Page 57 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
“My lord,” she curtseyed, nervously. “You speak too highly of me. And all of this, everything you have done for us, I must give you my utmost gratitude and thanks. I cannot believe what a pleasure it is for us to be in your home. My sisters…they have never had such an experience,” she pointed out.
“But after this evening, it is my hope that they have many more. Honestly, you and your sisters are deserving of so much happiness, Miss Digby. I wish I could give you more than simply this. But it is a start,” he said.
“It is more than a start, my lord. It is everything. It is far more than we have ever dreamt of or deserved. You have been too good to us.”
“Would you do me the honour of the next dance?” he asked.
Olivia tried not to laugh that this was nearly the same request made of the first gentleman to Louise. Apparently, dancing with a Digby was quite the honour.
“I should be delighted,” she replied with a wide grin.
They stood for a few moments longer until the dance ended and then they took to the floor together as another began.
The fairytale was truly coming to life.
Chapter 28
“Could you please ensure that the cream puffs do not run out before an hour has passed?” Eliza asked one of the attendants. It seemed that they were a particular favourite among the guests that evening and it would not do to run out of them so early.
The earl was quite busy, and she had no desire to bother him with these matters, so Eliza chose instead to do it herself and be concerned for it without having him be distracted.
Eliza wondered when her grandson intended to take Miss Digby to the balcony and propose. She would have to watch throughout the evening, wait and see when he vanished. But in the meantime, she simply wanted to enjoy the ball.
It was crowded. There were a great many guests, most of whom she knew would be eternally grateful for the opportunity to spend time in their family’s presence. Having people of such power in society always caused others to want their friendship.
Eliza allowed her eyes to rest upon the hall. It was strange being an elderly woman at an event like this. She recalled the days of her youth when she too attended these balls. She would spend the entire day dressing and preparing herself. And upon arrival, she would search the room for the most handsome gentleman. The moment she found one she would set her sights on him.
For the rest of the night, she would rapture his attentions and not release him from her grip until the evening was over. Then she would say her goodbyes and wait for him to approach her parents about a betrothal she knew they would not accept.
No, indeed, her own parents had chosen her husband for her. It had been a loveless marriage, but a good one by all accounts. They had worked together as a team and had raised wonderful children.
While she did not grieve for her husband as she might have grieved for a man she had chosen, it was still difficult when she lost him. She had felt the pang of loneliness once he was gone.
And yet, it had not changed how she chose for her own children. Eliza had continued the line and tradition of arranging a marriage that might benefit the entire family.
She had lived with regret for that, until now. Finally, she was making it right.
Eliza watched as her grandson looked across the room at the young woman to whom he would soon be betrothed. They had danced together already and had to wait an appropriate length of time before dancing together again. She knew that Nathaniel would ask another to dance with her in the meantime, so that they were not gossiped about.
Most likely Lord Kensington, but quite possibly another. It was evident to all men that Miss Digby was already spoken for and they seemed to flock to her sister instead. This was not a bad option in the least. It might give another Digby a chance at a life beyond her poverty.
There was no doubt in her mind that everything was coming together. Nathaniel was clearly in love with the young woman. And it was quite evident that Miss Digby felt the same. And while the marriage would be a great benefit to the young woman, Eliza felt confident that it was not the reason for Miss Digby’s approval on the matter. More than anything, Eliza was simply delighted to see her grandson happy. She would see him wed before she passed on from the world.
Enough time had passed that she wondered why he had not returned to ask Miss Digby for another dance. Eliza went to him and stood by his side for a moment.
“You have not danced with another woman yet,” she noted.
“How can I? There is only one with whom I have any desire at all to link arms with,” he replied, a dreamy smile upon his face.
“Yes, but as you know, it is appropriate that the two of you each dance with other partners and then you must dance with her again,” Eliza urged.
“Can I not simply wait until everyone has forgotten me and then dance with her again?” he asked.
“No. Go, dance with her sister. And certainly there are any number of other young women you may dance with. After that, Miss Digby shall be ready to dance again. And I shall urge her to dance with another as well. Where is Lord Kensington?” she asked, looking about.
As her eyes searched, she found that he had been having the same thought in that moment. Lord Kensington approached Miss Digby and gestured towards the dancefloor just as the current was coming to an end.
“All right, I shall step in and ask her sister,” Nathaniel conceded.
