The Aristocrat's Lady (Love Inspired Historical) (10 page)

She hugged her mother, “Oh, thank you, Mama, for everything!”

Nicole heard Lord Devlin clear his throat. She turned to him and he took her bare hand in his and raised it to his lips. He held it there longer than was proper, and it sent glowing slivers that went all the way to her heart.

He lowered her hand from his lips, but continued
holding on to it, whispering, “I apologize for my bare hands. I must have left my gloves in the carriage. I could not wait one more moment to greet you.”

She felt herself blush, but to cover the sound of her beating heart, she chuckled as she said, “I believe you dropped your gloves on the floor. I am afraid I made you wait too long.”

As he bent to retrieve the offending articles, she teased him. “My lord, all of the women in London must think it very unfair of you to outshine them when you invite them out!”

While he turned her away from him to place her cloak around her shoulders, he whispered earnestly into her ear, “I do not particularly care what the other women in London think. I find I care only for the opinion of one woman tonight, and she stands before me. I take umbrage at your compliment, my lady. Not even the noonday sun beaming on the heather of the moors in Ireland could outshine you.”

Each compliment he gave moved her more than the last. She felt the whole world disappear in her effort to listen to his whispers in her ear. She only hoped he could not hear the pounding of her heart.

If only he were not such an expert with women, she thought. He made her feel so…special, and she did not know how to handle it. She assumed he addressed all women in such a way and did not wish him to think she had changed her intentions of friendship. She laughed his compliments away. “I think it is safe to say your reputation as a flirt remains intact, my lord.”

His sigh told her immediately that she had said the wrong thing.

He turned her back to face him and took her arm. “I think we had better go in order to miss the crush. We can relax with refreshments in the box before the music begins. General Overton and the Hamptons will be meeting us there.”

Heavenly Father, I am in over my head. I confess this situation is all of my making. You never would have had it so. I ask Your forgiveness, Lord, and that You would guide me onto or back to the path You want for me.

Nicole’s prayer was uttered in earnest, but she could only will her heart to match the words.

N
icole’s first visit to the theater was magical…and miserable. There was no other description for it.

It began quite well. Devlin was very thoughtful, and planned their arrival early to avoid the crush. Those wishing to see what others were wearing, and wishing to be seen in turn, were always fashionably late. He remembered her particular fear of crowds and went out of his way to be sure of her comfort. She truly appreciated his solicitousness; he put her needs before anything else, without even knowing why. Would he have only felt awkward if he had known the truth?

Despite their early arrival, the number of waiting carriages was overwhelming. There was even a frightening moment when Lord Devlin stepped down from their coach. A man on horseback, apparently out of control, nearly ran Devlin down. Had Toby not been there to push him out of harm’s way, he might have been seriously injured. The ladies were aghast at the near miss, but Lord Devlin made light of the episode, then tried to hurry them into the famous auditorium.

In the end, Devlin and Nicole did not have as much time to themselves as planned. Devlin’s other guests arrived very soon after, just as happy to avoid the throng downstairs. As Lord Devlin introduced his guests, it was discovered that General Overton was an old admirer of Lady Beaumont, so the party began very merrily.

Nicole was enchanted with each of Lord Devlin’s friends, and she felt an instant affinity with Lady Hampton. The gentlemen had placed the three ladies in the front seats of the box, and conversation between them was easy and pleasant.

Lady Hampton was nothing if not straightforward. “I am so charmed to finally meet you, Lady Nicole. Dev has told Peter much about you. I confess I find it very intriguing that he would do so about a woman he had known such a short time.” Nicole blushed and Lady Hampton quickly apologized. “My wretched tongue! Please forgive me if I have embarrassed you. Hampton constantly scolds me for saying exactly what is on my mind. But you must know that he was not gossiping about you. We both enjoy sharing the events of the day, and he mentioned your friendship with Devlin. He and Devlin are such old friends. I sometimes feel like Dev is the brother I never had. Is it not funny? I felt such an immediate rapport with you as well!”

Lady Hampton finally drew breath, and then laughed at herself. “In the event you are wondering, Hampton also reminds me if I do not pause midsentence, others do not comprehend one out of ten words I say.” She
purposely took a deep breath, then continued her conversation with a wink and at a much slower pace.

“Hampton says that you and Devlin have become great friends. I was hopeful that you and I might do so as well. You must call me Beth and I will call you Nicole, and we may begin as we intend to go on.”

Nicole laughed at this confusing and charming discourse, and was greatly pleased with Beth. She made her feel quite welcome and seemed just the sort of friend Nicole would have chosen. She instinctively felt that if Beth knew about her condition, she would have been one of the few to stand by her. That always sealed her feelings for people and she said, “I have no problem with you speaking your mind. I am afraid I have the tendency myself. But you may notice that people close to me usually forgo the formal Nicole and call me Nick or Nicky. Please feel free to do so.”

“I dare any human alive to look at you in that gown and call you Nick!” She laughed as Nicole blushed and recalled how she felt when Devlin tenderly asked if she would permit him to call her Nicole. Oh dear, her heart was not cooperating at all!

Lords Hampton and Devlin stood in the back of the box for the half hour before the opera was to start. Peter did not hesitate to act the abused friend upon seeing Nicole for the first time. “You old dog! You said there was a
slight
physical attraction, but you purposely did not tell me she was a diamond of the first water! You will have every young buck in London in this box before the night is over.”

“She does not have an interest in any of the ‘young bucks,’ and I do not think I care for the admiration in
your
voice! It is a very good thing I know what a happily married man you are, or I might have had to plant you a facer.” He spoke in jest to his friend, but was a little unnerved at how quickly he became her protector.

“This gets better and better, Dev. ‘We are just friends,’ indeed! I am excessively diverted, old man. You are as jealous as can be, even when it is only the General who addresses her. The reason you want to spend all your time with her is because you are in love with her!”

“Heaven spare me from friends who want me to become leg shackled. Do not be ridiculous, Peter. You know my views on marriage, and you certainly know my history when it comes to love. I only prefer not to spend the intermission tossing a crowd of unwanted simpering fops and dandies out on their ears. If you knew her better, you would know I speak for the lady, as well.”

“That, old boy, is exactly my plan. To
get
to know her better.” He hesitated a moment then asked, “Can I ask you who brought the giant manservant posted outside the box door? I…um…heard he came with you.”

“That is one story I have not been able to fathom as of yet, but I certainly intend to. It has to do with an accident she had at some point not long ago, and she never goes out without him. No, no, do not ask me any more questions. I do not know anything about the accident either. But I shall persevere, I assure you.”

“Well, I am off to charm the ladies in the front while
you fight off the swains back here. Thanks for inviting us. This is going to be much more interesting than I had hoped!” He chuckled as Devlin scowled at him.

The two ladies found no shortage of conversation, and Nicole was enjoying herself immensely. Lord Hampton’s voice interrupted their chatter. “I thought to get a jump on the hoards of men that will soon be forming, but I see that it is my wife who has been before me.”

Nicole blushed but smiled. “How do you do, my lord? I am Nicole Beaumont, Nicky if you like.” She invited him to join them. “Your wife is such a treasure. I vow I do not know how you can endure ever being parted from her.”

He let out an exaggerated sigh. “Indeed, Lady Nicole, short intervals are all I can bear.”

Though he teased, there was such tenderness in his voice that it caused an unsought pang of envy in Nicole’s heart.

At that moment the orchestra began to tune up, and all thoughts of conversation flew from Nicole’s head. She felt the three men settle in the chairs behind her, but once the opera began she was mesmerized and had no inclination to hear anything else. Several times she leaned back in her chair, eyes closed, letting the music invade her soul. Many times in church she felt she could happily discard the sermon and spend the entire time worshipping through hymns.

The emotional conviction of the arias brought her to tears. She felt a tap on her shoulder as Lord Devlin closed her hand around his handkerchief. She was so
entrenched in the music she did not even stop to think that he must have been watching her instead of listening to the song.

Heaven help me, thought Devlin! As he watched her close her eyes and feel the music, he was reminded of the evening she had made him use his sense of smell on her garden terrace. He had the intense desire to follow her lead again. He had been to the opera too many times to count, yet he had never enjoyed one so much. Could Peter be right? Was it because he was with her? Were they merely friends—or
was
he falling in love with her?

He was beginning to feel a determined closeness each time he was with her. What concerned him more, however, was the
need
he was experiencing when he was
not
with her. He could not remember a time when he had gone to such lengths to please a woman. He gave up any pretext of enjoying the opera. He just wanted to watch her.

Lady Nicole aroused his desire to protect her. He could no longer deny looking forward to being with her. With no bark upon it, he just enjoyed spending time in her company. There was no denying there was a physical attraction as well, at least on his part, but she was a beautiful woman. Where was the mystery in that? He ran his hands through his hair, wondering what in the world he should do.

At intermission he leaned forward to ask Nicole if she would like to take a turn in the grand hallway. Before he could even speak, her subtle fragrance wafted
over him. Once again this sense of smell surprised him. But the immediate tension in her body told him he had made an error.

“If you do not mind, my lord, I should rather remain where I am,” she whispered. “Crowds are a particular trial for me, and I would rather avoid them, if possible. To own the truth, I do not as yet wish to let go of the beautiful music I have just heard.” She was a little too cheerful as she begged him to feel free to accompany his friends. “I shall be perfectly content,” she said, and meant it.

“I cannot regret your desire to avoid a crushing crowd…it is how I met you. I told you that night that you had bewitched me. And you know I am never wrong.”

Her face flushed at his compliment.

“You know, that blush is so enchanting,” he murmured close to her ear, “I am beginning to contemplate ways to bring it about.” Her face flamed, but he just pinched her chin, saying, “But I shall give over now and ask if I may get you a glass of punch before the second act starts.”

“I would appreciate that greatly, my lord.”

Lady Hampton chose to stay in the box as her husband accompanied Lord Devlin to get refreshments.

Nicole felt a little uneasy. “Please do not feel you must remain with me, Lady Hamp… I mean, Beth. I am sure you would rather be strolling with your charming husband than sitting here with me. I am truly fine and will not mind a few quiet moments.”

“Oh dear, would you
prefer
to be alone?” At the shake of Nicole’s head she continued, “Nicole, I am probably saying more than I should, but I do not want you to feel bothered by the stares of Lady Robinson in the box across from us.”

Nicole laughed at the irony of it and said, “I feel very stupid. I have been so caught up in the music that I never noticed that I was being stared at. Does she have some particular reason for staring at me?”

“You have not noticed that you were being stared at?” Beth asked incredulously. “Good heavens, Nicole, either you are a tremendous liar or the most modest woman I have ever met! Every
man
turns to look at you at least once or twice a minute hoping you will take notice of him. Every
woman
looks at you in that gown and wishes to see you boiled in oil. Lady Robinson, well, we shall not worry our heads about her.”

“No, please tell me.”

With a perplexed look, Beth said, “I thought Hampton said you had been in London the entire Season?”

“I
have
been in London all the while,” responded Nicole. “I must admit, however, that I did not wish to come, so I have made no push to seek new friendships. I can see I made a mistake, or I might have known you much sooner.”

“Oh, you are a love! But even if you had not been officially introduced to me, I expect I should have noticed you at balls and soirees and such. What are you avoiding
besides
people?”

Nicole almost winced as she realized this woman was much more sensitive to the feelings of others than
anyone else she had met in London. Nicole nearly decided to cast her fate to the wind and share her problems with this special lady. But she stopped herself. Instead she ignored Beth’s pointed question. “I believe we have gotten away from the subject of Lady Robinson. I now admit to a great deal of curiosity at her stare.”

“Oh dear, it is another thing I have said without thinking! It is too late now, however, and if you are staying for the rest of the Season, there is no way you can escape her. She has been setting her cap for Dev these five years or more. She has been staring daggers at you all night. Please do not let her distress you. Dev has absolutely no interest in that direction and has been trying to avoid her at all costs.”

“Beth,” Nicole said hesitantly, “Lord Devlin is free to show interest in whomever he wishes. We are friends and Lady Robinson has nothing to fear from me.”

“My dear Nicole, I hope we too shall become fast friends. I should like to be able to share your company throughout our remaining time in London…but I think I would like to start by being honest with you. Dev may think that you and he are only friends, but I saw the way he watched you tonight, and I believe he is fast on his way to falling in love with you.”

She continued in a grave voice, “I think you need to be prepared for that because when the realization comes, it will not be easy on him. Suffice it to say Dev has been hurt in most of his relationships, and has vowed he will never be hurt again. Once he discovers he is in love with you, he may overreact. He may do his
best to fight his feelings so as to remain unscathed. But in doing so,
you
may be hurt by
his
actions. It is time enough that he had some happiness in his life.”

Fortunately for Nicole, the shock she did not think she could hide went largely unnoticed as several gentlemen appeared to pay their respects.

Lords Hampton and Devlin returned very soon after and sent the visitors out in a rare twig. The second act had just started, but Nicole could not remember a single chord when it was over. She had been so distracted by Beth’s assumptions about Lord Devlin falling in love with her that she could concentrate on nothing else. Surely Beth was wrong. She knew they had a unique relationship for the times, but love?

Before her accident, there’d been no doubt she knew the characteristics she wanted in a husband. He would love God as much as she did. He would want a simple life in the country, eagerly helping others. Did Lord Devlin’s feelings about the returning soldiers qualify as such? No! The man she pictured, before her accident, would definitely
not
be an expert with women. All of this, however, was moot, as her accident had changed everything. Beth was surely wrong!