“It’s all right, I know you didn’t know I was there.” She brushed herself off as though she had fallen into mud. “I apologize to you.”
He patted her hand. “It’s all right. I think I will be leaving, though. I have no more dances to stay for, and I am feeling a bit light headed. I would like to get some fresh air. Would you like to take a quick stroll through the garden with me before I leave?”
“No, I don’t think so, Richie, I have a full dance card.”
He smiled at her. “That’s lovely, Elizabeth. I’m glad.”
She nodded, and her eyes strayed over his shoulder, where couples were joining on the dance floor for the next song. “I think I see Lord Wellington right now. He’s coming this way. So you are going home?”
“Yes, I think I will.”
Elizabeth smiled and gave him a sympathetic look. She leaned toward him and whispered, “You won’t find another lady like Kate, Richard. You must give someone else a chance to show you there is still love in the world.”
Richard nodded. “I know that, sister. I just haven’t found one yet. I’m open to the idea. But so far, there have been no interesting ladies that have come my way.”
“You looked good on the dance floor with Lady Kathleen.”
Richard shook his head. “She is only interested in the dancing. She is very quiet otherwise.”
“She is a beautiful woman.”
He narrowed his eyes at his sister. “The outer beauty of a woman says nothing for what it covers up.”
Elizabeth stood up straight and sighed. She loved her brother, but he could be stubborn sometimes. “Oh, all right, Richie. You just go enjoy your fire and a nice book. I’ll be here dancing. Hello, Lord Wellington. How delightful to see you. How have you been?”
Richard stepped to the side as Elizabeth went around him, extending one hand for the Lord to take. Daniel Wellington was well-known among the ladies and well-liked, as well. He was the same height as Richard, ten years his junior and had the brightest blue eyes anyone had ever seen. They looked out from behind long dark lashes that his sister, along with every other lady at the ball, couldn’t seem to get enough of. The Lord took Elizabeth’s hand and kissed it.
Richard held out his hand, bowing slightly. “Lord Wellington,” He said.
Daniel shook his hand, also bowing. “Duke Wentworth. How have you been, sir.”
“I am well, and you?”
“Also doing quite well, thank you. My lady, shall we move out onto the dance floor and join the others? Do pardon me, Richard, the music has just started.”
Richard shook his head and gestured for them to go. “Not at all, please don’t miss the song on my account.”
Elizabeth called back over her shoulder as Daniel led her to the floor. “I will be home later, Richie. You try to do something fun!”
Richard nodded and lifted one hand to acknowledge he had heard her. Then he swiftly turned and made his way out of the building, avoiding eye contact with any of the people he saw on his way. The night was crisp and cool but he liked it that way. He went directly to his horse and mounted with ease. It wasn’t a bad night, and he didn’t mind going to the balls. He just wasn’t hoping for any new faces to suddenly pop up on the scene and the ones that were already there were not suitable to him. He was extremely picky about women; it was simply the fact that he had his three charges to think about. He didn’t want them to have a wicked stepmother just because she was of the same class and had a pretty face. The pretty face was nice, but the inside had to be just as pretty. Otherwise, he was wasting his time.
Chapter Two
Rose Bennett stood in the front of the room, one hand in mid-air, holding a piece of chalk. She was staring behind her at one of the three children she was teaching, waiting for him to calculate the equation in his mind. Samuel was looking up at the ceiling, obviously thinking with all his might. She pressed her lips together to keep from giggling.
She had been governess for the children for almost ten years now, beginning with the family when Frederick was only two years old. Duke Wentworth – Richard – and his wife, Kate, were influential members of society in those days, visiting, putting on parties and have frequent guests that were notable, including the Prime Minister. But those were days long past and since the death of Lady Kate four years previous, things had not been the same. Gone were the ready smiles and the sound of laughter echoing down the halls of the manor. Richard had been heartbroken and angry for several years.
It suddenly seemed that he had come out of mourning. Rose was fairly certain Elizabeth had something to do with it.
“Four!” Samuel announced proudly. She was pulled back to reality from her thoughts.