Page 93 of My Gentleman Spy
The moodof the party was strained. Eve and Freddie had selfishly put everyone in an uncomfortable position. If Will had called a halt to the evening at that moment Hattie would not have been the least bitsurprised.
Francis to his credit had also read the mood. He clapped his hands loudly together and announced. “Righto, time for some dancing. I am not leaving until my feet hurt. Come on Caro you shall be mypartner.”
Caroline wasted no time in getting to her feet and taking her brother’s arm. They headed out toward a nearby space in which a small orchestra was playing. Eve and Freddie followed quicklybehind.
Hattie and Will were left alone in the box, the first time they had been alone in over aweek.
“Shallwe?”
Will offered Hattie his hand. She took it, feeling a tremble throughout her body, as he closed his strong fingers about hers. As he pulled her to her feet, Will slipped his hand around her waist and drew herclose.
“Unfortunately, the only movement you and I can do together tonight is that of the socially acceptable type. I just wish we could be somewhere that would allow us to indulge in the dancing we shared on the boat. Of course, if we were married, that would be easily accomplished at the end of thisevening.”
Will was keen to press his need for them to marry. She was dreading the moment he asked for permission to speak toEdgar.
“Let’s not. It has been a long time since I danced. The last time was after I had been presented to the Queen. That was over two years ago. Even then my dancing was adequate at best,” shereplied.
If Will was disappointed with her reply, he hid itwell.
“Well then, how about we take a short stroll instead and see what other entertainment is athand?”
“But what about the others?” shereplied.
“They have made it abundantly clear that they are old enough to take care of themselves. They do not need me to shadow their every move. Besides I am here tonight foryou.”
The crowds in the gardens had built to a peak. There were hundreds of people all pushing and jostling to find the best places to watch theentertainment.
Towing Hattie behind him, Will weaved his way through the throng. She held on tight as he cleared a path forthem.
Eventually they managed to find an area where the crowd thinned and they could stroll together. A line of small booths selling trinkets was set up along the side of the path. They walked slowly, hand in hand, along the line of booths content just to be in one another’scompany.
At one booth Will bought Hattie a small silver pin adorned with a lion’s head. She happily pinned it to the bodice of hergown.
When Hattie yawned a short while later, Will took his cue and led her back to where they had left the rest of the group. They found Eve seated on a chair her head in her hands, while the others milledaround.
“I think the champagne has caught up with her, so it might be time for us to take our leave,” announcedFrancis.
Caroline helped her sister to her feet and the group slowly made its way to the main gate. Hattie walked alongside Will, lost in her ownthoughts.
Outside the gate to Vauxhall, beggars crowded the path. The rest of the group ignored the outstretched hands, beggars were aplenty in this part of London. Hattie saw a young woman standing to one side under a tree holding a small child in herarms.
She stepped away from the group and went to the woman’s side. Other beggars followed and soon she was surrounded. She looked back over her shoulder briefly, but Will and the others were lost from sight. She opened her reticule and pulled out a handful of coins, handing them to thewoman.
“May you be blessed,” said thewoman.
As Hattie leaned in to offer the woman some words of comfort, the child made a grab for Hattie’s lion pin. At the pull on her gown, Hattie moved forward to save the pin from being torn through thefabric.
A concerned Will forced his way into thegroup.
“Hattie!” hebellowed.
People scattered at the sound of his voice. In the ensuing scramble, someone pushed against Hattie’s back and she fell hard into the woman and child. All three of them tumbled to the ground. The child screamed in pain as her small fingers caught the sharp edge of Hattie’s lionpin.
Will came over and helped Hattie to her feet. Picking up the child he handed her to her mother. The woman took one look at Will in his fine evening clothes and quicklyfled.
He attempted to put a comforting arm around Hattie, but she angrily pushed himaway.
“Why did you do that?” shesaid.
She watched as the group of beggars disappeared into the London night. In her reticule sat the rest of the coins she had intended to give to them. Finally, she turned toWill.
“Please take mehome.”
