Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Daniel stepped out of the carriage, his polished boots landing with a quiet thud on the cobblestone drive. The grand mansion before him was a beacon of opulence, its windows aglow with the soft, inviting light of countless chandeliers. The sounds of lively music and laughter spilled out into the night, a testament to yet another lavish ball in the heart of the Season.

He adjusted his coat, taking a moment to steel himself. He could already feel the weight of expectant eyes upon him—the hopeful glances of ambitious mothers, the coy smiles of eager debutantes…and of course, Lady Marie.

Chances were, this would be another evening in which Lady Marie sought him out, and he would have to find a way to escape her clutches.

As he made his way up the steps, his thoughts drifted to the dance lessons with Isabella that had started to almost become a daily occurrence.

He recalled the warmth of her hand in his, the way her eyes sparkled with determination, and the soft laughter that escaped her lips whenever she made a mistake. Despite her initial awkwardness, she was becoming more confident with each lesson, her movements growing more graceful and assured. The feel of her body close to his, the gentle sway of her hips as they moved in unison, was something he cherished more than he cared to admit.

With a deep breath, Daniel made his way inside, the grand entrance hall bustling with finely dressed guests. He nodded politely to those who acknowledged him, offering a courteous smile that did not quite reach his eyes. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfumes and the murmur of countless conversations, but Daniel's focus was singular.

Scanning the room, his eyes landed on the familiar figures of his friends. Truth be told, were it not for Henry and Barrett, it was unlikely that he would attend these nights at all!

Both men looked up as Daniel approached, their faces lighting up with matching grins.

"Daniel!" Henry called out, raising his glass in a mock toast. "We were beginning to think you had been abducted by one of the more persistent mothers."

"Or worse," Barrett added with a chuckle. "One of the debutantes."

Daniel laughed, feeling a bit of the evening's tension ease away. "Not yet, though I had a close call with Lady Abernathy's daughter on the way in. I barely escaped with my life."

Henry shook his head, his expression one of exaggerated sympathy. "Ah, the perils of being the most eligible bachelor in London. How do you manage?"

"With great difficulty," Daniel replied dryly, accepting a glass of punch from a passing servant. "But enough about my tribulations. How have you two been faring in this madness tonight?"

Barrett leaned in conspiratorially, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "We have been keeping ourselves entertained. Did you hear about Lord Hawthorne's latest escapade? Apparently, he attempted to serenade Lady Beatrice from beneath her balcony last night. Unfortunately for him, her father mistook him for a burglar and nearly shot him."

Henry snorted, barely containing his laughter. "And here I thought the Season could not get any more entertaining. What did Lord Hawthorne do?"

"Ran for his life, of course," Barrett said with a grin. "He has been avoiding Lady Beatrice ever since. I cannot say I blame him."

Much as it was a lot of fun listening to his friends, Daniel still found himself not fully satisfied, and it took him a moment to pinpoint why. As Henry and Barrett made a wager, betting on who could secure a dance with the elusive Lady Eliza first, Daniel's mind wandered.

If only she were here.

He could still feel the gentle pressure of Isabella's hand in his, the warmth of her touch sending tingles through him. The way she moved—graceful, confident, and utterly enchanting—had a way of making everything else in the world seem insignificant. Their lessons had become a sanctuary, a place where the rigid expectations of society fell away, leaving only the two of them and the music.

Daniel sighed, the longing in his chest almost palpable. He could picture her now, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders, her eyes bright with laughter as they twirled around the room. She would fit in perfectly among the elegantly dressed guests, her natural beauty outshining even the most dazzling of debutantes.

But Isabella was not here, and the reality of their situation loomed large. They came from different worlds—his one of privilege and expectation, hers of modesty and constraint. The very thought of openly courting her was fraught with peril. Yet, the more time he spent with her, the more he realized he might be willing to take that risk.

"Daniel!" Barrett's voice snapped him from his thoughts. "You are missing all the fun. Henry has already been rebuffed twice by Lady Eliza."

Daniel chuckled, forcing his mind back to the present. "Somehow, I am not surprised. She has quite the reputation for turning down suitors."

Just then, a new voice interrupted their conversation. "Daniel, what a pleasant surprise!"

Daniel tried not to sigh heavily.

Lady Marie had found him.

Daniel turned to see her approaching, her gown a shimmering cascade of blue silk.

"Lady Marie," Daniel greeted her with a polite bow. "You look lovely this evening."

"Thank you," she replied, her smile widening. "I was just telling Mother how much I hoped to see you tonight. Balls are always so much more enjoyable with familiar faces."

Barrett took a discreet step back, giving Daniel a knowing look before melting into the crowd. Daniel inwardly sighed, bracing himself for what he knew was coming.

"Speaking of enjoyment," Lady Marie continued, her tone light and conversational, "I have been looking forward to dancing all evening. It is such a beautiful night, do you not think?"

"Indeed it is," Daniel agreed, maintaining his polite facade. He could sense the anticipation in her eyes, the subtle pressure of unspoken expectations. "Would you like to take to the dance floor with me?"

Her eyes lit up with triumph as she took his hand. "That sounds wonderful!"

As they moved to the dance floor, Daniel tried to push thoughts of Isabella to the back of his mind. He held Lady Marie's hand, leading her into the first steps of the waltz. Her touch was cool and practiced, lacking the warmth and spontaneity he had come to cherish in his lessons with Isabella.

But Lady Marie was not going to give him the mental space to think of anyone else.

Although it seemed like she had come with a new attitude today, one that Daniel did not much care for.

"Did you see Lady Abernathy's daughter?" Lady Marie said with a disdainful laugh. "She is wearing last Season's gown. I suppose they cannot afford to keep up with the latest fashions anymore."

Daniel forced a polite smile, his discomfort growing. He had never been one to indulge in such cruel gossip, and it only made him think of how Isabella must have felt, working as Lady Marie's lady's maid. Isabella would have been subjected to these kinds of comments daily, and Daniel could only imagine the strength it took to endure them.

"And Lady Beatrice," Lady Marie continued, not noticing Daniel's distraction. "Did you see her hair? It is practically a bird's nest. Honestly, I do not know how she dares to show her face in public. I would be far too embarrassed."

Daniel tightened his grip on Lady Marie's hand, forcing himself to focus on the steps of the waltz. Despite the elegance of the setting and the beautiful strains of the music, he found the conversation increasingly tiresome. Lady Marie's words dripped with a condescension that made Daniel's jaw clench.

"Lady Beatrice does have a rather unique style," he managed to reply, trying to keep his tone neutral. "But I am sure she is quite aware of her choices."

Lady Marie gave a dismissive wave of her hand. "Oh, I suppose. But it is rather amusing to see how some people try so hard and still fall short."

As they twirled around the dance floor, Daniel's mind wandered once again. He thought of Isabella, her laughter ringing through the gardens as she stumbled over her own feet, only to brush off the mishap with a smile. She was never one to judge others, her empathy and kindness a stark contrast to the harshness he was now surrounded by.

He recalled the way Isabella's cheeks would flush with effort, the way her eyes would light up when she finally got a step right. She was not just learning to dance; she was embracing something new, stepping out of the constraints of her world with a grace that belied her circumstances.

Her enthusiasm and spirit were infectious, and he found himself wishing he could be in a place where they could both be free from the judgments and expectations of society.

"…and Lady Julia…" Lady Marie continued, not that Daniel was really listening to her anymore. "Can you believe she had the nerve to wear white? As if she were still an innocent debutante. Everyone knows about her scandal last Season…"

Daniel just about resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

If Isabella were here, she would appreciate this, she would enjoy every moment of it and not have a bad word to say about anyone.

He would love it, too, because Isabella's infectious nature would make it fun.

What a shame that she would never be invited…