Married In Haste Read online

  “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Brad said. This was promising. The aunt had both good manners and grace. He liked that. Perhaps the niece would be the same way. He directed his attention to Miss Baynes and extended his hand toward her since the music was about to start. “May I have this next dance?”

  Miss Baynes offered him a smile and accepted his hand. Her grip was firm but gentle. Another good sign. He didn’t like it when a lady’s hands were limp or too tight.

  He led her to the center of the room, and as soon as the music started, he guided her into the dance.

  “You have a lovely ballroom,” she told him. “Your choice of colors is very well done. I think it’s the most attractive ballroom I’ve seen all Season.”

  Pleased by her compliment, he smiled. “Thank you.”

  She returned his smile, and it made her even prettier. “You’re welcome. I noticed the room is symmetrical, too. You’ve chosen the same design on all of the walls.”

  “Would you believe you’re the first person who’s noticed that?”

  She chuckled. “Surely, you jest. This room is magnificent. You must receive compliments about it all the time.”

  “What I told you is the truth. No one else seems to appreciate this room even though I took great care in choosing its design.”

  And it had taken him a good three months to finally settle on it. At the time, his sister, Loretta, and his brother, Stephen, thought he was being obsessive about it.

  “All the time and care you took into designing this room paid off,” Miss Baynes assured him. “It really is a splendid sight.”

  “The other rooms in this place are similar to this one,” he said.

  “You used the same colors and designs that you did here?” By the twinkle in her eye, he could tell she was teasing him.

  He grinned. “No, I didn’t use the same design or colors, but I did take great care and consideration into how the other rooms in this place were decorated. I love symmetry. When I look at architecture and paintings, I am especially drawn to things that have a balance to them. Symmetry represents order. I like order. It’s predictable. Predictability brings a sense of peace. I don’t think we can ever have too much peace.”

  Especially when a gentleman had a younger brother who was constantly running about London creating mischief wherever he went.

  “Tell me,” he began, “do you find comfort in orderly things?”

  “To be honest, I haven’t thought about it,” she said. “Each day seems to have its own routine. I just go from one thing to the next.”

  “Routine is an order in itself. Every day after the sun rises, people get up, put on clothes, eat, and then either engage in work or a leisurely activity. In the evening, they go to sleep. Then they wake up the next morning to do it all over again.”

  “When you put it that way,” Miss Baynes began, “it actually makes life seem a bit boring.”

  “I wouldn’t call it boring. I’d say it’s comforting. I find contentment in it.” Realizing that he’d spent all of this time talking about himself, he asked her, “What about you? What activities do you enjoy doing?”

  “Well, I love taking a stroll through the park. I have a younger brother and sister, and I spend a lot of time with them. We try to make it to the circus at least once a year.” Her eyes lit up. “Oh! One time we actually went for a hot air balloon ride. That was a lot of fun.”

  “Fun? You didn’t find it scary?”

  “I was scared at first, but once I was in the air, I was too busy enjoying the view of the land around me to be nervous.”

  “You’re braver than I am. I could never go on a hot air balloon ride.”

  “I’m sure you could. It’s really not that scary once you’re up in the air.”

  “No, I don’t think so. I like my feet firmly planted on the ground.”

  “What about horse rides? Your feet aren’t on the ground for that.”

  “I’ve ridden horses, but I prefer carriages. Horses have a way of being sweaty and dirty. I like to be clean.”

  “Yes, but you can always change clothes when you’re done.”

  “That’s true.”

  The music came to an end, and he was sorry for it. He had been enjoying his conversation with Miss Baynes immensely, and he had wished to continue talking to her. Perhaps he might get a second dance with her. Then they could continue where they left off.

  “I better get you back to your aunt and friends, but I want you to know I enjoyed our dance,” he told her.

  Her smile widening, she said, “I enjoyed it, too.”

  Good. That was a very promising sign. Maybe his luck with ladies was finally changing.

  He offered his arm and she took it. As he began to escort her off the dance floor, they got too close to another couple and she bumped into the lady. The lady shrieked. Miss Baynes jerked back in surprise and bumped into Brad. Brad’s foot caught onto the hem of her gown, and they went tumbling to the floor together.

  Before he even had time to register what had happened, the laughter from the onlookers made his face grow hot from embarrassment. In all the balls he’d been to over the past four years, nothing like this had happened to him. All it took was just one dance with Miss Baynes and he had become the laughingstock of the room.

  Who knew if this would end up in the Tittletattle tomorrow? Who knew if the Ton would be laughing at him for days, weeks, months…maybe even years from now? What if he went down in history as the “Earl Who Fell Flat on His Behind”? And right at his own ball of all places!

  He hurried to his feet and quickly helped Miss Baynes up. He rushed her over to her aunt and friends, mumbled a quick goodbye, and then he hightailed it out of the room.

  He could not bring himself to go back in there. Not tonight. Maybe, he could continue his search for the perfect lady. But he could not continue the search tonight.

  It was unfortunate. Up to the debacle, he and Miss Baynes had seemed well matched for each other. But people would forever remember them as the couple who fell in the middle of everyone at the ball, and he couldn’t be strapped with that stigma for the rest of his life. He was just going to have to find someone else.

  ***

  The next afternoon, Ava was in her bedchamber when a knock came at the door. She looked up from the game of chess she was playing with Dinah. “I should get that.” As she stood up, she playfully admonished, “You better not move that piece until I’m back.”

  Her sister gasped in innocence.

  Hands on her hips, Ava added, “I know full well you have a tendency to be mischievous.”

  Her sister grinned. “I promise I won’t cheat this time. All the pieces will be where they are now.” She gestured to the board.

  “I hope so. One has to keep a careful eye on you.” Chuckling, Ava went to the door.

  The butler handed her an envelope. “This just came for you.”

  Thinking it was from Opal, Ava thanked him then returned to the chessboard.

  “Who is it from?” her sister asked.

  Ava looked at the handwriting on the envelope and frowned. It wasn’t Opal’s handwriting. In fact, she didn’t recognize the handwriting at all.

  “I don’t know.” Ava pulled the parchment out of the envelope. “I’ve never gotten something from this person before.”

  She quickly read through the missive, her eyes growing wide.

  “Who is it from?” her sister asked, leaning forward in interest.

  “It’s from Lord Youngtown,” Ava said.

  “Who’s he?”

  “He was a gentleman I danced with last night at the ball. I didn’t think he cared for me all that much after I bumped into him so that we both fell to the floor.”

  Her sister giggled. “You fell to the floor right in the middle of a dance?”

  “We didn’t fall during the dance. We fell after the dance was over, but we were in the middle of the dance floor. I thought for sure he was never going to talk to me after
that. He looked so horrified. He ran right out of the room, and he didn’t come down for the rest of the evening, even though the ball was at his townhouse.”

  Dinah laughed. “Only you would fall and take someone else down with you.”

  “It wasn’t funny.” She paused. “Well, looking back on it, I can see the humor in it, but it wasn’t funny at the time. I felt greatly embarrassed by it. I called out an apology to him, but I don’t think he heard me.”

  “I wish I’d been there to see it.”

  “It’s better that you weren’t.”

  “So is Lord Youngtown demanding an apology?”

  Ava read through the missive one more time, just to make sure she understood it correctly. “No. Actually, he wishes to see me again. He asked me if I would pay him a visit tomorrow afternoon around two o’clock.”

  “Maybe he got over his embarrassment like you did,” Dinah said. “You can see the humor in it now that it’s over. Maybe he can, too.”

  Ava considered her sister’s words. She bet Dinah was right. Sure, the whole mishap at the ball had seemed awful at the time. Even she had needed to retreat to the corner of the room for a good half hour before she was ready to dance with the next gentleman her aunt had put on her card.

  There were a couple of people who didn’t want to make eye contact with her, but most of them had seemed to understand that it had been an accident and had given her considerable grace, to which she was grateful. Perhaps Lord Youngtown realized most people had been forgiving of the incident, too.

  Ava looked up from the parchment in her hand. “Lord Youngtown and I did have a good conversation.”

  “Do you like him?”

  Ava nodded. “Yes. He’s very friendly and charming. He’s handsome, too.”

  “Do you think he wants to propose to you?”

  “He’d have to be my suitor first.”

  “Maybe that’s what he wants to do! Maybe he wants to be your suitor.”

  Ava bit her lower lip. Could he be planning such a thing? She hadn’t received a missive from any other gentleman before, and she’d had plenty of dances and pleasant conversations with them.

  Ava set the missive down and urged her sister to join her at the armoire. “Help me pick out something to wear for tomorrow.”

  With an excited squeal, her sister hurried with her to the armoire. “I wish I was old enough to be your chaperone. Then I could be with you tomorrow when you see him.”

  “I’ll tell you everything that happens as soon as I get home.”

  “You promise?”

  Ava nodded as she opened the armoire. “I promise.”

  The two sisters turned their attention to the gowns and spent the next hour picking out the one that would be perfect for her upcoming visit with Lord Youngtown.

  Chapter Three

  The next day came, but Ava couldn’t stop pacing in her bedchamber without driving herself mad, so she paid her friend an impromptu visit. She never would’ve done it with anyone else, but Opal was her closest friend. If anyone could understand how anxious she was and how much she needed someone to talk to at a time like this, it was her.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” Ava said as soon as Opal came into the drawing room.

  “What is it?” Opal asked. “Is something wrong?”

  “No, nothing’s wrong. Actually, things look like they’re going very well. I might finally get a suitor.”

  Opal’s eyes lit up. “Then the ball went well?”

  “It did. Much better than I had hoped. Are you familiar with Lord Youngtown?”

  Opal shook her head. “I’ve only heard of him in passing. I wouldn’t know him if I saw him. Is he the one who will be your suitor?”

  “I hope so,” Ava said, even now her heart racing at the prospect. “He’s such a kind and good-looking gentleman. Just thinking of him makes me want to grab the smelling salts.” She giggled. “Look at me, acting like a silly girl who’s just discovered love. Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying that what I’m feeling is love. I think it’s too soon for that. But I do fancy him. More so than I’ve fancied any other gentleman this Season.”

  With a wide smile, Opal led her friend to the settee and encouraged her to sit down. “I can’t wait to hear more about him. He must be someone special if he caught your eye.”

  “Oh, he is. If I had imagined the perfect gentleman before entering the Season, he would’ve been it.”

  The butler came into the room at that moment, so Ava waited as Opal told him to bring them cinnamon tea and crumpets. Opal knew her so well that Ava didn’t even have to tell her what she wanted. It was one of the many things Ava appreciated most about her friend. At times, she thought that Opal understood her better than anyone else. Was it really any wonder why she had chosen to come here before visiting Lord Youngtown?

  After the butler left, Ava said, “I’m so nervous. I’ve got over a million things that I can talk to him about, but they all seem so childish. Did you feel that way with Landon when you first met him? Did you worry that everything you told him would be ridiculous?”

  “Actually, it was just the opposite. Landon was the one who worried if I would find him lacking.” She offered Ava an understanding smile. “However, I was nervous when I was around him. It’s natural to feel the sensation of butterflies swirling around in your stomach when you’re with a gentleman you fancy. But Ava, you are the sweetest and most charming lady I’ve ever met. Lord Youngtown will not find anything you have to say silly. He will be a very fortunate gentleman if he is wise enough to court you.”

  “I hope he sees things the way you do.”

  Opal leaned forward and shot her a wicked grin. “If he doesn’t, I shall go to his townhouse and order him to.”

  The image of Opal–gentle Opal–going over to Lord Youngtown’s townhouse and doing such a thing made Ava giggle. “Opal, you don’t have it in you to order anyone to do anything.”

  Laughing, Opal teased, “Let’s hope he doesn’t make me do something you wouldn’t expect!”

  As she continued giggling, Ava felt immensely better. Coming here had been exactly what she’d needed. “Opal, I’m so glad we’re friends. It’s nice to be able to tell you my whole heart.”

  Opal smiled. “I value our friendship, too, Ava.”

  After a moment, Ava’s attention went to her friend’s newfound condition. “How have you been feeling since you found out you were expecting a child?”

  “Tired, but grateful. I’m very blessed. I want that for you, Ava. I want to see you with a gentleman you can share a love match with, and I know how important it is to you that you have children.”

  “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had children who grew up together?”

  “It would. I would love for nothing more than that. But I’m interested in finding out more about Lord Youngtown.” Opal wiggled her eyebrows in a playful manner. “Tell me more about him. What does he look like? What did you talk about? What did he talk about?”

  The butler came back in with a tray of tea and crumpets, and Ava waited until he was out of the room before she started answering her friend’s questions.

  ***

  By the time Ava arrived at Lord Youngtown’s townhouse, she was sure the butler could hear the sound of her heart beating in her chest. Even with Opal’s assurance that everything would go well, Ava couldn’t help but wonder if being herself was enough. But it had to be. Despite the mishap at the ball, he had still invited her to pay him a visit, and that had to say something.

  “May I get you something to eat or drink?” the butler asked.

  “Just bring in whatever Lord Youngtown likes,” she replied.

  She was much too nervous to eat or drink anything, but maybe he wouldn’t be.

  With a nod, the butler left.

  She took a moment to inspect the drawing room. It was just as lovely in its symmetry as the ballroom was. She had never encountered anyone who took order so seriously. But she had to admit the effect worked ver
y well. This was one of the nicest rooms she’d seen in any townhouse.

  She was about to sit down in a chair when a lady–a maid by the looks of it–hurried over to her, a look of panic in her eyes.

  “Is something wrong?” Ava asked.

  The maid rubbed her hands together. “All of the other servants are busy, and I can’t perform the task by myself. I hate to impose since you are a guest, but would you help me?”

  “What do you need help with?”

  “I found a rat. A very ugly hairy rat. I cornered it in the room upstairs. I’m afraid if I don’t get it into a bowl or something right now, it’ll run amok around the townhouse. I know it’s a disgusting creature and this is not a desirable task, but I was wondering if you would help me.”

  “Of course. Just lead the way.”

  As Ava followed the frantic maid up the stairs, the lady glanced back at her. “Aren’t you afraid of the rat?”

  “Not really. We used to fend them off in the cottage we had in the country when my parents were still alive. After a while, you get used to them.”

  The maid’s eyes widened in what Ava thought was probably horror, but the lady didn’t say anything. Ava was sure she had just given the lady the wrong answer. But she could do no more than tell the truth. Her upbringing, humble as it was, wasn’t something she was ashamed of. Her parents had been good to her, and they had loved her and treated her and her siblings very well. Considering how little time some parents in London spent with their children, Ava was immensely grateful she had the parents she did.

  When they reached the top of the stairs, the maid put her hand on her arm. “We must be quiet. We don’t want the thing to run off.”

  Ava indicated that she understood, and the two tiptoed down the hall. When they came to one of the closed doors, the maid put her hand on the doorknob and glanced at her, as if to make sure she was still there.

  Ava offered her an encouraging smile. She couldn’t blame the maid for being hesitant about grabbing the rat. She was sure that if she hadn’t been used to them, she would be just as frightened as the maid was.