Page 24 of Lady Fiona's Tall, Dark Folly
Chapter 6
The promise of kissing him consumed her. When he placed her in a sumptuous chair in the main parlor and the other guests appeared before her, she was happy many came to greet her. When her friends, twin sisters Ivy and Grace Livingston sat across from her to chat, she babbled about the cold weather and the misfortune of her injury. Then a footman appeared with a selection of tea or sherry, she chose tea because she needed nothing more than Rory's compliments to make her giddy.
Minutes later, as a few other acquaintances stood before her to bid her welcome, Rory politely left her to them, but soon returned. Mary noticed. So did her former schoolmates. Esme cast an approving eye on the two of them, then winked at Fifi. At one point, her Aunt Courtland came to speak with her and brought a friend along, an elderly woman who lived down the lane in the village. In such a public setting, Fifi couldn't ask her aunt about her father's dictum and her opportunity vanished when her aunt and her friend rose.
"I must leave you, my dear," her aunt patted Fifi's hand. "I see the butler indicates our buffet supper is ready. We will talk tomorrow. If you need anything, you must but ask."
"Thank you, Aunt. I feel better just being here with you."
The truth however was that her euphoria was attributable to a certain man.
Rory reappeared and sat beside her on the settee, a glass in his hand.
"To start your supper, a glass of sherry, my lady."
She took it with a grin. "Do you wish to make me tipsy?"
"A spot of alcohol is better for your pain than opium."
She sipped and regarded him with gratitude. "The good company I keep has kept pain at bay."
"I'm pleased to hear it. Now drink up."
She chuckled. "Good thing I'm not walking."
"Good thing I came along or there'd be some other fellow who'd get the privilege to carry you about."
"No other man has ever taken the privilege."
"Lucky me." His gaze grew fervent and she could not look away from the enchantment. "I like you. You return the sentiment. Do you not?"
"This is too fast an attachment."It was six years ago and now too.
"Is it?" He challenged her and it was in those two simple words, she understood that at some point, they would discuss their first meeting six years ago. Her pride would have to give way to the truth of her vanity and she could only pray her silliness would not mark her as childish and drive him away.
"Couples should use time to their benefit."
"A courtship has no required time. I know many who've wed, yet never met but days before."
"Arranged marriages," she said with distaste, recalling the hideous union of her parents, filled with fisticuffs and blood. "Not all are happy."
"I have heard of that. I intend nothing of the sort for me except joy in my union."
"As you should," she told him.
"And as you should also."
She could not smile though she tried.
"Oh, Fifi." He grasped her hand, and in this crowd, his warm fingers clutched hers for but an instant. His affection survived her shock of his breech of etiquette. "You and I have nothing of the arranged about us. On the contrary, we are the stuff of the accidental. And the fortuitous."
Hope he was right frolicked in her head like a bevy of fairies. "Dance with abandon."
He tipped his head. "Pardon me?"
She'd never shared her motto with anyone. But to tell him what it was, that was novel. "Part of my personal rules to live by."
His features mellowed, a soft surrender to the gravity of her words. "Will you share it with me?"
