Page 33 of Unmasked By a Captivating Lady
She had known, almost from the start, that he was a duke. He had told her almost immediately, outside the horse auction. She had never been overly impressed with titles and hadn’t really given it much thought. She hadn’t really thought about how different his circumstances, and life, were to her own.
But she was thinking about it, now.
A thread of anxiety coursed through her. She was the daughter of a gentleman, a wealthy landowner, and had never wanted for anything. But she was not titled. She suddenly thought of all the grand, beautiful ladies who would be in attendance tonight. How could she compete with them? Would his eyes stare through her when he saw her amongst such elevated company? Would she suffer by comparison?
But she didn’t have time to follow this most alarming chain of thought. The next moment, the carriage door swung open. A smart footman, dressed entirely in red and gold, was standing there, to assist them from the carriage.
Ara took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. They were here, now, and there was nothing to be done but go in and see how the evening would unfold.
***
Ara’s nerves increased as they made their way into the house. It was teeming with people, all jostling their way amongst the throng. To her alarmed eyes, the ladies all looked like a swirl of butterflies, resplendent in the colours of the rainbow. They seemed to drift along the floor, as if their feet didn’t even touch it, in large groups, giggling and chatting, clutching their fans.
The gentlemen were equally impressive, in their finest evening attire, mingling together, talking in a more subdued manner. The people all seemed to blur in her vision as they made their way towards the room, where they would be formally introduced to the Duke of Lancaster, before they could melt into this crowd and partake in the festivities.
Ara felt her heartbeat quicken. They were being swept along, towards the room. She glanced at Ruth, standing beside her. She saw by the pallor of her skin that her cousin was nervous, too.
“You look lovely,” whispered Ara, leaning down towards her. “You have nothing to fear, my dearest.”
Ruth smiled weakly. “Oh, Ara, it is a little overwhelming, is it not? I declare that I did not expectquiteso many people. And they are all so impressively dressed! I feel like a drab door mouse by comparison.”
Ara squeezed her cousin’s arm. “You arenota door mouse, dearest Ruth. You are worth a hundred of any of these people, and never forget it!”
Ruth gazed at her. “I wish I were you in this moment, dear cousin. You never let anything frighten you. Not ever!”
Ara smiled back, feeling like an imposter. She couldn’t tell Ruth how she was really feeling; if she did, it would feed her cousin’s anxiety and that would not be helpful in the circumstances. Better that Ruth thought that she was still the fearless, impetuous Ara of old, rather than this new, unsure woman whose courage was failing further with every tentative step towards the Duke.
Would he acknowledge her warmly, his eyes burning, as they always had in the past when he beheld her? Or would he coldly nod to her, his eyes already sliding to the next, more impressive guest?
Ara took a deep, ragged breath. She thought she would surely die if that happened. After everything they had done together, she didn’t know how she would bear the shame of it.
***
Ara’s heart was beating so fast as they stepped into the room that she was convinced that everyone around her could surely hear it.
She saw a woman curtseying, just ahead of her, in front of a man. They were obviously getting closer. But there were simply too many people in the way to see him properly yet.
Her mother and father, who were in front of her, moved forward. Ara heard their names being announced. They stepped forward to be formally introduced.
Ara peered beyond them to the man standing there, waiting to receive his guests. A man dressed in impressive evening attire. His eyes were fixed firmly ahead, gazing at his guests.
Ara gasped, reeling back a little in confusion. She grasped Ruth’s arm tighter still. Her cousin turned to her at the same moment, her mouth agape, her eyes wide.
“Mr. and Mrs. Moses Nott,” announced the footman, his voice booming through the room.
The man stepped forward, smiling. “Mr. and Mrs. Nott. I am so pleased that you could attend tonight…”
Ara barely saw her parents step aside before the footman was speaking again.
“Miss Arabella Nott, and Miss Ruth Nott,” announced the man.
Arabella knew that she was supposed to step forward, but her legs suddenly felt like they had turned to jelly. Her fingernails gripped Ruth’s arm so tightly, piercing her skin, that her cousin winced.
The man stepped forward, gazing at her with clear, hazel eyes.
“Miss Arabella Nott?” he asked slowly.
She could barely nod an affirmative before he turned to Ruth, addressing her. And the next minute, they had stepped aside, and the next lot of guests were being announced.
