Edward felt his hands fall still around his cravat, before he could fidget with it again. His eyes turned on Esther, watching as she looked into the distance, as if rather wistful.
“You know what love is like, sister?” he asked, waiting to see her reaction.
“Of course.” She hurried to pick up her book and hid her face from him. “I have read of it in my books many times.”
“You do not speak from experience then?”
“Tush. Stop prying.” She closed the book once again and glared at him. Edward sat back on the settee, not fooled by her defense. It seemed that Julia had been right after all. Esther still loved whoever the father of her child was. “We were talking of you, not I, and your love for Julia.”
“Now, that is hardly…” Edward paused, his words faltering when he realized he hadn’t argued with Esther when she had said he was in love.
Am I?
He rubbed his hands over his face, deep in thought. He had known love before, and he had been so careful not to allow himself to run away with the idea.
“Edward? Is something wrong?” Esther leaned forward and placed a hand to his arm, evidently worried for she tugged on his sleeve when he did not reply. “What is it that worries you so?”
“You said love.” He shook his head, straining for the right words. “It’s just that I… after the last time…”
Esther was the only other person in the world who knew that Edward had loved before. Charles didn’t even though, and since their parents had left them, Esther was the only one.
“Edward.” Esther’s voice was incredibly gentle. “Did you think it impossible to love again?” He nodded slowly, unable to offer any words. It prompted Esther to laugh softly. “Then you are a fool.”
“Esther! You are fond of insulting me.”
“Someone has to point out the folly of your ways.” She waved another hand in his direction. “You were fond of Julia when you asked her to marry you, were you not?”
“I –”
“What is more, I have seen how you look at each other. I’ve seen how you laugh together, how you hold one another’s hand, and share secret glances. That is an obvious thing to see.” She sat back on the settee with a look of triumph for noticing so much. “I think I have discovered something about the human nature this last year, brother.” She paused and laid a hand on the swell of her stomach, evidently thinking of her child. “The heart has an endless capacity to love.”
“What makes you say that?” he asked softly.
“Because when I thought love was impossible, look what happened.” She continued to smile down at her stomach. “I found something new to love.”
Edward smiled too, thinking of the child that was to join them. The child may be born out of wedlock, but deep down he didn’t care. He knew when his niece or nephew arrived, he would love them dearly.
“Now, enough philosophizing on love for one night.” Esther shook her hands at Edward, urging him to stand to his feet. “You will be late for the ball. Best hop to it.”
* * *
Julia laughed around the glass of champagne at Edward’s words. It was so sudden that she had to lift her gloved hand to her lips, to stop herself from ejecting the champagne. Edward clearly saw, for he laughed heartily, tipping his head back.
Hurriedly, Julia managed to swallow around the champagne and turn an accusing glare on him.
“I could have choked!”
“You were laughing,” he said, gesturing to her. “I can hardly be blamed for that.”
“You were the one who made me laugh.”
“Hmm, I suppose I have to take some blame then,” he teased her as he took the empty champagne glass from her hand and placed it down on the drinks table behind them.
Julia laughed once again as she looked around the ball. In truth, she had not been looking forward to this event. She had been nervous of the whispers and all the gossip, even glances from Lady Beatrice, not to mention the presence of Lord Gillet, yet since she and Edward had arrived together, all of those worries had faded away.
It was as if they were the only two at the ball. They had spent the entire evening together in this corner, talking, laughing, to the point that Julia couldn’t be certain who else was even at the ball.
“I suppose we have to leave this corner at some point, don’t we?” Edward said, clearly recognizing the same thing Julia had noticed.