Page 31 of Indecent Desires of a Proper Lady
“No, Father, it was just a letter from a friend.”
“I hope that all is well?” His mother always tended to worry, and that was another reason why he could most certainly not tell her of Charles’ troubles.
“Of course, Mother. All is well.”
She nodded and returned to her meal.
Rupert said, “Well, tell me, has the naval office provided you with your first assignment yet? Have they given you the location?”
“Well, I am to go to Brighton in ten days, as I said, to do a bit of training. After that, I believe they will send us to France.”
Diana placed her hand on his arm. “I am grateful for that, Philip. You will not be so terribly far away. If you ever must leave for across the wide expanse of ocean, oh, I do not know how I shall bear it. It seems so ominous, the great dark sea.”
Philip tried to smile to calm her nerves. “All will be well, Mother. Besides, do you not want your son to go and improve himself? If I ever must go across the sea, then I shall come back and tell you all of my adventures. After all, surely you must be grateful that the war in the Americas is finished, and that I do not have to go fight upon the water there.”
Diana sighed. “Yes, that is some comfort, surely. Let us hope that war is staved off for an eternity, then.”
He hoped to change their conversation to cheerier topics. “Well, you are all attending the Duchess’ ball this evening, am I correct?”
“Of course, My Dear! We would not wish to miss such a thing. Leonard is your good friend, after all.”
“And you Edward?” Philip turned his eyes to his brother. “There may be plenty of women for you to dance with, and who will be fluttering with delight to be dancing with an Earl’s son.”
Rupert chuckled, and Edward grimaced. “Yes, Mother has convinced me that I should not deprive the large circle of ladies that will be in attendance of my company. What a crime that would be,” he smirked.
“Good. Excellent.”
As they discussed the ball, he could feel his palms sweating a little. He had been to many balls over the years, but this one was to be the moment of truth. He would ask Margaret for her hand, and his whole future would be decided.
“I do hope to make a renewed acquaintance with Lady Whitfield, Philip. Since she is so important to you.”
“Thank you, Mother. That is most kind. I think you will find her much altered after the death of her father. She was in a long period of mourning, but I think she is faring better.”
“That is good news,” Rupert added.
The rest of their conversation was filled with talk of who else would be at the ball, and Philip felt his mind wandering to what he planned to say, with Margaret’s hand clasped in his own. After a moment, he could hear his brother saying his name repeatedly.
“What? What is it?”
“Our dear Mother was asking you a question, Philip. You seem to be lost in another world? Thinking of Lady Whitfield are you?”
Philip scowled at his brother’s grinning face. “Not at all. I fear I am simply overtired.”
He turned to his mother and listened to her question. It was of no use, though. Edward was right. Now that the day of the ball was at hand, he could not get Margaret Whitfield out of his mind.
* * *
The dark-haired man walked into the room and took off his hat. “I have missed you,” he said to the woman who sat before him demurely, as if she had always been waiting for him while he was away.
She smiled in that familiar way of hers, and it made the young man smile back. He had missed her so greatly and wondered inwardly if she had truly missed him.
The woman said, “It has been rather a long time. I was beginning to wonder what was keeping you.”
“Business, always business, you understand. I would not wish to be kept from you for any other reason. You know that.” The man’s voice was soft and kind, and he wished he could reach out and touch the woman, but he knew that she would simply pull away. He had to bide his time.
She watched him curiously for a moment. “What news do you bring me? There is so much that I have missed away from town. I fear I shall die of boredom soon enough.”
He chuckled. “I do not think that has ever happened to anyone, and so I do not think that dying of boredom will be your fate, My Dear. But I shall give you any news that you desire.”
