Part 22 (1/2)
Thirty-seven.
The ball was in full swing, and Lady Daphne Ingham was the belle of the ball. In her silver shoes, and the white lace gown, which swirled around her as she moved, she was a vision of beauty and grace.
Hugo had danced with her at the beginning of the evening, but then other men had clamored around her and claimed their turn to whirl her across the dance floor. Now, at last, he had her in his arms once more and was waltzing to the strains of Strauss's Blue Danube with her.
”You're as light as a feather,” Hugo murmured against her hair, breathing in the fragrance of her skin that smelled faintly of flowers, mostly roses mingled with hyacinths.
”Soon I won't be,” she said, leaning back slightly, looking up at him, laughter in her eyes. ”I'll be as fat as a tub of b.u.t.ter.”
He gave her a huge smile. ”That's one of the things I love about you, Daphne, your sense of humor.”
”And what else do you love about me?” she asked, still gazing up into his face.
Hugo looked down at her, his eyes narrowing slightly. ”You're flirting with me,” he murmured in surprise, pleased and amused by this sudden turn of events.
”I know. And every other woman in the ballroom is jealous, because you're dancing with me instead of with them.”
”I hope not all the women are jealous. Some of them are quite old.”
Daphne laughed, and drew closer to him. ”I've noticed something about you, Hugo, something I find very intriguing.”
”And what's that?” he asked as he swirled her around, guiding her toward the terrace doors, which stood open on this balmy night.
”Women seem to swarm all over you, like bees around a pot of honey. They just won't leave you alone. At one moment, I couldn't get near you. Actually, what I-”
She stopped abruptly, merely offered him an enigmatic smile and remained silent as they went on dancing to the doors.
”And what? Finish your sentence, please,” he said.
”I felt something peculiar. Inside, I mean.”
”You were jealous. Admit it, Lady Daphne Ingham. You were jealous, weren't you?” His eyes were fixed on her intently.
”Yes,” she murmured. ”I suppose that was it.”
He held her tighter. ”It's you I love and adore. You I want to marry. You I want to spend the rest of my life with. I wouldn't know what to do with any of those women eyeing us now.”
”Would you know what to do with me?”
For a moment Hugo was startled by this question, which he thought was bold for her, and certainly a little provocative. He decided to respond accordingly. ”Oh yes indeed, I would know exactly what to do with you, my darling.”
”So tell me,” she answered, and then exclaimed in a low voice, ”Oh, do look, Hugo! Every woman is ogling you.”
”Us,” he replied. ”They're ogling us,” he repeated as he waltzed her through the French doors, out onto the terrace, and down to the far end. When he released her, he backed her into the corner, and stared into her eyes. ”The first thing I would do with you is kiss you. May I?”
She nodded.
Hugo took her in his arms and kissed her on the mouth. She responded ardently, and this emboldened him. His kisses grew more pa.s.sionate, yet she did not pull away. She suddenly put her arms around him, moved much closer. And they went on kissing until he knew he must bring it to an end. He was dangerously close to exploding.
He gently pulled away, stepped back, and took several breaths.
Daphne leaned against the low terrace wall, also breathless.
After a moment or two, Hugo said, ”Has your mother explained anything about marriage to you, Daphne?”
She shook her head, grimaced. ”Mama would never bring up things like that, and I wouldn't dare to ask her. Also, lately she's been worried about my aunt, her impending death.”
”Yes, that I do know,” Hugo responded, wondering why Felicity was so neglectful of Daphne at this moment, when there was so much at stake for her daughter. It beggared belief that all of Felicity's attention was focused on her sister. He knew how close they were, and that Anne had brought Felicity up, after their mother's sudden death. But, nonetheless, he believed her daughter needed her love and wisdom at this difficult time in her life.
Daphne broke the silence when she said softly, ”I spoke to Mrs. Alice and Miss Charlotte the other day. They invited me to Miss Charlotte's for tea, and asked if I needed help ... about those matters ... to do with marriage. I told them I did, and I asked them some questions.”
”I'm sure they helped you, didn't they?” He raised a brow quizzically.
”Yes, they did. They were kind, and explained a few important things they thought I should know. And I'm much less afraid now, actually.”
Hugo nodded, and then he laughed lightly, shaking his head. ”Thank G.o.d for the Swanns! Whatever would the Inghams have done without them over the years?”
Daphne laughed with him. ”I agree with you, and don't forget, it was a Swann who completely remade this dress I'm wearing. Which you so much admire.”
Hugo drew closer, put his arms around her, held her next to him as they both gazed out across the gardens and Cavendon park beyond.
Daphne nestled against him, feeling comfortable, and safe. Suddenly, she said, ”I do feel much better about things now, Hugo. Honestly, I do.”
”About men and the marriage bed? That is what you mean, isn't it?”
Daphne nodded.
”I must admit, I've worried about those particular things myself. As any intelligent man would. Being violently attacked, the way you were, would make any woman fearful of men and marriage, and all that it entails.”
”I was afraid in the beginning, when it first happened. But I calmed down, and began to think more clearly. And then, when you first came here in June, I reminded myself there were nice men in this world. Men like you, like Papa and my two brothers. I thought you were so nice, Hugo, so caring and charming. That was before Papa told me how you felt about me.”
”And how do you feel about me, my lady? And when will I know?”
A smile flickered on her mouth. ”Sooner than I thought. Miss Charlotte said I should make up my mind as quickly as possible, that it wasn't fair to you. And she was correct.”
He was silent a moment, thinking of the right words to say, words to rea.s.sure her. They came to him at once. ”I promise you that if you do marry me, I will expunge all of your bad memories, give you nothing but happiness, pleasure, and love for the rest of my life.”
”I think I know that, Hugo...”
They continued to stand with their arms around each other, staring into the distance, now lost for a moment in their private thoughts.
It was a lovely evening. Bright stars littered the midnight sky; there was a full moon hanging so low it looked as if it was resting on the surface of the lake. The air was fragrant with the scent of flowers, and especially night-blooming jasmine.