Page 5 of For a Lady's Fiery Heart
"He is a fine fellow, I hear. Come, I will introduce you." Her father took her hand and started to lead her across the room. She tried to pull her hand free, but her father held fast. She walked with him, trying to reason with him.
"Papa, please. It is not necessary–"
"Viscount Hereford," her father said as they stopped behind the group. The viscount turned around, smiling when he caught Caroline's eyes. She felt a blush travelling up her cheeks, despite her every effort to conceal her embarrassment. She was finally able to pry her hand out of her father's grasp and gave a nod in his direction. He nodded as well, turning to her father so he could continue with the introductions.
"This is my daughter, Lady Caroline Humphries," her father said, bowing with an exaggerated flare. "We are honoured by your invitation this evening."
Caroline's blush grew even more pronounced, she knew, from how her cheeks heated. Viscount Hereford smiled charmingly at her and offered her his hand. When she placed her hand inside his, her stomach swirled again with butterflies until her heart felt like it would stop dead in its tracks.
"It is my pleasure to have you here this evening–all of you," he replied. He then bowed and kissed her hand, sending tingles up her spine.
"Caroline," her father went on. "This is Viscount Hereford, future earl of Highclere."
She curtsied, giving a nervous laugh as she pulled her hand away from his. She immediately felt the loss of his warm fingers encircling hers. "How do you do?" she asked, her voice quivering ever so slightly. She hoped that he did not notice.
"Well, Lady Caroline," he said, lowering his voice. "I wonder if you would do me the honour of escorting you into dinner? It seems we are the only two young people at this gathering."
She could not help but join in his laughter. "It seems so."
He turned aside as the butler came in and announced that dinner was served.
"Ahh, perfect timing," he said and offered her his arm. She linked her hand through the crook of his arm, and they were soon heading into the dining room across the corridor from the grand salon. She was not sure what to say to engage her handsome escort in conversation, but she need not have worried.
As soon as they were in the dining room, he found their place cards and helped her scoot her chair into the table. By a stroke of luck, they had been placed beside each other. He sat down and turned toward her.
"Well, this is fortuitous. I was hoping we would be seated together this evening," he said, lowering his voice. He leaned a little closer.
"Usually, it is up to me to entertain Lady Forster, and she has a very bad habit of talking until my ears are numb." He winked at her, and Caroline gave a soft laugh. She had experienced Lady Forster's habit of domineering a conversation.
"She means well," Caroline said, not wanting to gossip at the lady's expense. "But tell me, do you enjoy living in London?"
"I enjoy it in doses," he admitted. "I enjoy getting to see my friends, and the opera is another perk. But I find that my time is better spent in the country. I am afraid I am a bit of an amateur botanist. I miss my plants when I am away for too long."
Caroline found this endearing. Most men would not have admitted such a thing, as it was more manly to boast of riding or hunting as a favourite hobby. "Really? How fascinating. I must say that I love flowers as well."
"Do you? I have been cultivating a very rare species of Toad Lily. It is called a Blue Wonder, and she is indeed a beauty to behold."
"A Toad Lily?" Caroline said, scrunching up her nose slightly. "It does not sound very pretty," she laughed.
"Ahh, well, I must agree with you there. However, she is a rare gem in my hot house. It sports the most vibrant purple and blue spots amidst a white petal. I have found the plant does quite well in colder temperatures, too–very hardy. Perhaps, one day, I might have the chance to show her to you?"
"I should like that very much," Caroline replied.
***
Caroline climbed into the carriage as the dinner party came to a close, wishing that the evening could go on and on. Viscount Hereford had been so attentive throughout the night, and they had spent the whole of dinner talking about anything and everything under the sun. She had asked him about his plants, and he had asked her about her interests as well. It was as if they had known each other all their lives.
Her father climbed into the carriage after all the ladies had been settled. She felt as if she were floating through a dream as the carriage pulled away from the Deveroux house.
Her father was the one to snap her out of her dreaming. "It seemed that you and Viscount Hereford got along very well, hmm?" her father began. "Indeed, he did not seem to leave your side for the entire night."
Caroline blushed. "He was very kind to me. I suppose he only felt that he was obligated to do so since there were only four younger couples invited to the party," she laughed. "And how did you fare with Sir Knowles?" she asked, turning to her sister.
"Oh, he was wonderful. We talked about the opera, literature, and the arts. He is very knowledgeable–"
"Caroline," her father said, interrupting her sister. Caroline and Grace turned their attention back to their father.
"Yes?"
