Chapter7
Spotting Mary Trenton had made him feel like a dying man finding an oasis in the desert.Not that he’d ever experienced that himself, but he imagined it would feel very much like the relief that washed over him when he realized he had an ally in that ballroom.
As they made their way toward his family, he glanced down at the woman by his side, her hand on his arm.“Say that you’ll save the waltz for me, like you did last summer.”
There was an amused twinkle in her eyes when she met his gaze.“This is becoming a habit of yours.Unlike the situation at that ball, you are not the only eligible man in the room.I’m sure you can relax.”
He wanted to say more, to tell her that the situation was dire.That his mother had already hinted at pairing him off with a beautiful young woman for the waltz.But while he assumed that woman was of age, she’d seemed little more than a child to him.
He could remember being eighteen, although it seemed like another lifetime, and thinking that women his age were very mature.Now, at the age of twenty-nine and after having spent far too many years in the army, they seemed almost painfully young.He couldn’t imagine being forced into conversation with the young woman who’d giggled up at him and hidden behind her fan when his mother had introduced them.
“Ashford,” his mother called out when they approached.“I wasn’t sure we’d see you again this evening.”
Somehow he refrained from rolling his eyes.They both knew his mother would have hunted him down before too much longer.
Jane’s smile was far too wide.“I see you’ve brought Miss Trenton.”
“Oh, of course,” Lady Ashford said, greeting her.“It is so good to see you, my dear.It’s been far too long.I was so sorry to hear about the carriage accident that took your parents’ lives.”
Mary looked as though she were on the verge of tears as she thanked his mother.
“I ran into Miss Trenton just yesterday on Bond Street,” Jane said.“She is good friends with Lady Lowenbrock.”
“It is a small world indeed,” his mother said.“Ashford served with Lowenbrock.”
Jane looked back in the direction from which they’d come.“Isn’t that your sister?She’s Lady Fairbanks now, is she not?”
Mary nodded.“Yes.Lord Fairbanks is a very generous man.He made a point of welcoming me into their house after…”
After her parents’ accident.
Ashford waited for her to continue.When she didn’t, he spoke into the silence.“I had the pleasure of becoming reacquainted with Miss Trenton last summer when I went up to Yorkshire to visit Lowenbrock.She was also visiting.”
Unfortunately, his mother seemed intent only on her own agenda.“That is quite nice.But I am relieved you’ve returned Ashford, and just in time.I spotted Miss Bennett moments ago.If you hurry, you can see if she is still free for the waltz.Lady Everly assured me it would be coming soon.”
He didn’t even try to hide his annoyance when he saw the way Miss Trenton was looking down at her hands.His mother had all but said that she wasn’t worthy of her son’s attention.
“I’ve already asked Miss Trenton to dance the waltz with me, and she has accepted.”
He met Mary’s gaze, catching the way she’d glanced at his mother first.For a moment he worried that she would do something to betray the fact he hadn’t spoken the truth.Yes, he’d asked her to partner with him for the waltz, but she hadn’t accepted.
Thankfully, Miss Trenton came, once again, to his rescue.
“Yes,” Mary said, a twinkle of amusement in her expression.“I am looking forward to it very much.”
His smile widened with relief and more than a hint of genuine pleasure.Miss Mary Trenton was definitely the solution to his current situation.
Lady Fairbanks chose that moment to intrude, all but barging into their small group.She was filled with smiles and pleasantries for his family, but he caught the displeasure in her expression when she looked at Mary.He’d always found her unpleasant, even when she’d been a young girl, but had ignored her.He didn’t expect the flare of anger that sparked to life within him after witnessing the slight frown Lady Fairbanks aimed at her sister.He was in no position to say—or do—anything about it, but it surprised him how much he wanted to come to Mary’s rescue.