“I do.” A tremble moved through her body and transferred to Jane. “I’m ashamed that my limp makes me different.”
“Only in how you walk. The rest of you is adorable and smart.” She shot a smile at her friend. “Anyone halfway interesting is different. You merely need to change your thinking.”
“Ha!” Fanny squeezed her arm. “So says my beautiful friend.”
“With red hair.” Beauty was suggestive. “Men only follow me about due to my dowry. How they discovered the amount has always bothered me.” Surely that tidbit wasn’t something her parents had willingly let slip in order to dangle her like a carrot before a donkey… Plus, Papa’s hints that he wished her wed didn’t help. Her steps faltered for an instant before she resumed her usual gait. Why couldn’t gentlemen chase her for who she was instead of the price on her head? And, if she were crass, her looks. At times, having a well-endowed bosom wasn’t worth the hassle. Their loss, but the thought took away some of the brightness from this event. At the door to the drawing room, she paused. “There is quite the crush in there.”
“Oh yes.” Fanny nodded. “Mama is pleased. I think she hopes I’ll find a suitor, but I can feel my courage deserting me as we speak.” She gave a self-depreciating laugh. “Mama wants to see you tonight before you leave, by the way.”
“I’ll make certain of it.” Jane nodded, for Fanny’s mother had been her surrogate mama in years past whenever she needed a female shoulder to cry on or ask questions of. There were certain things in life a girl needed to know that couldn’t be discovered in a household of men. “Steady on, girl. I believe you can do anything you set your mind to.” Beyond the conversation in the drawing room, no doubt there would be cards in the morning room, literature discussions in the parlor, and gossip in the retiring room. Events like this were always the same. “What should we choose to do first?”
“Perhaps gossip? That way I won’t completely collapse, for no men are allowed in that room.” Fanny attempted to steer Jane away from the drawing room door. “Then I promise to mingle.”
“We’re going to work on your courage…” Her words trailed away, for the crowds parted and she saw him. Major Storme sat in his Bath chair at the far end of the room, and even from the distance, he looked dark and delicious and entirely too swoon worthy. It could have easily been a different solider in a different chair, but somehow she just knew. “Oh, my.”
Fanny followed her gaze and then snorted. “He’s quite splendid even if he is in a Bath chair.”
A trace of annoyance lanced through Jane. “That doesn’t mean he’s unattractive.”
“Mmhmm.” Her friend regarded her with speculation. “I heard he’s a big war hero.”
“Oh, he is.” She nodded. “I can’t wait to hear him tell the tales in his own words.”
“That’s why Papa invited him and a handful of other military men,” Fanny went on. “I suppose they all love to talk about battles and things.”
“I wonder…” But she didn’t spare a glance to her, for she couldn’t take her eyes from the man in the Bath chair.
“And no doubt away from women, for they’ll tell us it’s not fit for our ears.” Fanny huffed with frustration.
“Perhaps some do, and some don’t. Certain topics might cause more harm than good for someone who doesn’t wish to relive a traumatic element.” She stood aside when a couple of tittering young ladies in pastel colors entered the drawing rooms. The crowd shifted again, hiding the major from her view. The urge to sigh grew strong, but she quelled it. It took all of three heartbeats for her to make a decision. “I’m going over to him.”
Fanny’s eyes widened. “Without an introduction?”
“Of course not.” Jane smoothed her gloved hands down the front of her gown. She squared her shoulders. “You can do that for me.”
“But—”
“Come on.” She tugged at Fanny’s hand and cut the protest short. “Perhaps the two of you will find love at first sight.” Though the tiny imp inside her brain really hoped that wasn’t true.
By the time they’d made their way to the man, knots had formed in her stomach. Fanny’s cheeks were ablaze with a blush, and when the major glanced at them, Jane lost the ability to breathe.
Dear Lord, it should be a crime for a man to be so handsome.Sapphire eyes intense enough to pierce her soul, midnight black hair that stuck up in tufts here and there as if he cared not to tame it, broad shoulders his well-tailored evening jacket only highlighted, a jaw so sharp she had the decided urge to touch, strong-looking legs regardless of him using the chair.
“Uh…” When Fanny didn’t offer any other words, Jane gently elbowed her in the ribs. “Major Storme, this is my best friend, Lady Jane Marden, and I’m…” Her swallow was audible. “I’m going to go somewhere… else.” She fled so fast her skirts flapped about her ankles.
Oh, Fanny.Yes, they would need to work on screwing her friend’s courage to the sticking point. When the man narrowed his sapphire eyes, she sighed. “I must tell you how much I’ve admired you over the years.”
“How is that possible? You and I have never met.” He didn’t try to hide the annoyance that threaded through his voice.
“I read about your exploits in the papers.” There was simply no need for him to know why she’d perused those pages to begin with.
“Exploits?” he hissed and dropped one hand to a wheel of his chair. “I’d argue that it was survival. The French were merciless.”
“True.” Her nerves felt strung too tight. Butterflies both tickled her belly and help tighten the knots that already existed. Every intelligent thought flew out of her mind. “The weather is quite perfect for this time of year, wouldn’t you say?” Internally, she berated herself. What sort of falderol was she speaking? It was as if she’d no breeding or intelligence behind her. And why the devil did this one man have the power to take away her ability to think?
His feathery eyebrows drew together with a frown. “That largely depends on what one wishes to do in said weather.”
A wave of heat swamped her. Jane resisted the urge to fan herself with a hand. As of yet, no one else had approached. Perhaps she dealt with a touch of hero-worship now that she stood before this man. And, oh goodness, he smelled so good! Hints of citrus and sage and something spicy tickled her nostrils. It was all she could do not to lean closer. “There’s quite a crush here tonight. I hope that’s a good thing for Fanny’s chances.”