Page 15 of The Viscount's Daring Cinderella
Theodore felt so comfortable holding her in his arms. It was almost as good as a kiss. “Indeed.” He studied her. “You look skeptical. If you do not accept my argument, do you suggest that humankind is selfish and heartless and thrives on engaging in wrongful or illicit deeds?”
Her tongue dartedout before she bit the corner of her lip, and he almost missed his step.
Lady Beryl tilted her head to the side. “I am not so pessimistic. Yet, my experiences have taught me that the world is filled with bad people who will never truly be able to appreciate anything or anyone who is goodhearted. They ruin everything that they touch.”
Lady Beryl had a story, and he wondered what it was. It would only be natural for her to hide her true feelings in his presence, but she did not. “So cynical for one so young.”
She smiled, but it did not touch her eyes. “I may be young, but I fear that I have already lived experiences well beyond my years.” Her chin lowered and her hand went limp.
At that moment, Theodore knew the lady was not thinking of him. His hand on the small of her back felt the tension in her body. She had experienced something more profound. He made a clumsy attempt to comfort her but only managed to give her a weak smile. He wished he knew what was causing her such distress, but if she did not share her name, she would be unlikely to share any intimate details. He wished that he could alleviate her pain, but since he could not, he hoped that her circumstances would change.
All too soon, the set ended, and he was intrigued. He must know more about her. Probably, he should not. He already knew that they wanted very different things. A romp versus a marriage. Yet, it had been a long time since a lady so effortlessly captured his attention. He pulled his breath in and slowly released it. They walked away from the dance floor.
“Thank you, Owl. I enjoyed your company.” Theodore bowed. “Would you like some refreshments?”
“Thank you. A glass of wine would be welcomed. It is rather stuffy in this room.” She retrieved a small and delicate fan and proceeded to fan herself. It was indeed hot and humid.
Theodore nodded in rapt attention. “Wine it is. I will return momentarily.”
As Theodore walked away, his thoughts turned to their kiss by the lake. He recalled the way she had melted into his kiss, the soft feel and taste and the breathy sounds she had made when he captured her lips. Of course, she would never have danced with him if she knew his true identity. Theodore wondered if perhaps this would not be an opportunity for them to start afresh. He knew it was a foolish thought because she did not know who he was, but he felt compelled to spend time with her.
He sensed her vulnerability. Lady Beryl was lonely, a bit lost even. She could not keep the unhappiness from her voice and the combination made her mysterious and complicated, which drew Theodore to her even more. He wanted to peel back layers of the mystery and discover what lay beneath. Theodore returned with the wine and handed her a glass.
Beryl fanned herself but appeared less than pleased with the result.
“It is quite warm. Shall we take a turn in the garden?”
“I welcome a breath of fresh air,” she replied.
Guests at these balls had little concern for convention and propriety. He could be alone with her, undisturbed for as long as they wanted. Theodore escorted Lady Beryl through the large patio double doors that led into the garden. He pulled the cool night air into his lungs, and it was a relief from the warm crush.
As they made their way down the cobbled path, Theodore asked, “What is the most wicked thing that you have ever done?”
Lady Beryl’s steps faltered before she stopped, turned, and stared at Theodore. He flashed her a devilish grin as he waited for her reply.
A delicate eyebrow arched. “I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me the first time. What is the most wicked thing you have ever done? Only moments ago, you had such interest in whether people were good or bad. I believe you conceded good people can do bad things. So, even if you are a good person it stands to reason you must have done something wicked at some point.”
Lady Beryl’s light laughter was a rich sound that echoed through the garden. She took a sip of her wine and answered with the most solemn expression. “I killed a spider once.”
Laughter floated up from Theodore’s throat, and he eyed her with amusement. “A spider?”
“Well, yes. I woke up one night to find it crawling along my arm. It was the most frightening and disgusting thing, so I quickly reached for a book I had fallen asleep with and brushed him from my arm. Sadly, he lost a few legs so I had to put him out of his misery,” Lady Beryl explained with a straight face.
They had not resumed walking, and Theodore was admiring her animated expression. He chuckled. “And how old were you when you had this sobering experience?”
Lady Beryl flashed a grin. “I was all of nine years old, and it was quite a traumatic experience. I refused to sleep alone in my room for a few nights, and a maid was assigned to stay with me. I was all grown up by then, and I hated being chaperoned at night as if I was a baby, but my fear of spiders was greater. Of course, father thought I was overreacting.”
“Well, when you look back at it, can you blame him?”
“I suppose not, but there are many things that live in the imagination of a nine-year-old.” Lady Beryl took another sip of her wine and set off walking in the direction of seats in the garden. The seats were rather small for two people, particularly with his large frame. Theodore would not let that stop him. He would be closer to her. They sat and he took a swig of his drink. Even by his standards they were sitting rather close, their knees touching and his hips were pressed against hers. She did not seem to be bothered. Nobody knew who she was, and people did not come here to have regard for what others were doing. Surely, the mask had given her the anonymity she craved.
“When you are nine years old, insects terrify you, but as an adult, you come to learn that it is our own species that we should fear,” Lady Beryl said.
Theodore did not fill the silence that descended around them. He wanted her to reveal more. For a moment they shared a space where sound did not exist, just an inner stillness. Yet, it was not devoid of thought.
“You are saddened,” he murmured.
