Page 8 of A Wicked Duke's Redemption
Violet lifted her skirts and hurried after her friend. The pair quickly descended the stairs, and Liza led the way into the billiards room. They entered the room, at once drawing the attention of Liza’s father, the Baron of Wesbrook. “What a vision you are!” the baron exclaimed; his gaze fixed on Liza. “Queen Guinevere would be beside herself with envy at your beauty.”
The baron was a man well into his middle age, but he carried his years well. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and he dressed well to emphasize his trim figure. The baron’s eyes were gray, like the North Sea on a stormy day.
Near him, there stood another man, and Violet knew this was the oft-mentioned Captain John Everleigh. He had a dashing figure and dark hair kept in the fashionable ruffled owl style. He wore a doublet and hose, all pale blue and trimmed in gold.
Violet wondered if he and Liza had purposefully made their attire match, which was an endearing thought. His eyes were brown and soft, and seeing her, he smiled slightly. The expression was filled with humor, and Violet could imagine that they were both thinking precisely the same thing.I know who you are. Is it not so strange to stand here in silence whilst waiting for an introduction?
That came soon enough, for Liza clapped her hands together and smiled brightly. “Oh! Captain, you have not yet made the acquaintance of my dearest friend Violet Brewer. Violet, this is my betrothed Captain John Everleigh.”
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Violet said, curtseying.
“Likewise.” Captain John replied, bowing. “Lady Elizabeth has spoken often of you.”
“I hope she has spoken well of me,” Violet said.
“Most certainly,” Captain John replied. “I dare say she has likely spoken better of you than she has of me.”
Liza smiled fondly. “As if I have ever said anything less than complimentary about you!”
“Not in my presence, I am certain,” Captain John replied. “However, I am not so pretentious as to believe that I am a man beyond reproach.”
“No man is,” the baron said good-naturedly. “Enjoy the Harvest Dance tonight. Your mother and I will be along shortly.”
“Good evening, Father,” Liza said.
Violet and Captain John echoed the farewell. Then, they left the house together. Liza’s father had offered them a carriage to the Harvest Dance, which was happening in the town square, but because the town square was so nearby, they had instead decided to simply walk the distance.
Captain John offered his arm to Liza, who cheerfully placed her hand on his elbow. “I must warn you,” Liza said, “this dance will not be what you are accustomed to.”
It took Violet a moment to realize what Liza meant. She had nearly forgotten that Captain John was the second son of a viscount and far more accustomed to the grand balls held by the ton.
Captain John’s lips twitched in amusement. “My Lady, I am certain I shall enjoy it, nevertheless.”
“It is quite lovely,” Violet said.
“Yes,” Liza agreed. “My parents always contribute money to the Harvest Dance, too, and the villagers really work very hard to make the event exciting.”
“That is kind of them,” Captain John said.
This might be Liza’s last year attending the Harvest Dance for some time; the thought occurred to Violet without warning. She glanced at her friend, who smiled and gazed at Captain John with shining eyes. Liza was utterly besotted, which Violet had already known, of course.
Still, seeing her friend beside Captain John and witnessing their interactions was entirely different from hearing of the man through her friend’s correspondence and conversation. Liza was truly leaving Essex, and for the foreseeable future, she would be in London.
Violet turned her face away, hoping that her friend would not notice her wanning joy. Liza was sometimes too perceptive. Violet longed to be happy for her friend, and she was. However, that happiness mingled with distress and the fear of being alone. She fought to push the dour thoughts away. If tonight was to be her last Harvest Dance with her dearest friend, she ought to enjoy it as much as possible.
“I only worry that you are accustomed to more adventurous pursuits than we are,” Liza said. “I feel as though you have seen so much more of the world than I have.”
“Be that as it may, there is something charming about the countryside.”
Violet silently agreed. There was a beauty in the trees which lined the road, in the hills and valleys which stretched as far as the eye could see, and in the full moon which gleamed with orange light in the dying rays of the sun.
“Yes,” Liza said. “Violet has often said much of the same thing. It is a certain atmosphere in Essex, which makes one want to simply…be.”
Captain John inclined his head. “I agree. I had the thought as I traveled here that it must be a marvelous place for simply laying under a tree and contemplating one’s feelings. There is a certain liveliness here that is so unlike that in London.”
“Yes,” Violet agreed.
She had only been to London once, but she remembered well the bustling streets, filled with more people than she had ever seen in her life. London presented an equally lively and exciting place, but it offered a different sort of fulfillment than one was likely to find in Essex.
