Page 31 of From Unwanted to Duchess
CHAPTER 10
Frances
“And nobody caught your fancy?” Aunt Eugenia asked the following afternoon.
Frances looked up, a small smile on her lips. “There were several nice gentlemen, but no, none I found incredibly enticing.”
“Not even James?” her aunt asked. The jest was clear in her tone.
“Aunt Eugenia, please. James does not care for me. Just because we were stuck together in a horrible situation does not mean that the two of us will suddenly discover our deep love for one another. He barely even speaks to me.”
In fact, today he wasn’t speaking to her at all because he wasn’t there.
James had hurried away to his unexpected meeting as he’d told her, although she was certain that he did not mind missing Aunt Eugenia’s tea party. He hadn’t looked exactly crushed at the prospect of missing it. In fact, Frances could not imagine him in this crowd. Aunt Eugenia had invited a number of her friends, who had in turn brought their granddaughters and grandsons.
A merry group mingled around the drawing room, and some had wandered out into the rest of the house.
“Well, well, I was just thinking it would have been nice if the two of you had found your way to each other. Imagine, you would’ve been a duchess!”
Frances shook her head. “I am sorry to dash your dreams, but you shall not manage to make a match of me with some titled man as you did with my cousins.”
“It would’ve been a record. All the matchmakers in London would’ve been envious, although they already are,” Aunt Eugenia said, but then moved away toward two newly arrived ladies her age, and the three of them took themselves off to a corner to play cards.
“Miss Langley,” a voice called, and Frances turned.
She smiled when she recognized the young gentleman from the previous evening. The Baron Blatt. She’d enjoyed her dance with him very much, but hadn’t expected to see him again so soon.
“How lovely to see you,” she said.
“And you. Lady Wexford told me about the tea and invited me. I hope you do not mind.”
“I do not mind in the least,” she assured, and saw Marianne, who was standing in the opposite corner, smiling at her.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my dance with you last night,” Lord Blatt added with a smile. “You are very light on your feet.”
Frances chuckled and quickly put one hand in front of her mouth, the way she had been taught by Aunt Eugenia. “You need not pay me Spanish coin, My Lord. I know very well that I dance with as much grace as a cow at pasture.”
Lord Blatt swallowed, his lips curling up slightly as if he was trying to be polite but didn’t find her jest funny.
James would’ve laughed. He had that sense of humor.
Why am I thinking of him now, of all times? I must stop this foolishness.
“Well, Lady Wexford warned me that you did not know how to dance, so I was prepared for an uncomfortable encounter for my toes, but I was delighted to find that wasn’t so.”
“Well, the good news for your toes is that there will be no dancing this afternoon. Only tea and cake and…” Frances looked around. “Oh no, I suppose there will not be music either.”
“No,” Lord Blatt said. “It seems not. But I could change that if you’d like.”
Frances smiled at him. “I would.”
“Will you accompany me?” he asked.
Instantly, her smile faded. “I beg your pardon, but I do not know how to play music well. I’ve always wanted to learn, but I haven’t had the chance.”
He shook his head. “No, no, I meant accompany me to the pianoforte.” He motioned to the instrument, and she followed him, feeling rather foolish.
He sat down at the pianoforte and opened the lid before placing his fingers on the keys. A moment later, a beautiful melody emerged. She stood, her hands braced on the edge as she watched him.
