“Lord Harlow, I am most pleased to make your acquaintance,” she responded tentatively, her voice low. “However, the seats are all…” She broke off, looking from side to side, and appeared, for the first time, to notice the two vacant seats to her right. A glimmer of amusement lit up her eyes. “The seats do appear to be empty,” she finished, with a slight smile and touched the unoccupied seat.
Harlow permitted himself a slight smile. He had observed two young women vacating their seats and walking in the direction of the supper room a few minutes before. Lady Lilian had been looking in the opposite direction at the time. The ladies had still not returned. Perhaps they were on the dance floor. However, that might be, it was fortuitous for him. They could have a short conversation. I will make it be enough.
“Surely your kindness may indulge me, if only for a few moments?” he coaxed, his blue eyes twinkling.
“Well, if that is settled, I will leave you two to talk.” Lady Avalon glanced at her daughter and displayed a hopeful smile before returning to her friends.
“Lady Lilian, I had hoped, one day, to meet you formally. You should know I have inquired of your health several times.” He kept his own voice low. “I would, however, with your permission, like to ask you a question.”
She nervously glanced towards her chair. “That is kind, Lord Harlow, but…”
Sensing her embarrassment, he quickly added, “I wondered if I might call on you tomorrow and take you for a drive.”
“Lord Harlow, I…” Lilian flushed and glanced away for a moment. “You are most generous, my lord…”
Her eyes spoke of intelligence. “Lady Lilian, if you are worried about your wheel-chair, I have seen it and that matters not to me. Your company is what matters.” He smiled broadly. “If you are amenable to my attentions, I will call on you tomorrow morning and take you for a drive about the park.” He did not want to be turned down. For some inexplicable reason, he felt drawn to the girl. Over the past year, her broken image had sporadically flooded his mind for no obvious reason. To see her seated among the wallflowers, as if on the row of shame, unnerved him.
“I…yes, I would be honoured, my lord.” A look of relief flashed across her face, ahead of a speculative smile.
“Shall we say ten of the clock?” The current dance ended, and two young ladies dressed in white satin, on the arms of escorts and bubbling with excitement, returned to their seats in time to hear his offer to call. Their animation was audible, causing Lilian to blush.
She nodded her assent. “I look forward to it, my lord,” she added.
It was done. Perhaps a day in her company would solve the feelings he had had this past year. It could only be a fascination. Once he had met with her and spent time in her company, he felt certain the dreams would leave. He was only concerned for her safety, after all. His conscience wrestled with what had occurred. The accident had cut her down, an innocent young lady, and he felt somewhat responsible, even if he had arrived in time to help her. However, something else troubled him. What if he actually developed deeper feelings for this girl?
Harlow needed some fresh air. He had had enough of this dreary ball and asked a footman to retrieve his cloak. Lilian Delacey seemed nothing like her brother, Jonathan, Viscount DeLacey, whose arrogance grated on his nerves. They had all been friends in school until DeLacey joined a group of boys overly obsessed with their positions in society, who frequently tried to make those beneath them the butt of jokes. Mother nagged me into coming, he grumbled to himself. However, seeing Lilian DeLacey has made the evening worthwhile. His purpose for attending unexpectedly fulfilled, he felt no further need to be here.
Secure in his coach, he settled comfortably into the red leather squabs and rested his feet on the seat in front of him, trying to clear his mind. Despite his best efforts, however, meeting Lady Lilian took his thoughts back to the day of the accident, a day he recalled vividly.
He and Max Wilde had just gained Lord Avalon’s assistance in curtailing the source of increasing smuggling in the area. Tintagel’s close proximity to Cornwall was noteworthy, and a survivor from a recent wrecked ship—allegedly pirated by locals—had managed to get word to Customs and Excise of rumours swirling about a location in Tintagel. The description was nebulous, but pointed to a well-known public house, one run by a woman and her brother. The smuggling seemed concentrated on ships known to carry silks, brandy and spices. There were several taverns in Tintagel, and they suspected that the DeLacey land held a piece of the puzzle, for Avalon’s property ran down to the cliffs. The two men had been in the area for a few days, exploring the town and trying to smoke out any undercurrents of smuggling activity.
Harlow had been surprised to learn of Avalon’s ties to his own commanding officer, Lieutenant-General Martin DeLacey. He had suggested they ride out to meet his cousin and gain his assistance. Their new dealings were to be explained as a venture with the East India Company, if others asked. The meeting with Lord Avalon had been as anticipated. He had told them he would meet with his man of business and set up an account to establish legitimacy, should there be any question. Having concluded business with Lord Avalon, they were heading back to their lodgings in town when the accident happened.
The road the men travelled ran below a beautiful ridge. Laughter drew Harlow’s attention to the
