Wentworth's Baron - Chapter Twelve - Invitation

CHAPTER TWELVE

Invitation

Back at the Wentworth’s Henrietta received the invitation to the masquerade ball to be held at Toddington Manor.  “I certainly will not attend” she told her father upon opening it.

“Henrietta, I must insist that you go.  All the relations from both sides will be there not to mention select members of the ton.  I have not bid you do my wishes before this and now I fear I have no choice.  You will go to the mask!  I demand it be so!”  Lord Wentworth’s voice came out in a tone Henrietta rarely heard uttered from his mouth.

She stood silent as he stared at her.  She choked back tears as she tried to remain firm in her convictions but it appeared as though there would be no choice.  It had come.  The time had come for her to try and accept that she would marry.

Lord Wentworth softened a bit and put his arm about his daughter.  He did not mean to be so harsh with her but he has been stretched tight these last few days and Henrietta’s obstinate behavior needed to come to a halt.  He comforted her in the fact that she still did not have to see his face but acquiesced in the fact that it was true that at some point they would remove their masks.

Henrietta would not be comforted with this and Lord Wentworth had no choice but to leave her to her own devices and hope that she would manage her feelings somehow.  As she sat in the parlor she was notified that Victoria had called to which she directed she be sent in.

“Have you received it!”  she announced as she walked in the room.  “Received what?” replied Henrietta.  “Dearest, your eyes are red and puffy, why have you been crying?”

At this the tears welled up again and she said “father is making me go to Toddington Manor to that ball!” she wailed.  Victoria pulled her friend down on the couch and said comfortingly, “but don’t you see, Henrietta, this is exactly what we wanted?  Don’t you remember?  Only we were going to plan it here, they decided to have a ball there?  Don’t you see this is the chance you were hoping for.  Now we can put our plan into action.  Have you spoken with the Baron yet?”

“No, I have not seen him yet today but he may stop by later.”  Victoria, upon hearing this, began to feel the jealousy inside against her friend.  “You know, Henny, I should be quite upset with you.  The Baron is courting me and here I am helping you plan a ‘scandal’ with him.”  Henrietta knew she was right and felt guilty herself for the role she was playing.  “I know, my dear dear friend, only the closest of friends would understand and do what you are doing to help me out of this situation.  Remember, though, when we started all of this, you weren’t so close to your dear Baron as you are now.  If you want me to call it off I will.”  Victoria did want her friend to call it off but she couldn’t bring herself to say so and so continued to bring Henrietta around to benefits of attending the ball and talk about the fun they will have.  She couldn’t wait until tomorrow to go shopping for their costumes and they still needed to decide what they would go as.

So, as Victoria continued to encourage her friend, Henrietta began to feel better about going to Toddington Manor after all.  When she heard that the Circus would be enlisted to perform she was even more excited at the thought of seeing Wendell and his ‘orses’ again.

Soon after Victoria left, the ‘Baron’ came to call.  Henrietta tried to contain the burning feeling she had at the news.  Victoria had just revealed to her the jealousy she had and still agreed to allow her the ‘scandal’ she so desired.  She must not allow her feelings to overcome her again.  She could not endure the thought of hurting her friend so.

The ‘Baron,’ however, was not of the same mind as Henrietta for he had designs of his own this evening.  He could not keep Henrietta out of his mind.  All he could think of was her and the sweet smell of her perfume.  He came in the hopes of confirming her attendance at the mask but also hoped for an opportunity for them to ‘practice’ their scene.

He, too, could tell that she had been crying to which he wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and kiss her pain away but until she knew his real identity he must take care to play his role as ‘Baron Raby’ for now.  He dare not go against her father since he felt it best she be kept in the dark until the ball for he did not want to risk her refusal to attend.

As they sat together in the Parlor, Henrietta found it difficult once again to strike up a conversation.  She was still reeling from the knowledge that she would be forced to attend the Ball even if it was a masked ball.  She was more determined then ever now to somehow get out of this marriage arrangement.  The ‘Baron’ continued to try and make her feel more at ease but to no avail.  As with most gentlemen, the sight of a female crying upset him immensely and was at a loss as to what to say or what to do to make it better.  He moved to be closer to her to which she immediately fell in his arms and sobbed.  Henrietta could think of nothing except her pain and here was this man that she had developed quite an affection for comforting her.  Oh, what could he do, what could anyone do she thought to herself.

The Baron cautiously wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her gently to his chest.  He softly kissed the top of her head.  “there, now, we will work this all out, my dear, I promise.  Please don’t continue on so or I will be forced to take you this minute and marry you myself to get you out of this mess!”  The words were out before he had a minute to think.  Fortunately, Henrietta took this comment lightly and raised her head to look into the Baron’s pale blue eyes she found so calming.  The intensity of their gaze was compelling.

Henrietta found herself unable to remove herself from his embrace.  The ‘Baron’ raised his hand to wipe the tears that were still lingering at the edge of those beautiful green eyes.  Henrietta lifted her hand to hold his and she kissed his hand softly.  She held it there close to her lips not wanting the moment to pass.  She peeked up at him as he gazed down at her loveliness.

He was enthralled by her beauty and the tears enhanced the green in her eyes even more.  He could think of nothing more he wanted to do but pull her closer still.  She did not pull back and allowed him to kiss her softly on her lips.  Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down toward her.  She could not think of anything except how much she wanted this man in her life.

He kissed her harder and more intensely as she, too, began to explore his mouth with hers.  He knew he could not contain himself much longer.  The more he kissed her the more she responded and the more she responded the more his hands roamed down her back, her side and the top of her hips.

Henrietta was immersed in the gentleness of his kisses, the warmth of his embrace and the soft touch of his hands on her skin.  It took great effort on the part of the ‘Baron’ to keep her in check.  She gave no thought to the propriety of what they were doing.  She only knew she did not want him to stop.  She wanted more but what, exactly, she did not know just that she wanted him to be with her -- not Victoria.  “Oh, No! Victoria!  What are we doing!” she wailed suddenly taking the ‘Baron’ by surprise.

The ‘Baron’ disheveled and shocked at the sudden outburst, shot up as if caught in some mischievous act which was not altogether false but forgetting for a moment who he was, responded “Victoria?  What about Victoria?!”  Then, suddenly remembering the situation realized she must be aware of an attachment between the real the Baron Raby and Victoria and sat down silently in his chair feigning a guilty demeanor.

As he sat, she stood, he stood then she sat.  This went on for a few minutes while Henrietta attempted to compose herself and assess the situation to which the ‘Baron’ sat silently as she attempted to work it out.  Finally, she looked at him and said “I am so sorry to have involved you in this, please we must not speak of this again and we must not ‘practice’ so again.  I do think we have it down quite well now.  I think you must go now and I will see you at the Ball.  I am sure Victoria will apprise you of our plans for arrival.”  The ‘Baron,’ of course, sat silently as if acknowledging what she said and hoped that one day she truly would see the amusement of it all.