Page 16 of A Lady's Stardust Passion
“I'm glad you like the opera,” Nathaniel said, smiling at Lady Jane from across the carriage.
He was very glad to be alone with her again, albeit with a chaperone, but his skin buzzed with her nearness. He had spent the entire day preparing himself, and now he was happy to be with her. Whatever dark mood he might have been feeling earlier, knowing he wished to make his mother happy about this invitation, it lightened upon seeing her again.
“You can explain to me when I do not understand something,” he added.
Even in the dim light of the carriage, he could see her smirk. “Surely you, a marquess, my lord, have been taught Italian.”
“Oh yes, that. I'm afraid my tutors were always disappointed with me. My German is passable, my French is much better, but for some reason, during my Italian lessons, I was easily distracted. I think because it came later in the day, and my mind was full of snacks and the occasional daydream about going to the fishing pond.”
Lady Jane giggled, but she put a gloved hand to her lips. “Forgive me. I did not mean to laugh at you, but I am so surprised atsuch honesty. Most of the time, men like to brag about their accomplishments, even if they do not have any.”
“Yes, that is a trait of many men, to be sure. And while it is tempting to impress you, Lady Jane, I thought that honesty would be the best choice.”
“Just Jane would be acceptable, my lord.”
She looked as if she was about to cover her mouth again, but instead, she bit her plump lower lip instead, drawing his eyes there, and making him think of their near kiss. A little shiver ran down his spine, and he twisted his hat in his hand, glad for the chaperone. Without her, he might have been tempted to slide onto Jane’s side of the carriage, take her hand in his and bring her closer. His dreams had been wild enough and looking at her mouth now made him even more eager to know how it tasted.
“Then you must call me Nathaniel, as my friends do.”
“Nathaniel,” she said with a smile, making another shiver run down his spine.
His name on her lips was enough to drive him mad.
But Lady Jane cleared her throat, breaking him out of his thoughts. “Well, your honesty is appreciated, Nathaniel.” Her gaze moved to the window. “Ah, it seems that we’re here.”
“Excellent.” He hoped it didn’t sound too harried as he spoke, but he needed to get out of there, or his breeches were going to become far too stiff for decency.
When the carriage slowed, he opened the door and jumped down, assisting her out of it.
“I will remain with the carriage, my lady, until you return,” her lady’s maid said, poking her head out of the door and shutting it before Nathaniel could assist her.
“Very good, Iris,” Jane replied.
Nathaniel offered Jane his arm and led her both to the entrance.
“We will meet my mother and sister inside in our box.
“Thank you again, Nathaniel. It is beautiful.” Over the threshold, Jane looked up and around her, and Nathaniel found himself staring overlong at her lovely face as she took in the surroundings of the opera house.
She looked with just as much passion as she looked at the stars, her eyes alight with fire. The opera house’s walls were covered in a red baize. Paintings adorned the walls as well, and sculptures were dotted about.
There were tall columns on each side of the room before they took the stairs to their private box. He had been there so many times that he often forgot to take in its extravagant beauty. But Jane was right; it was truly a spectacle. He found a footman guarding their door, and he opened it, holding it open for Jane to enter.
“Here we are,” he said, and Jane stepped around him into the room, and she paused.
“Welcome, Lady Jane,” his mother said, stepping forward kindly, her hands outstretched.
“We are so glad to have you join us,” Emily added, giving a wink to Nathaniel over Jane’s shoulder.
His mother and sister looked lovely. His sister, a vision in cream, and his mother, in dark red. She looked lighter too, happier, and he had no doubts that it was all about his agreement to invite Lady Jane.
“Thank you very much, Your Grace, and Lady Worthington,” Jane said, and Nathaniel led her to the front of the box to sit in a velvet chair, close enough to the balcony’s edge.
Jane gasped as she sat and looked out over the stage and the other seats below. “Incredible. I haven’t been in many yearssince it hurt too much to come to the opera without my parents, but this…”
She trailed off, bringing his gaze to her profile again. He sat next to her and watched in awe as she took everything in. There seemed to be more passion in one lock of her hair than some people had in their entire bodies. It was humbling, to be sure, and the more time he spent around her, the more she cast her spell upon him.
I had no idea such women existed.
