The Earl, the Lady and the Song of Love by Fanny Finch
Chapter 20
For the umpteenth time that evening, Imogen heaved a sigh. She knew that she had ruined the evening, as neither of them had managed to catch a scene of the play.
She would have to make it up to Lord Kensington, somehow, soon. She had looked forward to the evening with so much joy and hope. Yet, all it had taken was one chance encounter to ruin it all.
She wished they had not run into Lord Exeter and Alicia.
Why tonight of all nights?
Seeing them together had affected her more than she liked to admit.
The last time she had had to face the baron had been that day in the park and as for Alicia, they had not had a reason to meet ever since that afternoon in Imogen’s drawing room.
Even at balls, they never seemed to run into each other.
Her heart had threatened to leave her when she had seen them standing there together, smiling at each other. Of course, she did not expect them to have separated. Nonetheless, it had been somewhat upsetting to know that they were still together.
That they had continued to court even after hurting her.
Not that she still cared about Lord Exeter or loved him, goodness no. If there had been any doubts at all, they had faded away after seeing him.
She had waited to feel it. The butterflies, her heart fluttering. She had waited to be affected in the ways the mere sight of him used to affect her when she was still a fool. None of that had happened.
She had simply been shocked to see them that way and even more shocked to learn of their engagement. Perhaps, if Lord Kensington had not been by her side, she would have felt sad as well.
Thankfully, he had understood the situation quickly and he had come to her rescue.
“You must congratulate us as well for we too are engaged to be married.”
She had been taken aback to hear him say that. However, now that she thought of it, she could not help smiling.
The looks on the baron’s and Alicia’s faces had been quite the satisfying reward. She was almost certain Alicia would not catch a wink of sleep that night, finding it hard to believe that Imogen was going to be married to an Earl.
Well, whether it was a lie or not, it was only a matter of time, anyway. Was it not? Of course, it was.
Imogen was grateful to the Earl for defending her so swiftly and helping her win that round. With time, she would come to accept the fact that her former best friend would be married to the man she had once loved.
After all, things had turned out wonderful for her as well. If the baron had not betrayed her so, she would not have met a man as amazing as Lord Kensington.
“You are not asking any questions,” she observed aloud, finally breaking the silence.
His lips curved in a small smile. “I thought it would be rude to,” he answered.
“Then you are curious.”
He nodded. “As curious as one can be, given the circumstances.”
“Fair enough. Thank you, for letting me have my thoughts to myself. And for rising so swiftly to my rescue.”
“Y0u looked like you could use the help.”
“Heavens know I did. You have my gratitude.”
Lord Kensington folded his hands behind him. “I humbly accept it.”
There was another brief moment of silence before she spoke again.
“Miss Fitzwilliam—Alicia, she used to be my best friend. We were inseparable for over a decade. We even debuted together.”
“Ah . . . I thought she seemed familiar.”
“If you were at the debutante ball, you must have seen her. She is hard to miss, that one. Wherever she enters, she shines like a star.”
“I would say the same for you, as it was you who arrested my attention on that very night.”
Imogen’s heart skipped a beat as she turned to him. “There is no need for flattery, my lord.” She could not believe it.
“It is the truth, Miss Hartford. I noticed you, even then. That night in your home might have been our first meeting, but it was not the first time I had set my eyes on you.”
Imogen did not know what to do with that new piece of information. All she knew was that it thrilled her more than she would like to admit.
He had seen me. He remembered me.
It would appear she was not as much a wallflower as she had led herself to believe.
“You and Miss Fitzwilliam do not appear to be so close, anymore.” His words brought her out of her reverie, and she remembered she had started telling him the story. She nodded.
“That is because she went after the man I loved and succeeded in winning him for herself.” Imogen went ahead to tell Lord Kensington the entire story, starting from the moment she had first met the baron to that afternoon Alicia had left her home for good.
When she finished, he seemed to be in great thought.
Finally, he spoke. “It was a cruel thing, what they did to you. I do not think Miss Fitzwilliam ever considered you a friend.”
“Sadly, no. It was quite unfortunate to learn that truth so late, but better late than never, they say.”
“Do you still care for him, the baron?” She heard Lord Kensington ask.
She was quick to shake her head. “Not in the least, I think not. I suppose their betrayal will always hurt, especially Alicia’s, but it is nothing I cannot live with.”
Lord Kensington sighed. “I am glad. I would hate to see you sad over him. He is not worthy. He never was worthy of your love. He certainly does not deserve to hold any power to upset you still.”
Imogen smiled. “You are right.”
“I am glad you agree. He was a fool. To have a woman as remarkable as you and let her slip through his fingers. An utter fool. As for Miss Fitzwilliam, I hope you do not think of yourself in the light she painted you. Yes, she might be bubbly and seemingly full of life, but she is just like every other lady in London. You need not feel inferior to her. There is a substance to you that she could only dream of.”
He stopped then, causing her to do the same. They turned so they faced each other. Holding her gaze, he continued. “I have said it many times before and will say it again. You are an absolute delight, Miss Hartford. I enjoy every moment I spend with you. You are one of a kind. I would pick you a thousand times over a lady like Miss Fitzwilliam. Any man in his right senses would.”
Imogen felt her face grew hot, and she knew she had turned red.
The butterflies in her belly had gone rogue and she tingled all over. Her heart thrummed softly in her chest, singing a melody that sounded all too much like love.
No, it cannot be.
Yet, as she gazed into those obsidian orbs, she knew it could very well be that. No one would fault her either. How was she supposed to resist a man as sweet as the Earl?
From the moment she had first met him, he had only ever been kind with his words and his deeds.
He looked at her as though she was the only woman he could see. He smiled at her like she had never seen him smile at another.
And there, under the light of the stars, he made her feel like she was the best thing that could ever happen to any man. How could she not fall for him?
She cleared her throat as she regained her voice.
“Lord Kensington, I do not know what to say.”
He smiled. “Do you not think it is high time we dropped the formalities? We are engaged to be married, after all.”
She laughed before she could stop herself, enjoying his tease more than she should.
“You should not have told them that,” she said as she stopped laughing.
“Then we would have missed the look of shock on their faces? Absolutely not. I am glad I did. I would do it all over again, Imogen.”
Imogen.
Her name had never sounded so lovely coming from his mouth. Unable to look away, she heard herself heave a dreamy sigh.
“Thank you, Nigel.”
“Ah . . . what shall I do? Now that I have heard you call my Christian name, I do not think I want to hear you address me by anything else ever again.”
She chuckled softly. “Since I feel the same way, I would say we have an agreement.”
His lips stretched in a grin. “Excellent.”
In wordless agreement, they turned to start walking back to their carriage.
“So, will you tell me what happened between you and the baron on my street?” She was curious to know.
Nigel chuckled as she finished asking. She loved even the sound of that.
“Now that I think back to it, I find it funny. Although, at the time it was happening, I could not fathom why anyone would behave that way to a stranger.”
He went on to tell her about his encounter with Lord Exeter. By the time he finished, they had reached their carriage.
Imogen was shaking her head as he helped her up.
“It is as Lewis said. Lord Exeter is no gentleman at all. I am attempting to feel pity for Alicia, but in truth they are a well-suited pair.”
“From what you have told me, I could not agree more.”
They both settled into their seats. With three knocks to the roof, the carriage began to move, bearing them home.
Long after Nigel had said his farewells, Imogen remained awake in her bed, thinking about the evening and the new realization of the depths of her feelings for him.
She wondered whether to fight them or accept them. Nigel would not hurt her as Lord Exeter had, would he?
She knew enough now to realize that she had been infatuated with the baron. With Nigel, it was different.
She had first become his friend, grown fond of him, before falling in love with him. If he decided to hurt her, it would be almost impossible to recover.
That alone was enough to cause her to run the other way.
Still, he had told her aunt he would open his heart to love if it ever came. It could be possible that he was not entirely opposed to a love match. If he were not, why could she not also let herself love him?
I do not want to lose him.
She did not know many men, but she knew that with Nigel, she felt safe and secure. It was how she always felt with her father and brother.
She had always wanted men like them, had she not? Nigel had proven himself to be a great man.
Surely, she would not regret giving her heart to him?
She turned and tossed all night long, unable to keep the thoughts at bay.
As the first rays of sunlight kissed the horizon, her eyes finally fluttered close.