Page 32 of A Lady's Past
She placed her hand on his coat sleeve. “That is very kind.”
“It is practical. I happen to know we are seated beside each other for dinner.” He winked.
“How would you know that?” The dining room was elegant with gleaming candelabras running the length of the table. A perfect dozen guests had been invited, as not all of London was still in town as the holiday drew near.
Holding her chair, he leaned in as she sat. “As the best friend of our host, I have certain privileges. One includes picking my dinner partners.”
All the guests were busy chatting while they settled in to their seats. “You should not say or do such things, Monsieur Laurent. Our lives will soon take different paths.”
With his head cocked, he looked young, handsome and completely irresistible. “Our life journeys will take us wherever we wish.”
She wished it was true, but sadness swamped her more quickly than she could hide. Brushing aside a tear, she swallowed down the rest. “If only I could believe that was true. However, I know every journey is controlled by some sinister puppet master who will lead me where he wishes, and I will be powerless to avoid my destiny.”
Preston Knowles, the Duke of Middleton, tapped his spoon against his crystal wineglass and made a toast. “My lovely wife and I would like to thank you all for coming. As so many of our friends were still in town at this late date, it seemed serendipitous to gather together before Christmas.” He lifted his glass. “To good friends, old and new. May the new year bring us all what we most desire.”
All the guests lifted their glasses in agreement.
Diana followed along and sipped the rich, fruity wine.
As the first course was served, Jacques leaned close enough for his coat to brush her sleeve. “I shall make sure your strings are cut, my goddess. No one shall rule you save yourself.”
It was a wonderful, impossible notion that not even Jacques could truly believe, but Diana favored him with a smile and allowed the idea to warm her soul through dinner.
Nothing could have been lovelier than a handsome gentleman paying her attention at a fine dinner where she was treated with kindness and respect. She pinched herself several times to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Though her dreams had never been so wonderful. Even in her darkest days, the best she had hoped for was to not fear for her life and the lives of those she loved. Since everyone she loved had died, part of her problem was horribly solved.
“What are you thinking that has put that frown upon those lovely lips, Diana?”
She took a sip of her white soup to buy time to formulate an answer. “I was contemplating how much life can change with the least bit of notice.”
He had removed his gloves for the meal, so when he took hold of her hand where it rested in her lap, a shock of erotic sensations shot through her entire body. “Sometimes those changes are for the better.”
So much warmth spread through her, she questioned the idea that perhaps her problems had merely shifted and not gone away at all. “I know, Jacques.”
“I wonder if you do.” He turned his attention to his own soup.
When he released her hand, a hollowness settled inside her, more noticeable than before. Perhaps because she had not missed being touched until she had been touched by him.
* * *
Diana enjoyed the entire evening, but had looked forward to the carriage ride home with Jacques. Despite Honoria’s presence, she knew it would be a treat to spend time close to him without a crowd of people. It might be scandalous, but she wished for more evenings like the one when he rescued her from the garden. Just to be near him, held by him, was a kind of heaven she’d never thought possible in her life.
Jacques handed both ladies up before sitting across from them. “Lady Chervil, did you enjoy the party?”
Patting her hair into place, Honoria grinned. “I always enjoy a good party. I am blessed with many good friends who don’t mind inviting an old lady to their events. It was very convenient that I could also act as Miss St. Cloud’s chaperon tonight.”
“I, for one, am most grateful to spend time with both you and Miss St. Cloud.”
Bertram poked his head in the window. “We’re ready to go. I haven’t seen anything unusual.”
“Very good,” Jacques said.
A sliver of doubt curled into Diana’s heart. It was just foolishness, but she rubbed a shiver from her arms.
The carriage rolled down the street. Diana watched outside, but the night was too dark to see much more than a few candles burning inside random homes. No moon or stars cut through the clouds that looked about to dump snow on them. As she thought it, the first flake flurried through the carriage window.
Honoria pulled her cloak close. “I hope it does not snow too hard before we get to Everton House.”
Someone outside hollered a curse.
