband, a familiar voice calls my name.

"Oscar. You look…" My mother stares a full two beats. "Undisheveled."

Leaning down, I kiss her cheek. "Hello, Mother. I have a valet. He is to blame for my tidy appearance. "

Mother is tall and slender with slightly graying brown hair done up in an elaborate style with diamonds and emeralds wrapped around a bun at the top. She looks as regal as ever. "You hired a valet? I hope I don't sound condescending, Oscar, but I'm proud of you."

It's impossible not to laugh. I like that my mother is happy with me even though I cannot take the credit. "Miss Ann Wittman of the Everton Domestic Society is the one you should compliment." I gesture to Ann.

Ann steps out from her hiding place.

"Miss Wittman, my mother, the Dowager Countess of Kendall."

With a slow curtsy, Ann says, "A pleasure to meet you, my lady."

Mother studies Ann. "Everton Domestic Society? Are you not the daughter of Sir Niles Wittman?"

"I am." Ann's cheeks pinken, but she keeps her gaze direct.

Tapping her closed fan against her palm, Mother narrows her gaze. "You are assisting my son?"

"I hired?—"

Mother puts up a palm, calling for my silence. "I asked Miss Wittman."

It's a complete surprise when Ann's lips pull up in a gentle smile. She folds her gloved hands together at her waist. "His lordship needed a temporary steward as well as someone to help with the season for your granddaughter. I have been hired for those purposes."

"Louisa is here?" She looks around the ballroom and when she sees Louisa talking to the Marquis of Barton, Mother's face transforms into a joyful smile. "Isn't she beautiful? However did you get her away from the pianoforte?"

In a soft voice for Mother's ears only, Ann says, "I told her there were men who also love music. I hope she'll find a match that will make her happy in whatever life she chooses."

Mother smiles with love shining in her eyes. "It's possible. I loved the previous Earl of Kendall very much."

Ann steps back as if again taking a servant's position.

I don't like it even though I know it is expected. I file the name of her father away to ask her about at some other time.

Mother snaps out of her expression of love for Louisa and faces Ann. "Do not turn her into an Everton Lady or whatever you call yourselves. You should have married while you had the chance. I'm old enough to remember your first season, Miss Ann Wittman, or should I say Lady Ann?"

While there is no change in Ann's mild expression, the fire goes out of her eyes. "I was hired to help the young lady find an advantageous and happy match. If that is possible, I will do exactly that."

Louisa ends the conversation by appearing and greeting her grandmother with affection. "I didn't know you would be here, Grandmama. Four gentlemen have signed my dance card." She's more excited about the prospect than I would have expected.

"How very good. Let me see who they are." Mother gushes over the card with Louisa.

The two cross to a group of ladies with their mothers.

I move to stand beside Ann. "I apologize for my mother. She is protective of Mae and her grandchildren."

"No need for an apology, my lord." She fidgets with her gloves. "Is your mother not protective of you as well?"

Is she? I give the idea some thought. "I believe she used to worry about me, but perhaps sees me as a lost cause now." I gaze across the room and find the object of our conversation staring back.

Mother's eyebrows rise and she studies Ann for a long moment before the conversation with a stern-looking woman in a peach gown pulls her attention.

"What did she mean when she said you had the chance to marry?" It's none of my business, but I can't help myself.

With a sigh, Ann says, "It is a long and uninteresting story, my lord. Perhaps one day when we are very bored, I will regale you with the folly of my youth and you will share your past with me."

Part of me wants to sway her from knowing any of what I did in the past. However, I don't push the idea aside as I might normally. "I look forward to that day, Lady Ann." With a bow, I cross to see what Mother and Louisa are conspiring about. Mae will never forgive me if I let our mother have too much say in any part of her daughter's season.

A n hour later, I'm watching Louisa dance with her second partner. He's a skinny young man with red hair and a long nose. I check the potted tree where Ann has been hiding for the entire night, only to find the space empty.

A tall blonde woman steps into my view. Her hair is elaborately curled on the top of her head and her bright blue eyes are very wide. She is admittedly very pretty. "Lord Kendall, you may not remember me."

Mind elsewhere, I attempt to focus on the woman; she does look familiar. "Forgive me, madam, I am at a loss."

Her smile brightens and it's easy to find her pleasing to look at. "When I was twelve, you saved me from a horse that had gone wild. I am Lady Rebbecca Dunbar." She curtsies.

I bow. "I do remember you. It was at your father's estate and the groom had put you on a horse not suitable for riding by anyone, let alone a child. I'm glad to see you are fully recovered from the incident."

"It was eight years ago, my lord. I never did recover from seeing you galloping across the field like a madman and sweeping me off of that horse. I was certain I would die that day." She shivers and it seems genuine to the memory of a very close call.

"It was my honor to come to your aid." I search the room for Ann before bringing my attention back to Rebbecca.

"Would you think me very forward if I asked you to dance the next with me?" She has lowered her voice and leaned in.

While I know the lady is flirting with me, I'm not as appalled by it as I have been in years past when ladies attempted to appeal to me in a search for a husband. She's pleasant and lovely. It can do no harm to have one dance with a pretty girl even if she or her mother will make more of it. "I would be honored, Lady Rebbecca."

The music begins again with the tapping of a conductor's wand and I have no time to consider the error of saying yes. Giving her my arm, I escort her to the floor and struggle to remember the steps of the quadrille.

It takes less time than I expected before it all comes back to me. I swirl Miss Dunbar around the dance floor in time with the music and even manage a brief conversation as the dance permits. At the edge of the room, I catch a glimpse of navy blue dashing from behind an orange tree and out the French doors to the garden. There is another ten minutes to the quadrille, but now my mind is on Ann and where she has gone.

Mother grins at me from the fireplace while she sips lemonade.

Keeping my face serene, I'm rolling my eyes on the inside.

Louisa is happily dancing with yet another dull-looking young man, but she looks happy enough .

When the music finally ends, I bow. "Thank you for the dance, Lady Rebbecca."

"It was a pleasure, Lord Kendall. If you should like to pay me a call, I would be happy to see you tomorrow." Gaze direct, she makes a curtsy and walks away.

I make my way to the door where I last saw Ann. The night air is a refreshing change from the hot, crowded ballroom. I step to the edge of the stone patio searching the torch-lit garden. My heart begins to beat faster and my chest tightens.

Making my way along the central path, I head in the direction of a central fountain. The sighs and moans of lovers making use of the shadows and tall shrubs stir feelings in me that I'm unfamiliar with. Does Ann have a lover? Is she meeting him here for a tryst? Jealousy that I have no right to swells within me.

As I reach the circular area around the fountain, I see her.

She's not alone. "I'm warning you to unhand me, sir."

Rage fills me as I dash across the grass.

"Ow! What in the hell?" the man calls out.

Ann backs away. "I apologize, but I did warn you that I'm capable of defending myself."

"Viper." He wipes at blood dripping from his chin, then sees me and runs down one of the paths into the darkness.

Ann turns and gapes at me. "You saw that?"

"I'm not certain what I saw," I admit. "You are unharmed?"

"Of course." She holds up a pearl with a long metal needle. "It's a hat pin. Very handy to always have one for moments when men behave ungentlemanly." Wiping the tip on a handkerchief, she then puts the pin in her bun as if nothing is amiss.

"Why did you come out here alone? It's not safe." I want to scold her, but she's not mine.

She frowns and walks toward the house .

I step beside her and admire more than I should the swell of her breasts as she takes a deep breath.

"I was warm. You were dancing, as was Louisa. I suppose I thought at my advanced age, I would be safe." She laughs. "Perhaps I should be flattered." She brushes out her skirt.

"There is nothing about you or your age that a man will dismiss, Ann. Please don't be so foolish again." How is it possible she doesn't know how utterly delectable she is?

"I'm twenty-eight years old, Oscar. As your mother noted, I've missed my chance for marriage." She said my name without any prompting and it vibrates joyfully in my ears.

We step onto the patio. "I don't think that bloke in the garden was offering marriage."

Her chuckle, though brief, is everything.

Deep in my soul, I want to be the only person to bring her the kind of joy that produces that sound. "I've lost my mind," I mutter to myself.

"I beg your pardon, my lord?" She stops halfway across the stones.

I bow. "Forgive me. You should go in. I'll be along in a few minutes. Check on Louisa. She's danced with every twit in the room, I think."

Eyes wide, she turns and rushes inside.

How is it possible that after thirty-five years on this planet without meeting a single person of the opposite sex who intrigues me for more than a night, I've stumbled upon a woman who muddles my brain? Of course, she's not for me. No one is for me. Still, I can't help the fantasy of being the catalyst for joy to fill Ann's beautiful face each day.