Page 27 of An Arranged Betrothal with a Contrite Duke
Holding Lydia close to him, her warmth and scent filling his senses, Michael found himself experiencing feelings he had never known before – not even for the precious vase that had once been the sole focus of his desires. As they danced, their eyes locked together, he realized that his original intention had shifted, transforming into something altogether unexpected. He could have never guessed that he would feel the way he was feeling. But he had to admit that right then, he was very much looking forward to marrying Lydia.
Chapter Fifteen
The morning after the ball, Deborah awoke Lydia, rather than Hester. She rushed past a sleepy Lydia, who was holding open the door after her younger sister had practically beaten it down. She turned to Lydia, her eyes bright and her smile brighter.
“Sister, dress quickly,” she said. “Lord Strawbridge has come to call on you.”
Lydia’s eyes flew open, and she whirled around to see the clock. She was shocked to find that she had slept until after eleven in the morning. Her family would be finishing breakfast and getting ready to start their day. And she hadn’t expected Michael to call in on her again so soon.
“Mercy,” she said, rushing across her room to the doorway to her bathing room and pulling the rope to call for Hester. “What should I wear?”
Deborah smiled at her impishly.
“Well, he is dressed very finely,” she said. “And he is holding a big bouquet of pink roses.”
Lydia blushed. So, she hadn’t been imagining the spark she had felt between them the evening before. He had clearly felt something, too. She couldn’t help giggling as she hurried over to her wardrobe. She considered asking her sister what color he was wearing, so they could match as they had the evening before. But she didn’t. It had been something special when it had happened by accident. She couldn’t push it too far, lest Michael think it cheapened the happy little accident.
She nearly forgot that Deborah was there until Hester entered the room. She shooed her sister toward the door, unable to hide a smile.
“Tell him that I will be down as quickly as I can,” she said.
Deborah giggled and nodded.
“Be quick,” she said as Lydia closed the door.
Lydia went back to her wardrobe, where Hester was smiling, already holding up a lovely fine muslin, pale red day dress with puffy sleeves, matching pink gloves, lace-covered, high-necked bodice, and a light red bonnet with a small lace bow. Lydia grinned and nodded.
“Very good,” she said.
Hester outdid herself with the timing and the skill with which she got her mistress ready for the day. In less than one hour, Lydia was dressed in her outfit, her hair styled in loose waves that were pinned with beaded pins atop her head. The bonnet fit just over the top and back of her head, leaving strands in the back and side hanging out. Hester even found a red parasol and reticule to go with the dress, and a pink pearl necklace. She sprayed some rosewater on Lydia, and then she ushered her mistress out the door.
Lydia hurried down the stairs, but she slowed her pace enough to appear elegant as she entered the drawing room, where Michael waited with her parents and Deborah, who was playing a song on the pianoforte. Michael was listening politely, which Lydia commended, since she recalled that he wasn’t much for being entertained by music. But when Lydia entered the room, Deborah stopped playing, and Michael turned around.
His lips parted, and he rose quickly, just catching the bouquet of flowers he was holding right before it hit the ground. He righted himself and stared at her for a long moment. Then, he cleared his throat and bowed to her, just as she was curtseying to him.
“Good morning, Lydia,” he said softly, sounding a little as though he was out of breath.
Lydia blushed and glanced at the clock.
“I’m afraid it’s afternoon now,” she said. “I do apologise for keeping you waiting. I slept a bit longer than I intended. But good afternoon to you, Michael,” she said.
Michael didn’t even bother glancing at the clock. He just shrugged, handing her the flowers with a smile.
“It’s quite all right,” he said. “The party was exhausting, to be sure. And I didn’t mention that I might call in this morning. Mother gave me a good idea at breakfast, and I decided to do it on a spur of the moment.”
Lydia took the flowers, taking a moment to inhale them and smell the sweetness wafting up from them.
“Oh?” she asked. “Well please, feel free to share your idea.”
His cheeks turned pink, and for a moment he looked uncomfortable. Lydia was just beginning to wonder if she shouldn’t have just waited for him to speak on his own when he smiled at her again.
“Well, seeing as we are now engaged, Mother suggested that we begin courting,” he said. “We have a fortnight until the wedding, and that will allow us time to get to know each other better.”
Lydia’s eyes lit up. She gently handed her flowers to Hester, who had just entered the room behind her. Her lady’s maid hurried away to tend to the flowers as Lydia nodded.
“That sounds wonderful,” she said.
Michael seemed to relax, and he smiled.
