Page 45 of Dancing with an Enigmatic Duke
More guests entering brought Nash’s eyes back to the front door. Lady Callum and her brother had just arrived, and Nash made his way to them. As the brother and sister made their out into the lobby, Harcourt spotted Nash and raised his hand. “Lord Torrington!”
It sounded quite odd to hear him say his title and surname, but it was what was required when they were speaking outside of private exchanges. He grasped Harcourt’s hand. “Lord Pentworth and Lady Callum.”
“Lord Torrington, I am glad that you made it.” She gave him a tiny smile.
Nash took a breath as his mother came over. “Lady Callum, this is my mother. Mother, this is Lady Callum, and her brother you already know.”
His mother extended her hand. “It is so good to finally meet you, Lady Callum. I look forward to welcoming you to our family.”
Lady Callum’s face looked flustered for a moment before she dipped her head. “It is kind of you to welcome me. Thank you.”
Nash quickly got his mother’s attention by saying, “Mother, where has Father got off to?”
“He is probably with Lord Grayson. I shall find him at once. He should be here to greet her as well. You would think he was never a nobleman who had learnt his manners.” His mother bid them all a polite farewell before she was off in pursuit of his father.
“I know my mother can be a bit much.”
“It is not that,” Lady Callum assured him. Harcourt gave his sister a look of concern. “Do not look at me like that Harcourt. I am not ill, I just need a drink of water.”
Harcourt nodded. “I shall go fetch you one then. I think you two shall be properly supervised here.”
After Harcourt had left, Nash asked, “What is the matter?”
“I did not know it would be this hard to lie to her,” Lady Callum whispered. “It was one thing when she was just a name, but to hold up this fraud in front of her. Did you see her eyes? She really longs for me to me to be her daughter.”
Nash felt no anger at her words. She might be wavering on their contract, but he could not fault her reasoning. “I understand. If you wish to break our agreement early…”
“No. I simply do not think I can face her again, at least until I have to.”
Nash nodded. “I will do everything in my power to make sure that this is the only time before the engagement party that you have to see her.” He took her hand gently and noticed it was trembling. “I promise you that I will try.”
Lady Callum looked at him. Her hazel eyes searched for something on his face until she seemed satisfied, and she smiled. “Thank you.”
“I am not saying it will be easy, but it can be done. At worst, there may be reports of my mother missing for a time before the party. Pay these reports no mind,” Nash said with a wry grin.
Lady Callum hid a laugh as Harcourt came back. “Ah, I see that Nash has you back in better spirits. That is good. Your water.” He handed her the cup of water.
Soon enough they were all being called to the dining room. Nash took his seat next to Lady Callum, and her brother sat on the other side of her. Lady Grayson directed servants around the large table.
“I am so happy to have you all here,” Lady Grayson called out to them. “I do hope that I shall see some of these same faces for our annual picnic and dance later in the season.”
There was a hearty round of agreement from the partygoers. Nash had been to a couple of the Graysons’ parties for the season in the past, and they were always a nice time, even if he had not been looking for love. He nodded along with everyone else.
The conversation mostly stayed on light topics that were easily discussed while talking over the delicious food being served. Lady Grayson tapped her glass. “I also want to thank the household of Lord Torrington for sending along a lovely lemon custard. We shall be serving it along with our desserts tonight.” She gave both Nash and his mother a nod of appreciation.
Lady Callum nudged him. “Took my advice about the lemon.”
“Did I forget to say thank you?” Nash asked as he cut up a piece of lamb.
She leaned her head to the side. “It is nothing I cannot forgive. This is a very good lamb.”
“It is.”
Harcourt was talking to Lord Victor, who had been seated next to him as they were single men. Nash found he did not mind that at all. Lady Callum was fine company, and he enjoyed talking to her as they ate. He was laughing at one of her comments about the potato that he had tried to put into his mouth whole when he caught his mother’s eye.
There was a twinkle in her eye that had not been there before, and a twinge of guilt filled Nash as well. Perhaps Lady Callum was not alone in her culpability of not thinking the agreement through. However, his mother would recover, and he would marry in a year or two.
The rest of the dinner palled over as he thought more about how he needed to make sure that his mother did not get too attached to Lady Callum. It would not do for her to overact to the broken agreement between them when they had never been officially engaged. These things just happened sometime.
