Page 50 of The Duke and the Enigmatic Governess
She had been nervous too. How could such a tiny child play so proficiently? Surely everything could go wrong. But it hadn’t. The little girl had been determined to play for an audience and she thrived on performing. He knew she had learned it from her mother, and it was important she kept that memory alive. He needed to buy a piano and a harp for Clairville.
The applause continued around him, and he emerged from his musings to look up directly into Lady Audrey’s blue eyes. Their gaze met and her eyes melted into his.
A look of shared, intense happiness that Sasha had succeeded, that nothing had gone wrong with her performance. He nodded briefly to acknowledge the connection, and she smiled gently, before looking back at Sasha.
He felt a flood of relief flowing through his body as he knew in that instant the connection between them was still there. It had not been cut with the harsh words spoken. Whatever had been said he knew there was hope of a reconciliation.
After an encore of a Scottish Reel, which had the audience’s feet tapping away, his mother took the stage again. Thanking everyone for their hard work in preparing for the ball, she thanked them for making this such a special day and lifted Sasha high into the air so she could wave and smile at everyone—a bright ray of sunshine in her yellow gown.
***
The next day the household continued in a flurry of activity, all the staff working together, to decorate the ballroom and reception areas at Clairville.
The weather was good; a warm sunny day, promising clear skies with a canopy of stars for the celestial ball. His mother had told Jude how excited Elspeth had been at her final dress fitting. She had been unable to stand still, and the seamstress needed to work hard to avoid sticking her with pins.
Just before nine o’clock the first carriages rolled up the driveway with guests for the ball. It started in the dark, with a clear, moonlit sky and would finish six hours later. A dinner would be served at midnight, with light dishes which could be taken and eaten under the stars.
Once his mother was sure the weather was warm, the terrace had been set up with chairs and tables for those who chose to dine al fresco. His mother had exceeded herself. He found her overseeing final floral preparations in the great hall and pulled her to one side. “Mama, you’ve done enough. It’s perfect. Elspeth will always remember her special ball. Now, it’s time for us to line up to greet our guests.”
“You’re right,” she said smiling, “you know how I like to keep busy on these days.”
“Come with me,” he said, offering her his arm. “You look beautiful tonight, Mama. You need to be proud of all you’ve achieved. Everyone loved that recital yesterday afternoon. It gave everyone a welcome break from the preparations.”
“I loved every minute,” she replied, patting his arm. “Sasha is bringing us great joy. She is a gifted musician for a tiny child.”
“I ordered a harp and pianoforte for the school room this morning,” he told her, hoping she would approve of his actions.
“Perfect. I believe we will need one of those grand pianos in the drawing room eventually. It was lovely to hear my old spinet played so skillfully.”
They formed a welcome line with Elspeth and Beatrice, ready to greet the guests arriving by carriage. Lady Caroline was resplendent in a golden gown with crystals shimmering throughout her hair. His mother greeted her warmly, and he nodded a greeting.
It was not her fault that he felt no connection to her, and he wished her well. She would make a spectacular countess or duchess, and he hoped she succeeded in her quest to find a titled husband. They agreed to dance a reel together, and he told her he looked forward to seeing her later.
As the last guests arrived Jude wished Lady Audrey was at the ball. Only now did he realize that either she had not been invited, or she had refused to come. He had assumed that his mother would have invited her, and persuaded her to attend. He ought to have asked his mother before the ball, but it was too late now.
Jude imagined Lady Audrey sitting upstairs in her room, seeing the carriages arrive, hearing the orchestra, and knowing she either could not, or chose not to, be a part of it. How could he have been so thoughtless? He remembered the warmth of her glance the previous afternoon, their shared joy at Sasha’s accomplishment, and something more… a promise of closeness in the future.
Turning to offer his mother an arm, to guide her into the ballroom, he suddenly stopped and simply stared at the vision descending the staircase. Lady Audrey Rowe, accompanied by her friend, Mrs. Weston, shimmered like a silver haze on a meadow in springtime.
He heard his mother’s voice, close to his ear. “I see what you have been trying to tell me Jude. You are going to make the perfect couple. If your father were here, he would say the same. I hope you have the perfect evening. I suspect you have found your perfect duchess.”
He smiled, knowing his mother had always wanted his happiness. Miss Lettie Banks, transformed into Lady AudreyRowe, looked away from her friend and met his gaze as she had the previous day. She smiled, a gentle, encouraging smile and his heart melted.
Her silvery gown floated around her body, a cloud of starlight, tiny crystals shone through her hair which had a silvery gloss from the reflection of gossamer, embroidered with silver thread. Mesmerized he could only stare as she walked towards him.
Realizing they hadn’t spoken since the incident at the maypole, he made the difficult choice to leave it for her to choose to acknowledge and speak to him, if she chose to.
The voice of Mrs. Weston broke the spell, “Your Grace, this is such a delightful occasion. Thank you again for inviting me to stay,” she said to his mother.
He felt a light touch on his arm and his mother’s voice like a calm, soothing balm. “My dear Mrs. Weston, the pleasure is all ours. Come, join me in taking a glass of champagne. Let’s leave Lady Audrey and Jude to decide on dances,” she said, and with that their voices receded into the distance.
He was alone with Audrey. She stood before him, watching, and waiting for him to speak. All he could say was her name “Lettie… Audrey, you are a vision of loveliness. You outshine everyone here tonight in kindness of character and beauty.”
He heard her gasp, an expression of surprise on her face. “Your Grace,” she said faintly. He took her hand in his, the hall empty for a moment as everyone now gathered to dance in the ballroom.
Jude looked at her and said, “Jude. Please call me Jude. I can only ask your forgiveness for whatever I said to hurt you the other day. I know you are a free spirit and would never put pressure on you to be otherwise. I asked you to stay, only because I cannot bear to think of a life without you. You hold my heart. You are the star which guides me and which I hope will guide me for the rest of my life.”
He drew her into his arms, feeling the comfort of home, along with the rising of passion. He pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead, and he felt her body closely enfolded against his chest. Breathing in the rose fragrance she wore was intoxicating. He drew back, held her arms and looked at her, drinking in the sight of her face and body, and knowing that he needed her to stay in his life.
