Page 22 of A Lady's Passion Knows No Distance
“Caroline! What on earth are you doing?” Gwendolen asked, grabbing her elbow and leading her back towards the dress shop.
“I’m so sorry. I thought I saw someone and needed to be sure,” Caroline said. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“You can’t be careless, Caroline. Someone could have stolen you away and I would have never known the better,” Gwendolen said, her voice obviously put off. Gwendolen’s grip on her elbow didn’t loosen till they were both securely inside the dress shop.
“I’m sorry, Gwendolen. I just couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw him. I just had to be sure it was he who I was seeing, but he moved across the street before I could get to him,” Caroline rambled, her fingers fidgeting with one another.
“My goodness, who are you speaking of, Caroline?” Gwendolen asked in a hushed voice, leading Caroline over to a small selection of pre-made gowns.
“Tis no one,” Caroline said, trying to appear as though she was interested in the gowns, though she’d never purchase a gown already made. She always relied on the assistance of a seamstress to design her gowns and ensure they fit her figure perfectly.
“You did not act as though the man was no one. You must tell me who he is and why you seem infatuated by him.” Gwendolen smiled brightly at her, and had it not been for the seamstress’ assistant approaching them to see what they needed help with, Caroline would have most likely told her. As Gwendolen told the assistant what they were looking for, they were shown into the parlour and allowed to see the masquerade masks that were left in stock. Caroline tried to choose which one she liked the most, but she couldn’t get the image of William out of her mind. He was dressed so finely, like a real gentleman, that she hadn’t recognized him right away.
A top hat had rested upon his head, while a cane was in his hand. His jacket was a deep black with embroidery that glinted in the sunlight. His muslin shirt had been starched and pressed finely, and anyone who looked upon him could see that he was clearly both wealthy and of rank. But Caroline didn’t understand why William would be in town, and dressing so. And if he had been in town this whole time, why hadn’t he tried to contact her in some way?
It was only through Gwendolen’s persistence that she was able to finally focus at the matter at hand. They had the difficult job of choosing between the dozen remaining masks that the seamstress had. Since they had no time to have new gowns made for the occasion tomorrow night, Caroline had to think cleverly about which mask would match perfectly to a ball gown she already owned and had brought with her from the country.
Eventually, she settled for a dark emerald mask that was designed with lace trimmings that would hang down and fall upon her cheekbones. Large white feathers had been fastened to the upper lip of the mask, making Caroline think that if she could curl her hair and style it high on her head, it would look beautiful with the feathers.
“How gorgeous. You have a stunning crème gown that will go perfectly with that mask,” Gwendolen said as Caroline finally showed her the final decision.
“That is what I was thinking as well. The ball is bound to be dreadfully hot because of the weather and the number of people in attendance. The crème gown is very light and airy. It shall help me to remain cool throughout the night, even wearing this mask,” Caroline reasoned. “Now, show me yours.”
Gwendolen giggled as she held up a large mask with deer antlers. “I want to go as a fawn and wear my oak-coloured gown. The sleeves are rather dainty, but with a mask this extraordinary, I’m bound to receive quite the attention,” she said excitedly.
“I very much agree with you. Every gentleman will certainly want to dance with you, if only to get a closer look at this outstanding mask,” Caroline agreed.
Once the ladies had finished making their purchases and were situated in the carriage once more, Caroline’s thoughts turned back to William. She was now second-guessing her thoughts and wondering if it had been William at all. Perhaps she was only thinking about him more lately because she knew that her engagement had been posted in the papers.
Her heart still hoped for a way out of this marriage.
Chapter 12
William couldn’t believe his luck. He’d been walking casually down the sidewalk after coming back from Hyde Park. William had come to understand how important it was to be seen as Sir Roberts and make a reputation for himself in town.
He’d taken the time to visit with a few couples in the park, making new acquaintances and hearing all the latest gossips from eager women to speak openly about what they knew. William understand that these women were merely trying to win his affections by sharing news with him. But for William, it was his way to learn the happenings of all the elite families currently residing in town.
And during his walk back to his townhouse, not too far away from the prime shopping street for all the upper-class families, he saw her. A fine carriage had just come to a stop on the side of the road, and curious, William had slowed his pace just enough to take a peek at the women inside. A young lady he hadn’t recognized stepped out first, and when Caroline’s face came into view, he’d panicked. William had turned his gaze to face forward, trying to find the quickest way to escape an encounter with her. This was neither the time nor place he had envisioned to be reunited with his love. Therefore, when he found a safe opening to cross the road, he did.
It was only when he reached the other side that he dared to look back. He could easily see that Caroline hadn’t spotted him, nor was she trying to follow him. William ducked into a hat shop and pretended to be interested in a new top hat while he kept eyes on the seamstress shop on the other side of the road. He waited and watched for what seemed like an hour before the carriage began to pull away, signalling the young ladies had left.
Waiting a moment longer to ensure the carriage was out of sight, William made his way back across the street and entered the seamstress shop. And after paying the owner a shilling, William learned that Caroline had been shopping for a masquerade mask for the ball tomorrow with her friend Miss Gwendolen Murphy.
William took the time to secure his own mask, knowing he just had to see Caroline at the ball. It would be the perfect opportunity to finally reunite with her, and after learning the design and detail of her mask, William was confident he’d be able to find her in a crowd.
Excitement and anxiety filled William as he left the shop with his new purchase and quickly made his way home. He knew he was very lucky to have spotted Caroline on the streets of London—he’d not only confirmed she was well, but that he could certainly see her tomorrow evening.
With his new fame and title, he was confident that he would be able to gain entrance to the ball. He may very well have an invitation laying on his desk back at the townhouse. He was determined to look his best, and if his luck would continue, he’d be able to finally tell Caroline all that had happened in the last few years.
William tried not to allow thoughts of doubt to flood his mind. After all, he’d written to her through the years and had never received a reply. He always wanted her to remember his love for her, even if it was in small ways. But it seemed the only thing he could do now was find a moment to speak with her and be honest about his feelings, and why he’d left her that dreadful day.
Sometimes, he wished he’d found a way to outrun Lord Canton and take Caroline to Scotland. Then, they would have been married and no one would have been able to separate them. But the more William learned about Lord Canton and all that the man dealt with when it came to business, William was certain that he’d not only be able to win back Caroline, but also ruin the Earl in the process. William smiled to himself as he finally made it home, his plans for the future still moving forward and progressing towards his heart’s desire.
~*~
Caroline was eager to make it to the ball with Gwendolen. They’d spent the entire following day curling their hair, pinning it up into stylish hairdos, and securing their masks perfectly so they didn’t have to worry about them slipping or falling down while they danced. They talked excitedly about their thoughts about the evening, and even Lady Murphy joined in on their conversation from time to time.
“Ah, to be young again, when the most thrilling thing was attending balls and social gatherings. You two should cherish these moments, for when you’re a married woman, balls seem less glamorous and more of a chore for keeping up one’s reputation,” Lady Murphy said as they were in the changing room. Lady Murphy sat and sipped a cup of lavender tea, since she was already dressed and wouldn’t be wearing a mask. Instead, she watched the young ladies be dressed and fussed over for the evening.
