Page 18 of A Lady's Passion Knows No Distance
She wondered that if by the end of the second set that the Earl would have become too tired to dance a third set. But as the night continued and she enjoyed dancing with her other partners, she saw that Lord Canton had chosen to sit out the other two sets to save the last with her.
As Caroline thanked her dance partner from the second set and made her way over to her parents to rest between sets, Lord Canton was quick to join them. She looked at the man, knowing that he was eager to be close to her while she couldn’t stand just the sight of the man.
“Caroline, dear. Did you know that Lord Canton recently donated to an orphanage in town?” Lady Goldman said, capturing Caroline’s attention and forcing her to smile instead of staring at Lord Canton with cold eyes.
“No, I had not. I saw no mention of it in the papers,” Caroline replied, eyeing Lord Canton sceptically.
“The papers don’t report on everything,” Lord Canton said with a smirk. “I had come across an orphan begging in the streets and couldn’t stand the sight of the lad. I knew I just had to do something.”
“You’ve always been so compassionate and considerate to others, even when they might not deserve it,” Lord Goldman said, looking at Caroline with narrowed eyes.
She and her father had argued several times on her continuous refusal of Lord Canton. What her friends didn’t know was that Lord Canton had proposed to her more than once.
“Mother, have you heard any rumours about a Sir Roberts? The young ladies and I were discussing this man during dessert. He sounds like quite a heroic person,” Caroline said, wanting to change the subject immediately.
“Yes, my fellow ladies have mentioned it to me this evening. Seems as though the man came from nowhere and really made a name for himself in the Navy. I am not familiar with any family with the last name of Roberts,” Lady Goldman mentioned.
“Nor am I,” Lord Canton added, continuing to try to be part of the conversation.
“Seems the man was responsible for helping his crew take down several pirate ships. His good deeds were rewarded by the King himself,” Caroline said, speaking directly to Lord Canton as he seemed unwilling to simply leave her be. Therefore, she was quick to show the Earl how his actions didn’t compare to this mysterious Sir Roberts.
“How heroic,” Lord Canton commented. At the sound of music, Caroline was reminded of the third set. When Lord Canton extended his hand towards her, she took it lightly, knowing her father had already promised that she’d dance the third set with him. Without a word in reply, Caroline allowed the man to lead her to the dance floor as she positioned herself with the other ladies, standing across from him and wanting the ground to open and swallow her up.
As the dance began, Caroline tried to imagine she was anywhere but in her family’s home, dancing with a man she did not like. Her thoughts raced to replace her reality, and like many times when she felt she was facing such an unbearable fate, she thought of him.
She remembered the way William used to hold her tight and kiss her passionately. She liked to imagine what her life would have been like, had she made it to Scotland with William and they had been married. The life they would have created for each other. The children they would have had by now. All her thoughts helped her forget the dance and who her partner was as she stepped lightly on her feet, the dance familiar to her. She smiled to herself, thinking that had she married William, her life would be perfect right now.
When the dance finally came to an end, Lord Canton held her hand, boldly keeping her hand in his for much longer than what was proper. Caroline eyed him, wondering what he was up to as she tried to pull her hand from his and he was clearly refusing. Eventually, he placed her hand on his arm and began to lead her through the room, out the open doors, and onto the veranda surrounding the estate. With the spring giving way to summer, the air was still hot and sticky with the day’s sun.
“What do you want?” Caroline demanded as she finally wiggled her hand free from his grip. “How dare you be so bold with me.”
“Come now, Caroline. We are very much past simple acquaintances. And now that you are nineteen, it’s time we stop playing games and make things official,” Lord Canton said, turning to her so that his face reflected the candlelight from inside, like bright shadows of flame upon his face. It made him look even more dissatisfying than before.
“What makes you think I’ll finally accept you?” Caroline asked, crossing her arms across her chest as though to ward him off.
“Aren’t you tired, Caroline? All the balls, all the social gatherings, all the outings. You are barely lively anymore, and this birthday celebration seems to be your last effort to prove that you can have a normal life like all the other girls,” Lord Canton said, stepping closer to her. “Why do you think you’ve never received any other offer? Why men paw at you but never take you seriously?”
Caroline stared up into his eyes, confounded by how much he knew about her. It was an unsettling feeling, one that made her think that perhaps she really didn’t know Lord Canton at all and his ability to get what he desired.
“Are you saying that for my last three Seasons you’ve kept good, eligible gentlemen away from me?” Caroline asked, her anger steadily rising.
“Of course I did, my dear. I couldn’t have anyone thinking you were available. Instead, I let you have a little bit of fun. You were able to experience life and socialize. But now I grow tired of our game and wish to finally bring you home with me.”
“Our marriage would be a sham. I would never love you,” Caroline promised him, growing desperate. There had to be something she could say that would cause Lord Canton to give up on her.
“I don’t really care, Caroline. All that is important to me is that we marry and you bear my children. What you do with your time is up to you, as long as you stay out of my way with my business deals and other pleasures in life,” Lord Canton said, so casually that at first she thought the man was joking. Could he seriously only want her for a show piece instead of a loving wife?
“I suppose I have no other choice. It doesn’t seem like I will be receiving any other offers,” Caroline admitted, feeling completely defeated. Lord Canton smiled at her then as he closed the space between them and leaned down towards her.
“I told you that one day you’d come to realize that I am your future,” he said before he pressed his lips against hers with such a needy force that she couldn’t stop herself from raising her hand and slapping him hard. He reared back, a low growl coming from his chest as he stumbled a couple steps back. He rubbed his jaw and turned back towards her, his eyes filled with anger.
“I so do look forward to our wedding night, Caroline. I will take great pleasure in taming your wild soul,” he said, his voice almost crazed. She was so startled by the sudden transformation in his demeanour and voice that all she could think to do was stand there and stare at him in shock. Yet, eventually, he lowered his hand from his face, straightened his jacket, and smoothed back his hair.
“Now, let us return to the ball and announce our engagement,” Lord Canton said as he came close to her and offered her his arm.
“I only have one request,” Caroline said, trying to muster up the last of her courage. “I want to be married in town, and I wish to return right away. Miss Gwendolen has invited me to stay with her and her family for a small time. Come the end of summer, we can then be married.”
“Time is of no consequence to me,” Lord Canton said with a nod. “I shall write the papers in the morning to announce our engagement with a wedding date for the end of the summer. I’m sure your parents will agree to returning to town for the wedding. After all, we’ll remain afterwards because I prefer the social atmosphere to the bore of the country.”
