Page 6 of Lady of Charade
Her dress was of a pink so pale it was nearly white. While he couldn’t say he was up-to-date on all women’s fashion — not like his friend, the Duke of Clarence — her clothing looked slightly out of date, as though perhaps it was from the previous season. Still, the embroidered rosebuds along the bodice and the hem were as fitting on her as anything he could have imagined.
When the dance finally came to a close, her cheeks were flushed, and when he looked at her, all he could think was that if ever he had pictured what an angel might look like, she was standing here in front of him now.
He bowed slightly toward her.
“Miss Jones,” he said, “I thank you for the dance.”
“Thank you, Mr. Redmond,” she responded. “You have been most kind.”
“Were you expecting otherwise?” he asked, and she laughed slightly, a breathy, airy laugh that caused a tingle of pleasure to run through him. He wanted to hear more of it.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect, if I was to be honest with you.”
“Understandable,” he acknowledged, wishing for once that his reputation was not what it was. Perhaps he must make an effort to be more discreet in the future.
He held out an arm to her.
“I will return you to your companion.”
“Thank you, Mr. Redmond.”
“I hope to see you again very soon,” he said once they reached the side of the dance floor and they neared the stately looking woman, who he seemed to recall was a relative of hers. He surprised himself with the realization that he completely meant his words — he was already attempting to determine how to arrange another experience with her.
“And I you, Mr. Redmond.”
No sooner had David turned away from the lovely Miss Jones when he felt a tap on the shoulder, and he cringed as he turned around, wondering who it might be.
“David!”
Thankfully, it was his brother, and David responded to his greeting with a wide, genuine grin. He loved his brother, truly he did — it was the comparisons their parents continually made between the pair of them that always drew his ire.
“Franklin,” he greeted him, holding out a hand and they clasped arms. “It is wonderful to see you, though I am even happier that you are accompanied by the much more beautiful Andrea.”
His sister-in-law blushed prettily, but David knew she enjoyed the compliments — most women did.
“How are you keeping?” Franklin asked, and David smiled.
“As well as ever. And you?”
“Very well indeed. In fact,” he leaned into David conspiratorially, “We must tell you of something. Our family will be growing very soon.”
If they weren’t in a room full of people, David would have crushed his brother in an embrace, so happy he was to hear the news. While their marriage had been arranged by their parents, David knew that Franklin and his wife had truly come to love one another, and he was pleased to hear of their blessing.
Although… he couldn’t deny that such news caused a strange stirring within him, a longing. But surely not for children. He knew he would like to have them someday, but that day would be quite far away.
Now his parents approached and David sighed inwardly. He loved them, but he knew what was to come.
“Ah, my family, all together!” his mother exclaimed as she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “You look well, David.” She lowered her voice. “Has Franklin told you his news?”
“He has, Mother,” David said with a nod. “I am so pleased for the two of them, truly I am.”
She clasped her hands at her breast. “There is no greater blessing in life than children, as I well know from the two of you.”
“And time for an heir, I must say,” David’s father added, to which David nearly rolled his eyes. Truly, did his father have to ruin every moment with a discussion of what they each must do come the future?
“Now, listen, son,” he said, his attention upon David now as he clasped one of his large, meaty hands on his shoulder. “We must have a discussion soon, the two of us. It is time we truly considered what the next few years will hold for you. I know you’ve had your fun, but that must surely be coming to an end.”
David groaned inwardly.
