Page 22 of Loving an Earl
“And heart,” Nicholas grumbled.
Langford could find his own bride. Lady Langford would be perfect for Nicholas, he was sure of it. He had studied all the eligible ladies at the Westport ball, and no others had piqued his curiosity. She may have been married before but was as innocent as they came. He would enjoy getting to know her. She captivated him with her beauty. Being married to her would not be difficult. Nicholas thought she looked alluring and innocent tonight, dressed in a lovely white gown trimmed with gold embroidery and a gold pelisse. She was new to London, and if she was as agreeable to a courtship as she said, it would go smoothly and quickly. They could marry within months—something he needed. What he didn’t need was Langford interfering.
Because there was another lady his mother wanted him to marry. She was stunning in her own right, but Lady Pricilla Amesbury’s silliness had him wanting to smother the daftness out of her, even though her silliness was an act. Not to mention the fact that she was like a sister to him. If he didn’t get engaged to Lady Langford soon, he knew that with his mother’s slyness and the chit’s mother’s help, they would no doubt set up a scheme that had the two of them being found in a compromising situation and forced to marry. He also didn’t put it past them to simply make something up and leak it to the gossip rags.
He couldn’t imagine his mother giving birth to him. She was such a harridan. Nor could he imagine how his father had put up with her, though he was never in her company when he lived except to produce three offspring—two sons and one daughter. Nicholas tried to love his mother, but she wasn’t lovable. Neither of his siblings cared for her, either. But they did fear her, which was why he was trying to marry Lady Langford. No, heneededto marry her and send his mother to the dower house so he wouldn’t have to see her again. Or, at the very least, not have to live in the same house as her and see her bitter face every day. He sometimes felt a little harsh when thinking about his mother, but she was at the very least too meddlesome by far. He needed to see the end of her scheming.
If Langford was determined to intervene, he would have to devise an alternative to Lady Langford. Time was of the essence. He could always whisk the countess away to Gretna Green. That would solve all his problems. But he hated to resort to that. He rubbed his chest and ignored the feeling of guilt that was growing there at using Lady Langford.
*
The ladies returnedto the box just as intermission came to a close. Lilly took her seat and wondered where Langford was—not that she cared. She leaned forward, became mesmerized by the opera again, and clasped her hands to her chest when the curtain fell for the last time. Hollingsworth escorted them home and asked for a private word with her, setting her nerves on edge. Aunt Vivian and Emmeline went inside and up the stairs while Lilly entered the drawing room with Hollingsworth following close behind. She left the door wide open.
“Please have a seat,” Lilly said as she sat on the settee, her pulse speeding up when he sat next to her.
“Langford changed his mind.”
Her eyes widened. “About what?”
“About us courting.”
Her insides hummed with anger. “Be that as it may, I agreed to a courtship.” She looked him in the eyes. “I haven’t changed my mind.” What right did Langford think he had to control who she courted and who she did not? He could say it was his duty and he owed it to Henry, but there was something else behind his behavior and she would not stand for it.
“That is good to know, Countess.”
“Please call me Lilly in private.”
“Only if you call me Nicholas.”
An awkward silence followed as Lilly waited for Nicholas to say something,dosomething.
He stood. “I will see myself out.”
“Nonsense. I’ll see you to the door.” Lilly rose and followed him into the entry hall. “Good night, Nicholas.” His eyes studied her face, and she could feel herself blushing under the intensity.
“Would you care to join me for a ride in the park tomorrow?”
“That would be lovely.” She smiled, hoping the awkwardness of this conversation would end soon.
He touched her cheek with his hand and smiled gently. “May I kiss you?”
She blinked several times. “You may.”
Besides his hand on her cheek, he didn’t touch her anywhere else—just her lips with his own. They were warm, soft, and gentle, and the kiss lasted only a second or two before he dropped his hand and stepped back, bowing. “Until tomorrow.”
When the door closed behind Nicholas, she removed her gloves and touched her lips. The warmth from his lips was still there.
As she climbed the stairs, Lilly found Emmeline waiting in the hallway. “So?”
Lilly couldn’t help herself, she touched her lips again and smiled. “He kissed me.”
“Yes. I heard.”
Lilly gasped.
“Not the kiss, silly. I heard him ask.”
“Mmmhmm.”
