Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

A fter the dance had come to an end, Aaron offered her his arm, which she took at once. Together, they made their way off the dance floor and toward one of the tables. Judith noted chatter and stares being thrown in their direction and wondered what people were thinking of them.

Did they think they were here together? As in together as a pair? If so, this whole exercise might be for naught because nobody would be interested in her if they thought she was already attached to someone.

Aaron turned around and motioned for Marianne to join them for propriety's sake. As if he had read Judith's thoughts, he narrowed his eyes.

"Where is your dance card?" he asked, and she retrieved it from her reticule. The granite pencil dangled from it."Very well. Lord Pembroke, you said?"

Judith nodded and looked at the tall, ginger-haired gentleman who had just stepped off the dance floor. Truly, she had no idea who he was and had simply picked him because Aaron had demanded that she choose somebody. He hadn't appeared particularly pleased with her choice, and she wondered if this was because Lord Pembroke was perhaps undesirable or if there was some other reason.

Of course, she couldn't think of another reason.

"Aaron," she said, then quickly corrected herself. "Your Grace." She had to remember to call him by his title when they were out together."Are you quite sure that Lord Pembroke is suitable?"

He paused and wetted his lips, leaving a shimmer that drew the eye. His lips were plump, and if she hadn't known him to be such a terrible rake, she might have wondered what it would be like…

Do not make a cake of yourself, Judith. Do not do it.

"Lord Pembroke is a perfectly suitable gentleman. Do not worry. Now come and let me introduce you."

Judith nodded at Marianne to remain at the table and then followed Aaron across the dance floor. Multiple gentlemen and even more ladies greeted him with bright smiles, and she was reminded once again just how popular he was in these parts.

He had achieved something quite remarkable—the perfect balance of being in England and in town often enough to ensure that everybody knew him, and being away long enough to remain an enigma, which made him interesting to everyone who met him.

She couldn't fault them for it. She also found that the people who were the most interesting were those who traveled the most. She always loved hearing tales of foreign lands. Sally and her husband would often tell wondrous stories of their life in Spain and Portugal, as they kept homes in both countries. And Rosy, her dear friend Rosy, had traveled all around the world, it seemed. She'd spent her honeymoon in India and had written the most exciting letters from there, and just recently, she and her husband had gone on a Grand Tour of Europe, not that the war was over.

Judith was ripped from her thoughts as they reached Lord Pembroke and Aaron introduced her.

"Your Grace," Lord Pembroke greeted, though he didn't take his eyes off her. "Good to see you. I didn't know you'd returned."

"Just about a week ago or so," Aaron replied.

"Ah, well, good to have you. And who have you brought with you?" Lord Pembroke looked at her with a wide smile.

Aaron chewed on his bottom lip, and she wondered why that might be. Was he nervous that she would make a cake of herself and embarrass him somehow in front of this gentleman? She couldn't blame him, she'd done it before after all.

"Lord Pembroke, may I present Lady Judith? Judith, this is Lord Pembroke,"Aaron said and motioned to her.

She curtsied the way she'd practiced and ensured to keep eye contact with Lord Pembroke.

"Lady Judith," Lord Pembroke said, bowing slightly, his ginger hair catching the candlelight.

His smile was warm and immediately put her at ease, yet she couldn't help but feel nervous, remembering the disastrous introduction to Aaron's friends at the park. She took a deep breath, recalling Joanna and Rosy's words of encouragement.

"Lord Pembroke," Judith returned. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine, Lady Judith," Lord Pembroke replied.

Determined to make a good impression, she smiled brightly and focused on being charming. She noticed the grand surroundings of Almack's—the glittering chandeliers casting a warm glow over the elegantly dressed guests, and the soft murmur of conversation mixed with the strains of music from the orchestra.

"Are you enjoying the evening thus far?" she asked, without taking her eyes off him.

She remembered Aaron's lessons and was determined to show him that she could be graceful and charming. Just because she hadn't been on the marriage mart in some while, or rather interested in it, didn't mean she'd lost all of her skills.

Lord Pembroke nodded. "Indeed, I do. Almack's might not be known for its food, but I enjoy the music. Do you like music?" he asked.

She took a deep breath, relieved that this was the topic he'd chosen.Of all the things gentlemen liked to talk about, music was the one topic she felt confident discussing.

"I do. And I adore The Creation by Haydn," she replied, nodding to the orchestra that was currently playing the piece.

Lord Pembroke's eyes lit up with genuine interest. "Indeed, Lady Judith? You have excellent taste. My favorite is Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 ."

A man who knows about music! What good fortune!

"Both pieces are masterpieces of our time," she declared with enthusiasm.

Aaron looked at her, his lips parted in surprise, clearly taken aback by her poise and charm.

"I agree. Well, Your Grace, I must thank you for introducing me to this charming young lady. It is rare that one meets another with a genuine interest in music, beyond playing it to claim as an accomplishment," Lord Pembroke said.

"Thank you, Lord Pembroke." Judith beamed, feeling a surge of confidence. "I find that music has a way of speaking to the soul, don't you agree?"

"Absolutely," Lord Pembroke replied, his gaze appreciative. "It is the language of the heart. Pray, may I have the honor of dancing with you this evening?"

"Of course," she said and handed him her dance card and pencil.

"Your Grace, may I borrow your back?" he asked.

Aaron, after a brief hesitation, turned his back to him.

Lord Pembroke took her dance card and wrote down his name for the quadrille, using Aaron's back as a table—which made her grin, as this time, it was Aaron who was uncomfortable.

"I look forward to our dance, Lady Judith."

"As do I, Lord Pembroke," she replied with a genuine smile as she took her dance card back.

As they moved on, Aaron glanced at her, a mix of admiration and surprise in his eyes. "You were wonderful, Judith. I must admit, I didn't expect that."

Judith laughed softly, feeling a sense of triumph. "Thank you, Aaron. I suppose I just needed the right motivation. We might win our wager yet, do you not think?"

"I think we ought not to bet all our money on the first horse," he cautioned quickly.

She raised her eyebrows, bemused."Do you mean that Lord Pembroke is a horse?"

They looked at one another and then burst out laughing, which eased what had remained of the tension between them.

"Let us not jest too loudly, lest I ruin my chance of dancing with him," she said.

Aaron grew serious at once."Of course. Shall we press on? That dance card is still very empty, and we need to find you someone to dance the Boulanger with."

They walked around the opulent ballroom, the scent of beeswax and perfume drifting in the air, and Judith couldn't help but feel a newfound confidence as the evening progressed. Aaron introduced her to a number of gentlemen, some of whom she already knew, and she found that this time, conversation did flow easier.

If it was because she simply had found her rhythm again, or because she wanted to show Aaron's high-in-the-instep friends that she could find herself a husband if she wanted to, she didn't know. But whatever it was, she felt invigorated. Once her dance card was nearly full, they came to a stop near an alcove.

Aaron turned to her with a warm smile. "You were truly impressive tonight, Judith. Especially when you spoke with Lord Pembroke. I had no idea you knew so much about music."

She hesitated, unsure if he was teasing her or genuinely impressed. "Do you mean that?"

"Absolutely," he replied, his tone sincere. "Your knowledge and passion for music were evident. Not that you weren't equally impressive when talking about other matters. You have a keen knowledge of current affairs."

Judith felt a blush creep up her cheeks. She didn't want to admit it, but she'd gone through four different newspapers that morning to familiarize herself with what was going on in the world, so she might be able to impress.

"Well, thank you. I do my best to be informed," she said, not meeting his eyes so he would not see the lie in hers. "But I must admit, I am glad when music is the subject, for I do love music. As a child, I hated the pianoforte, but now it's almost a refuge for me. I find great joy in playing."

It occurred it her that she hadn't played in a while, and she resolved to sit down at the instrument this very evening to play.

Aaron nodded, his eyes softening. "I understand completely. I cannot extract a single tune from any instrument, unfortunately, but I love listening to music and singing. One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to attend musical concertos."

"Really?" Judith's eyes widened with interest. She loved it when people told her about their journeys, even though it made her envious. "That sounds wonderful. What have you seen?"

"I once saw a performance of Rossini's opera Il Barbiere di Siviglia in Italy. It was magical," Aaron said, his eyes lighting up with the memory. "Afterwards, I walked back to the inn and passed the Spanish steps. It was so warm and lovely, I found myself humming the melodies all night."

She wondered if he had been alone when he hummed those melodies, or if he had the company of a woman, but she knew she could not dare to ask such things. Besides, she ought not to care. They weren't courting, after all.

"Italy sounds enchanting. Tell me more about your travels. What else have you seen? Tell me about Italy."

Aaron chuckled and looked across at the dance floor. On the edge, couples already lined up in anticipation of the next dance. "You will miss the next dance."

"It is the English Country Dance, which I am supposed to dance with Lord Wortham Stowe, but he is over yonder, asleep." Judith nodded her head toward the chair the young man in question reclined on, his mouth open.

They weren't near enough for her to be certain, but she was sure he was snoring.

"Very well then, I suppose we can use this time for a story. Italy is indeed enchanting. The art, the architecture, the food… Oh, the food! I've had the most exquisite pasta, fresh and bursting with flavor. And the gelato, Lady Judith, it's like tasting a piece of heaven."

Judith laughed softly, imagining the vibrant streets of Italy filled with the aroma of delicious food. Her mouth watered as she thought of it, and she placed a hand on her stomach, wishing she had something to eat before leaving Worcester House.

"It sounds divine. I would love to visit one day. Indeed, my mouth is watering right now."

"You must visit," Aaron said, his gaze lingering on her face. "There's a certain romance in the air there, something that inspires and captivates."

She felt a flutter in her chest at his words, the atmosphere between them charged with a subtle tension. "I can see how it would be inspiring. Have you been anywhere else that captivated you like Italy?"

"France has its own charm, especially Paris. The city is alive with art and music. I attended a concert at the Opéra Garnier once. The grandeur of the place is breathtaking."

Judith sighed dreamily. She imagined herself walking along the narrow avenues of Paris, flowers blooming and the thrilling sensation of love in the air.

"I have read so much about these places in books but never seen any of them."

"Have you not traveled at all, then?" he asked, though he sounded more surprised than judgmental.

"To Scotland," she revealed.

"Ah, one of my favorite places in the realm. I love the Highlands. It is so quiet there, one can be alone with one's thoughts and not see a soul—aside from the occasional goat."

She giggled, imagining him in the Highlands, sitting on a blanket with nothing but a herd of goats walking by.

"I have been to the Highlands," she said, happy she could finally share a tale of her own."On my first visit, I was accompanied by my mother, my father, and Oliver—this was before my youngest brother was born," she continued, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "We stayed in a quaint, little village, surrounded by rolling hills and picturesque lochs. One morning, we decided to go for a hike to see a famous waterfall."

Aaron listened intently, his curiosity piqued.

"Now, my mother had always insisted on proper attire, even for hiking." Judith smiled as she remembered her mother and her desire to always have her family look her best. She hadn't been a superficial woman, just someone always prepared for every eventuality. "So there I was, in a ridiculous ensemble of sturdy boots, a long skirt, and a bonnet that kept flopping into my eyes. We hadn't been hiking for more than an hour when we encountered a herd of sheep."

Aaron chuckled, imagining the scene. "I can sense a turn in the story," he jested.

"These weren't just any sheep," Judith said, grinning. "They were the most stubborn, determined sheep you've ever seen. They stood right in the middle of our path, and no amount of coaxing would make them move. My father tried shooing them away, my mother waved her bonnet in the air, but they just stared at us as if we were the most amusing spectacle they had ever seen."

She paused, laughing at the memory. "Finally, in a fit of frustration, my brother decided to chase them. He ran at them, yelling and flailing his arms. The sheep, naturally, were unimpressed. They scattered a bit, but then regrouped and began following him!"

Aaron burst into laughter. "They followed him?"

"Yes!" Judith exclaimed, giggling. "He ran up the hill, thinking he had won, only to look back and see the entire herd trotting after him. He panicked and started running faster, which only made them more determined to keep up. By the time he reached the top of the hill, he was out of breath, and the sheep were calmly grazing again, as if nothing had happened."

Aaron wiped a tear of laughter from his eye. "That's hilarious. Oliver never told me this story."

"And he will deny it if you tell him you know about it," she snorted.

Aaron shook his head, still chuckling. "I can imagine," he said, his eyes sparkling as he looked at her in such a way that her face grew hot at once.

Why was his mere look making her feel so flushed? She had to stop allowing herself to spend so much time with him. She wasn't here for a conversation with him—she was here to save herself from an unfortunate marriage arranged by her hapless brother…

And yet the last ten minutes had been the most enjoyable she'd had since her father's death. That in itself, she knew, was a bad sign, for she ought not to be having a grand time with the man assigned as her guardian. Still, at this moment, she wished for nothing more than the ability to keep talking to him, to hear his stories… to be near him.

And judging by the way he smiled at her, she wondered if perhaps, just perhaps, he felt the same.