Chapter Twenty

"How are you finding the evening?"

James grinned at Lord Thurston. "I think it is an excellent evening thus far. I have been able to see Lady Temperance push Lord Barlington away and have seen the frustration in his expression when he has been unable to get what he wants. I believe that he hoped this ball would bring them back together again, that they would, somehow, find a way to return to the close acquaintance they once had. Now, however, it surely must be clear to him that such a thing is not meant to be! She has rejected him – "

"And accepted you," Lord Thurston interrupted, his eyes twinkling as James' grin grew wider. "You are aware of that, are you not? There is clearly a connection between you, something which neither of you seem to have spoken of as yet but which is very obvious to not only myself but also to my wife."

"I think very well of Lady Temperance, if that is what you mean," James answered, only for his friend to guffaw and whack him on the arm. "Very well, very well! Yes, I will admit that there is… something… within my heart, though I do not know what it is."

"Affection?" Lord Thurston tilted his head. "Love?"

The word struck James hard in the chest but he did not immediately agree. Instead, he only ran one hand over his chin and considered. He had always been someone who gave great consideration to almost everything that he either thought or felt and this was no different.

"She has said that she is contented in her situation, as I am sure I have said to you before."

"Ah, but you have not offered her a different future from the one she is presently contented with," Lord Thurston interrupted. "She may be contented, yes, but that does not mean she is happy. It may very well be that what she is hoping for, is that you might be truthful about your own affections and step into the void which she has still within her heart."

James pressed his lips tight together for a moment, the music of the ball continuing to swirl around him. He had danced only once with Lady Temperance already and the second dance, the waltz, was still to come. His heart was filled with an excitement, an anticipation of what it would be like to hold the lady in his arms. What was such an emotion, such a sensation? Was it love? The very beginning, the first strains of such a deep and all-encompassing emotion?

"Do not think of it too long, else you will find yourself quite tied up in knots," Lord Thurston laughed, reaching out to take a brandy from the nearby table and handing it to James. "If you have an affection for her, then why do you not speak to her father and ask for his permission to court her? It might show the Duke of Danfield that he will not have to force his daughter to wed a gentleman she does not care for in the least."

Considering all of this, James shook his head. "I should like to speak with the Duke of Danfield, were I to do such a thing, but I think I should first like to ask Lady Temperance herself. After all, there is very little reason for me to ask her father about such a thing if she herself would not be willing to accept me!"

Lord Thurston's smile grew broad. "I am sure that she will accept you regardless of your worries."

"You cannot be sure of that."

His friend shrugged. "Mayhap but I can tell you what I see when she looks at you. I can see the tenderness in her smile, the hope in her eyes. If that is not reason to believe that she will accept you, then I do not know what is." He spread out his hands. "What reason do you have to hold back?"

James took in a deep breath, then lifted his shoulders and let them fall. "No reason at all, I suppose."

"And you are still to dance with her again?"

James nodded. "The waltz."

Immediately, Lord Thurston threw his head back and laughed. "Well, if that does not give her a hint that you might find her more than a mere acquaintance, I cannot imagine what else would be required! Indeed, Calverton, there is nothing more that you need to do, nothing that should hold you back. I think it would be excellent for you to pursue Lady Temperance. It would bring a great deal of happiness to you both."

After a moment, James lifted his glass of brandy in a half-toast, seeing his friend grin with the awareness that he was quite right. "Yes, I think that you must be right," he said, with a small, half smile. "Thank you, Thurston. I think tomorrow, I shall do just that."

***

"I am certain you will not have forgotten how to waltz, Lady Temperance." James smiled as he took her hand, the other settling at her waist. "Are you anxious? You do not have to be, I assure you."

Lady Temperance's smile wobbled, uncertainty jumping into her eyes. "I am a little concerned, yes. As I have said, it has been some years since I have waltzed."

"Then hold tight to me and I shall lead you," he promised, looking deeply into her eyes and finding his heart ricocheting around his chest. "There is nothing that you need to fear, I assure you."

The music began and, with Lady Temperance's hand rather tight on his own, James began to waltz. Their steps were quickly in time together and the longer they danced, the more Lady Temperance seemed to relax. Her fingers were no longer squeezing his, there came a small smile to her face and her eyes were no longer round with concern.

"We dance very well together, Lady Temperance," James murmured, seeing her eyes meld to his. "There was nothing for you to be concerned about at all."

"It seems not," she answered, as the music continued to whirl them around. "When it comes to you, Lord Calverton, it seems as though I am quite safe."

He smiled gently. "Of course you are safe."

The way she looked at him, the sheer joy of having her in his arms and the memory of all that Lord Thurston had advised made James' heart leap with a sudden hope and expectation. When the dance came to an end, James stepped back to bow, only to offer her his arm which she took without hesitation.

"Another short turn about the room?"

She nodded.

"There is something I should like to ask you, Lady Temperance," James began, before his own fears could prevent him from speaking. "Though I understand that, as you yourself told me only a short while ago, you are very contented with your situation at present. If you do not wish to change your situation, then I quite understand but – "

"What is it that you mean, Lord Calverton?"

James looked to her, seeing her green eyes rounding a little, though he could not tell whether it was from anticipation or concern.

"I would like to court you."

The words came out a little more bluntly than he had anticipated and James quickly pulled his gaze from hers, continuing to walk around the room with slow steps rather than looking at her. He did not know what it was that she felt, did not know what her reaction was going to be and his fears began to mount with every moment that passed.

"I – I do not know what to say."

James forced himself to look at her. "Lady Temperance, there is no requirement nor expectation for you to consent. I understand that you are very contented as you are, and therefore, if this is not something that would please you, then I quite understand. I will continue to be your friend and I will continue to defend you from Lord Barlington, regardless of what your answer may be."

"Oh, Lord Calverton, you cannot know what this means to me."

Coming to a stop and unable to bear the not knowing any longer, James turned to look at her directly. "Whatever you desire, Lady Temperance. That is all that I want."

Her smile grew and sent light into her eyes. "I want nothing more than to accept," she said, delight evident in both her voice and her expression. "Thank you for asking me. I find myself rather overwhelmed by it, truth be told!"

James swallowed hard, struggling to know what to say. He himself felt the very same as Lady Temperance, overwhelmed with relief, joy and delight. "I – I shall still speak to your father, of course."

Lady Temperance smiled back at him. "I am certain he will accept your request. Thank you again, Lord Calverton. This has made my evening truly wonderful when I was certain that it would be nothing but a night to endure!"

"I feel the very same way," he told her, taking her hand and bowing over it, his smile growing, his heart flooding with happiness. "And just as soon as I am able, I shall speak to your father and all will be well. I am quite sure of it."