Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Juliette was watching Nicholas and Lavinia dancing together. She could not help but feel sad at the sight of them doing so, imagining herself as the one who Nicholas had chosen, even as she knew such imagining was pointless. Nicholas had not chosen her. He had chosen Lavinia, and that was that.

“And there’s nothing you can do about it, apart from resolve to not be so miserable over the matter,” Juliette told herself.

She sighed, glancing around her for Emily. But as she did so, Juliette was astonished by the sight of a man approaching her - it was the stranger from the orangery, the one she had bumped into outside the modiste, and now her heart skipped a beat, and she hardly knew what to say as he smiled at her and gave a curt bow.

“Good evening. Forgive me for approaching you like this, but I couldn’t help but notice you, and… well, having failed to do the proper thing in the street yesterday, I thought… well, I’d do so now,” he said.

Juliette blushed. She hardly knew what to say, and she could only imagine what Emily would think if she saw the two of them together.

“I… it’s… how unexpected,” she stammered, for his presence was quite overwhelming, even as Juliette could not understand why he should make her feel this way.

“I hope you don’t mind? It’s just… well, I’ve thought a great deal of our conversation in the orangery this past year. I’ve been away - abroad, at first, and then in Norfolk on my estate. London doesn’t have the same appeal as it once did. I came back for a… matter involving my friend, Gregory. But I’m truly glad to see you,” he said, and Juliette smiled.

“I’m very glad to see you, too,” she replied, still not quite knowing what to make of the situation.

Another dance was about to begin, and now the stranger glanced over his shoulder before turning back to Juliette with a smile.

“I wonder… would you like to dance?” he asked.

Juliette’s mind had been so fixed on Nicholas and Lavinia she had not considered the possibility of actually enjoying the evening. But the appearance of the stranger, and his obvious interest in her, were enough to lift her spirits, and she nodded as now he held out his hand to her.

“I’d like that,” she replied, and together they stepped forward into the throng.

He slipped his arm around her, taking her other hand, and smiling.

“I’m not the best of dancers, but I’ll try my best. I don’t get much practice, you see - well, apart from with my sisters,” he said.

He had still not introduced himself, and neither had Juliette, even as there was now no reason for them not to do so. There was no scandal in what they were doing - they were in full view of the ballroom, surrounded by other couples, and Juliette knew there was no reason for her not to enjoy the moment, even as she found herself distracted by the sight of Nicholas and Lavinia dancing nearby.

They had eyes only for one another, and despite Juliette telling herself to concentrate on the stranger, her attentions were drawn to the betrothed couple.

“I’m not the best of dancers, either,” Juliette said, glancing over the man’s shoulder to where Nicholas and Lavinia were whirling and twirling in an effortless waltz.

“You won’t be if you keep getting distracted by what’s going on around you - am I not very interesting?” he asked, and Juliette blushed.

“I’m sorry, forgive me… it’s not that. Do you know Nicholas and Lavinia? The couple who are just betrothed?” Juliette asked, and Alexander shook his head.

“Only vaguely…just as everyone in the ton knows one another vaguely. Though you’re still a stranger,” he said, and Juliette blushed.

“And am I to remain so?” she asked, as they continued to dance.

“It hardly matters now, does it? Shouldn’t we introduce ourselves? I’m Alexander,” he said, and Juliette smiled.

“And I’m Juliette,” she replied. The dance came to an end, they stepped back, and Alexander bowed and Juliette curtsied.

“And I’m very glad to meet you, Juliette,” Alexander said, offering her his arm.

As Juliette turned to look around her, she saw Emily watching them from across the ballroom, and now her cousin hurried over, eager, it seemed, for an introduction.

“You’re the man we met outside the modiste, aren’t you?” she said, and Alexander smiled.

“I almost knocked you over,” he replied, and now Alexander’s friend - who was introduced as Gregory - came to join them.

Juliette glanced at her cousin, smiling at the way Emily was looking at Gregory - and he was looking at her. There was no doubting there was an immediate attraction between them - and now Gregory asked Emily if she would like to dance the next dance.

“Oh… yes, I would,” Emily replied, blushing as though she had not expected to have been asked. Alexander glanced at Juliette again; seemingly hopeful she would agree to the same.

But at that moment, they were joined by Nicholas and Lavinia, for Nicholas knew Gregory through Lord and Lady Summerisle, and it was not long before a full set of introductions were made.

“We should pair off - Juliette and I should dance. Do you remember how we used to dance as children? We’d pretend to be at a ball, bowing and curtseying to one another. Yes, I insist - come and dance with me, Juliette, and perhaps Alexander could dance with Lavinia,” Nicholas said.

It seemed there was to be no choice in the matter, even as Juliette would have preferred not to dance with Nicholas for the sake of her own feelings. She glanced at Alexander, even though there was nothing they could do to refuse Nicholas’s offer. She had been surprised at just how much she had enjoyed his company, and now she wondered if their brief acquaintance might continue.

“We can come together again after the dance,” she said, and Nichols nodded as he held out his hand to her.

“Certainly, we can,” he replied.

The couples now made their way into the throng, and as Nicholas slipped his arm around Juliette’s waist, she could not help but feel a sense of sadness as to what would never be. They would always just be friends, and while she was happy for him, Juliette did not know if she could ever be happy for herself…

“What a lovely person Lavinia is. I’m so happy for you,” Juliette said, hoping her words did not sound forced.

But to her surprise, Nicholas’ reply came with the slightest hint of hesitation. Had she not known him so well, Juliette might have missed it, but she was certain it was there - a sense of something more to the story than met the eye, even as now he smiled at her and nodded.

“Yes… she’s a delight. I’m very lucky,” he said, and Juliette nodded.

“And so is she,” she replied.

Nicholas smiled, glancing over to where Lavinia and Alexander were dancing.

“I didn’t know you knew the Marquess of Cavendish. Though I’ve been away for so long, it’s hardly surprising. I’ve still got a lot of catching up to do - new faces, new associations…” he said, and Juliette blushed.

She had not known Alexander had a title - she knew hardly anything about him - but it would seem strange to admit how little she knew about him to Nicholas, and instead, she merely nodded and smiled.

“Yes… for about a year,” she replied.

She wondered what Nicholas was thinking - what he was assuming. Did he believe she and Alexander were courting? The thought of it pleased her - though she reminded herself it was an ugly feeling to possess. Was he jealous? Was all with Lavinia not as it seemed?

“He seems a decent sort,” Nicholas said, and Juliette smiled.

“He does, doesn’t he?” she replied.

The dance now came to an end, and the two of them stepped back with a bow and curtsey. Juliette glanced over to where Alexander and Lavinia were doing the same, and now she wondered again as to what had caused Nicholas to pause in his agreement as to their mutual happiness…

“Wasn’t that fun? I could happily go again,” Emily said, as she came to take Lavinia’s arm in hers.

“It was… lovely,” Lavinia replied, as Nicholas now turned back to Lavinia.

“I rather like him - Gregory, I mean,” Emily whispered, blushing as Juliette smiled.

Gregory and Alexander were talking to one another, and Juliette now decided to throw caution to the wind. She knew it was not her place to do so, but she did not want to lose touch with the stranger - with Alexander - again. Taking Emily with her, she approached him, clearing her throat, as now he turned and smiled at her.

“I hope it won’t be another year until we see one another again,” she said, and Alexander smiled and shook his head.

“I hope it won’t be, either. I promise it won’t be…” he replied, and now the two men both gave a curt bow, as Juliette and Emily sank into deep curtsies.