Page 10 of How to Charm an Earl
“It’s on her right cheek,” Athena explained, then shrugged one shoulder as he led her around the floor. He didn’t know how she had managed that. “It’s like looking into my own reflection. A quirk of nature, I suppose.”
He nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.” Roman wanted to be alone with her. Even if it is only for a few moments. “Can we leave the ballroom?” Roman didn’t know where to take her, as he wasn’t familiar with the townhouse. He’d never been to the Earl of Harwood’s residence. He’d been at war, and then convalescing for over a year. Roman hadn’t had time to socialize.
“I would love that,” Athena said, then glanced around the room. “Lead me over to the other side of the room. As the music ends, we can sneak out by the balcony doors. The garden has a maze in it. I’d love to show you.”
Roman did as she suggested and then not long after that, they were outside on the balcony. There were several guests outside enjoying the cooler air the night sky offered. It had been quite hot inside the ballroom. She led him to a nearby stairway, and they headed down.
“How far is this maze?” he asked.
“Not much farther,” she told him.
They were passing by a rosebush with buds just starting to form. He wished they had already been in bloom. Roman had the urge to pluck one and present it to her. Later, he would present her with dozens of roses. They reached the edge of the maze. “It’s not elaborate,” she explained. “But it is tricky if you’re not familiar with it.”
“Lead the way,” he told her. “They were completely alone now, and they didn’t need to enter the maze, but he wanted to ensure they wouldn’t be interrupted.”
He walked with her through the pathways until they reached the center. There was a fountain in the center. A simple one that trickled water from its spout surrounded by vines and flowers. “My mother had this made.” She glanced at him. “My father said it was her wishing fountain. That if one hoped to hold on to love, they could throw something inside that has meaning to them and their wish would be granted.” She turned toward the fountain. “It’s silly and a lot of the ton would think it is witchcraft if it did work. Then we would truly be shunned.”
Roman lifted his hand and placed his fingers on her chin, then lifted it so she would meet his gaze. “I don’t need to make a wish for love,” he told her. “And if anyone believes ill of you, then I’ll ensure they never make you feel less than the wonderful woman you are.”
“You’re sweet,” she said, and stepped out of his reach. “But you cannot control the ton. They’ll never truly accept us.”
“Does this have to do with your mother?” Thornridge had mentioned something earlier and he had to know the truth. He couldn’t fight a battle without all the information. “Tell me about her.”
Athena sighed. “I never knew her. She died when I was born.” Athena turned away from him. “The rumors are that she was a witch. One of her ancestors had been accused of it in Salem, Massachusetts in the seventeenth century,” she began. “He was acquitted, but the stigma stayed. It followed her from America back to England when she married my father.”
He nodded. “And no one wants that to follow into their families. Then why is everyone here for your debut? What do they expect will happen?”
“They expect we’ll fail,” she said. “And they want to witness every agonizing moment of it. Isla fell in love during her first season, and he ended up spurning her. I don’t know if I would survive a broken heart.”
“That will not happen.” Thornridge had made a mistake. He knew with certainty then that the duke had been the one to destroy the woman he loved. Why had he done it? That didn’t matter in the end, though. Roman would not follow that same path. “You’re my everything. Surely you understand that. I could no more stay away from you than I could quit breathing. You’re my sunshine and without you, the world is a dark place. I need your warmth.”
She inhaled sharply. “Don’t disappoint me. Words can be easily spoken, but in the end they don’t always equate to actions.”
“You’ll see,” he promised. “I didn’t survive a war only to lose in the end.” Roman took a step toward her. She turned toward him and then with one more step, she was in his arms, then his lips were on hers. The kiss was more than a promise, it was a declaration. He would marry her. Even if he had to kidnap her and ride as fast as possible to Scotland to prove it to her. They belonged together.
Six
Sunlight bathed over Athena as she strolled with her sisters in Hyde Park. They had decided to partake in the afternoon promenade with the rest of the ton. Not that Isla had been enthusiastic about their decision to take a walk in the park. Isla wanted nothing more than to hide in their townhouse or, better yet, return to their father’s country house. Athena couldn’t really blame her older sister for her desire to remain outside of society. None of them had been welcoming. They were invited to social events, but they were not truly welcome there. The matrons of society had no real reason to exclude them. They were all waiting for that reason to be forthcoming and make the Thompson girls’ pariahs.
Athena would not be the one to give them such a reason…
She doubted Maeve would, either. Isla kept herself separate from everybody on purpose. She hoped that no one actually noticed her long enough to find anything troubling about her. There was no scandal to be found if she didn’t actually speak or do much more than hug a wall at every social event they attended. They all did everything they could to not only appear respectable, but their very actions were beyond reproachable.
None of that aided in what they needed most…
Rumors were still spreading faster than they could ever be squelched. Their very presence instigated their formation and as long as they remained in London, they would continue to grow. The latest whispers to reach their ears had been about the Earl of Kendal and how Athena had somehow woven some wickedness to lure his attentions.
Athena had, of course, done nothing of the kind.
She couldn’t, and wouldn’t, explain any of that. No one would listen or believe her if she did. Her real dilemma concerned the earl himself. Athena didn’t want his reputation harmed because the ton refused to believe her to be respectable. She was starting to understand Isla’s reluctance to attend the season. The earl had come to mean a great deal to Athena in a short time. Her heart ached at the thought of never seeing him again.
“Lady Athena,” a woman said. “How lovely to cross paths with you and your sisters.”
Athena glanced up and met the gaze of Lady Atherton. Her daughter had her debut this season as well and she did not like that Athena and Maeve had caught the attention of some of the most eligible gentlemen looking for a wife. “The pleasure is ours,” Athena said, then pasted a smile on her face that she didn’t feel. The viscountess demonstrated an unpleasantness with every word and deed she presented to the world. What did she hope to gain by approaching them?
Maeve froze next to Athena, and Isla held her breath. Her sisters knew something awful was about to descend upon them. They would not like whatever Lady Atherton had planned… Athena held herself still and waited.
“You’re familiar with my daughter, Miss Bethany Smythe?” Lady Atherton gestured toward the woman at her side. “She had her debut the week before yours.” Why was she addressing Athena and blantantly ignoring her sisters?
