Page 75 of Dancing with an Enigmatic Duke
“Thank you, that would be lovely.”
Edward was eager to not let Lady Anderson get away from him. Yet he wanted to be honourable. He fetched her drink. As she took it he said quietly, “The dance seemed so short that I feel almost cheated of your presence.”
Lady Anderson smiled, but there was a shadow behind that smile. It only lasted for a second but Edward had seen it. “Did I say something amiss?”
“No,” Lady Anderson said quickly, fidgeting with the cup in her hands. “It is just that it reminded me of another man who said something similar.”
Edward’s heart plummeted. He could not bear to hear that her heart too belonged to someone else. It was a cruelty that he could not even imagine. “I did not know you were bound to another.”
“I am not,” Lady Anderson replied, shaking her head. She looked down at her cup. “Lord Victor is no longer at the season. There was a scandal with another lady and his family pulled him home.”
Edward remembered vaguely hearing about something like that. Dowager Randall’s words made sense to him then. “That is a terrible thing to happen. I am sorry that your first outing into society garnered such sorrow for you.”
“You are such a kind man. I am wrong to lay these worries upon you. They are not yours to hold.” Lady Anderson sighed. “I asked Lady Callum to introduce us because of how you apologised to me. You were so gentle.”
Edward would have given anything to embrace the woman, but that was beyond his reach. He settled for simply saying, “I am glad that she introduced us. Lady Callum is a dear friend of mine, and I knew that if she thought highly of you that you must be something special.”
“I do not know what to say.” Lady Anderson’s cheeks had gone quite pink.
Edward cursed himself for embarrassing the lady. “I did not mean to cause you grief.”
“No, no, do not apologise. It was sweet of you to say that.” Lady Anderson opened her mouth but closed it tightly again as her aunt joined them. “Aunt Myrtle, we were just getting something cool to drink after our dance.”
Edward smiled. “Would you like a drink as well, Dowager Randall?”
The woman looked at Edward puzzled for a moment before she nodded. “Thank you.”
Edward fetched the woman a drink and told her, “Think nothing of it. I was having such a wonderful time talking with Lady Anderson that I feared I had lost track of time. I would never want to endanger her reputation.”
Dowager Randall considered him before she took a sip of the drink. “You seem a sincere man, Lord Hawley, and we do not mean to seem cold.”
“I understand. Lady Anderson explained a bit and I had heard some of the rumours, although I had not put it together as to who the young man was until now.” Lord Hawley frowned. “I do hope that it does not sour you against letting anyone court your niece this season.”
Dowager Randall leaned her head to the side. “Are you suggesting that you might be interested in courting my niece?”
Edward needed no time to think over it. “I fail to see a reason to postpone what seems a perfectly obvious thing. We have much in common and are well matched socially.”
Lady Anderson hid a smile behind her cup as her aunt considered Edward’s bold words. He was determined to go straight for what he wanted this time. There was no reason to be coy.
Dowager Randall finally nodded. “I shall speak with her father on the matter. I suppose you will send him a formal letter?”
“That was my intent, yes. But I wanted to make sure that I told you how I felt since you were deeply affected by what happened with Lord Victor as well, Dowager Randall.” Edward looked at the woman with a sympathetic smile. “If I need to earn your trust, then I am willing to do what needs to be done.”
To his surprise Dowager Randall returned his smile. “I think you have already done that. So long as you remain a man of your word, then you shall find me most cordial, Lord Hawley.” She looked over at her niece. “I assume that you are amicable to this?”
“Yes,” Lady Anderson said with a hopeful smile. “I do hope Father will be. He almost made me come home after that situation with Lord Victor.”
Dowager Randall patted her niece on the arm. “Think not on that scoundrel. You did nothing wrong and your reputation should not have to suffer for something he did apart from you.”
“Does this mean that we can have another dance?”
“Do not go too far,” Dowager Randall said with a dry chuckle. “Your courtship needs to be approved before you can dance together too often without causing a stir. Even Lord Hawley here is not immune to that.”
Edward acknowledged that with a nod of his head. “There was a rumour about Lady Callum and myself before tonight, even if it was not founded. I would not want to give your father any reason to side against me.”
“We should go and give our congratulations to Lady Callum,” Dowager Randall said pointedly.
Lady Anderson sighed. “I already did that at the last party.”
