Page 35 of Defying the Earl
Yes, he was handsome and kind and intelligent, and very nearly perfect, but he had also abandoned her in the past. This time, it had been clear that it was not a true courtship. She needed to make sure her heart didn’t get broken once more.
But maybe just for one evening she could pretend. What would it hurt to allow herself to truly enjoy their little tableau? Probably a lot, but that was a problem for another day.
Bea allowed herself to be swept up into the moment, enjoying the conversations that she was able to share with Nathan and his guests. It was such a rare experience for her that thrills kept tingling through her whenever a particularly enjoyable conversation carried on, or when her gaze encountered Nathan’s watchful one. Knowing he was continuing to watch her and watch out for her was a heady sensation. She wished there would be dancing again.
Shaking her head as she climbed into his carriage a little later, Bea admonished herself. She shouldn’t be wishing the current experience away. She had enjoyed the supper party, now she was to enjoy the theatre.Stay in the moment, she chided herself as Nathan slipped in beside her on the backward facing seat.
“You did very well, Braxton,” Lady Frampton gave the rare, seemingly sincere compliment.
Lady Charlotte was far more effusive. “What a lovely evening, dear boy. Thank you for arranging it and not even requiring our assistance. I didn’t really think you’d pull it off, I’m sorry to admit, but I’m very happy to see that I had been wrong. Your father would have been proud of you, I’m sure.”
Nathan’s chuckle didn’t sound fully sincere but he answered his aunt anyway. “I’m sure he would be even more surprised than you, to be honest. I’m not sure about proud. There is always room for improvement.”
“That may be, but considering it was your first attempt, you ought to be particularly pleased with your success.”
Bea peeped at Nathan through her eyelashes. He appeared quite gratified at his aunt’s words. She thought to add compliments of her own but was unsure exactly what to say that wouldn’t sound trite. He had done well. But was it so exceptional? Was it odd to compliment a gentleman on something he ought to have been able to manage quite readily? She could have managed even more courses and more guests. But she had done it often enough. He had not. That was the difference.
“Thank you for arranging everything so well for us, my lord. It was a very pleasant evening,” she finally managed to croak out, feeling foolish. It shouldn’t be so difficult to pass out compliments and yet giving one to Nate, as sincere as it was, felt awkward and uncomfortable.
It must have been difficult for him to receive it, as well, because he ducked his head as though bashful and even in the dim light within the carriage, Bea could see heat staining his cheeks. Inexplicably, that made her feel immeasurably better.
Lady Charlotte filled in the silence with lively chatter all the way from Nathan’s fashionable Mayfair address to the Kings Theatre where they were to watch an opera. Bea was unsure if she would enjoy the opera as much as a play, but it was the only thing Nathan had been able to get a box for at short notice.
“I would have thought Braxton would have a box always reserved,” Lady Frampton observed with a little sniff, as though Nathan had disappointed her with this lack of foresight.
“My apologies, my lady. I don’t think my parents were great frequenters of entertainment, even when they came up to Town.”
“No, your father was a rather strange sort, wasn’t he?” Lady Frampton’s opinion had always been slightly scathing of her nephew, Nathan’s father, as far as Bea knew.
Nathan’s tension was only noticeable to her, Bea realized. A glance in his direction showed that his expression hadn’t changed in the least and he hadn’t even tensed his hands but sitting so close to him, she could almost feel it vibrating from him. It must be from his legs, she thought, fighting a blush at such a personal thought, hoping no one would look at her and wonder.
The rest of the drive passed in near silence only punctuated by the occasional chatty comment from Lady Charlotte. Whatever seemed to pop into her head inevitably came out of her mouth, but that prevented the silence from becoming too oppressive. Beatrice longed to comfort Nathan in some way but admonished herself for being so foolish. He wasn’t likely to welcome her interference.
When they finally arrived at the theatre, it took all of Beatrice’s will power not to gaze about like a bumpkin fresh from the country. There were colours everywhere, highlighted by thefancy gas lighting. The boxes weren’t overlarge but they were exceedingly comfortable. From the one Nathan had managed to procure, she could see everywhere else in the theatre except the boxes directly above and below them. Her eyes widened at the vast pit below.
“Anyone can enter below for a mere half guinea,” Nathan murmured in her ear when he saw her keen attention below.
“Perhaps we ought to have done that,” Bea whispered back.
“Never,” he insisted.
Bea wasn’t sure if he were being pompous or concerned for her safety until he pointed toward the side of the theatre where already some drunken revellers were causing a ruckus.
“Much more comfortable up here,” Nathan continued wryly. Bea met his gaze and tried not to melt with the warmth that suffused her. Stiffening her spine, Bea reminded herself that Harrisons don’t melt. Before she could shame herself with ill-bred expressions of emotion, Bea was relieved to see the performance begin.
And then she noticed nothing else as the power of the singers’ voices swept her away.
When the curtain came down and an intermission announced, Lady Frampton commanded Nathan to escort Beatrice for refreshments.
“Do you resent being a paid companion?” Nathan asked as he tucked her hand more firmly into his elbow. Beatrice was proud of herself for not flinching over his question. Clearly he hadn’t forgotten her true position. Or was it her true position? She supposed it was her publicly acknowledged position.
“Of course not,” Bea said. “Your aunts have been very kind to me, taking me into their home when I had nowhere else to go. How could I possibly resent the solution they presented to me?”
The hallway was getting crowded and Nathan gestured for a footman, placing an order for refreshments for all of them to be delivered to their box.
“If it was that easy, why did they send us away?” Bea asked, watching the footman hurry away.
“Perhaps they wished to gossip about us behind our backs,” Nathan answered with a grin as he sheltered Bea with his larger body as they were jostled by passersby.
