Chapter 13

The Orrery ball

London

"So you've decided then?" Theo asked Rosalyn, trying very hard to conceal his gleeful smile.

Rosalyn had just told him that she won't be attending horse races anymore because they weren't safe. He didn't know why or how she'd suddenly become wise, but he didn't care.

She nodded sagely.

"Ralph and I had a little chat. I don't want him worrying on my account. Besides, he has a lot on his mind now," she said with a secret smile.

Oh sweet Ralph.

"Why are you being so mysterious? What's happening in his life?" he smiled.

"Oh I probably shouldn't tell, but he has a certain lady on his mind."

"Lady Alice eh?"

"You knew?" she gasped.

"Of course, I knew. I just didn't know if his intentions towards her were honourable," he winked.

"His intentions better be honourable," she muttered, annoyed that he already knew, no doubt.

"Lady Alice and that old stick, who would've thought," he grinned.

"Ralph is your age, so that makes you old too" she pointed out needlessly.

"Do you think I'm old then, my lady?" he turned towards her, subjecting her to the full force of his rakish charm. He knew from experience about the effect it had on the Ladies.

"I don't know if I'd call you old," she stuttered uncertainly.

He only grinned.

"But you're not getting any younger either," she said, echoing his mother's words.

"Your point being?" He raised a brow.

"You have to find a wife. And soon. You're turning thirty in two months."

"Isn't that your job?"

"I can't help you if you keep rejecting every woman I suggest," she muttered.

"And you reject every woman I choose," he countered.

"All the women you choose have all the intelligence of a pigeon."

"But they also have the body of a Greek goddess," he murmured effecting a lewd expression.

"Stop," she giggled and swatted his arm playfully.

He loved seeing her this way, carefree and relaxed. But it was becoming increasingly difficult for Theo to remain her friend.

She was so damned alluring.

He'd danced two sets with her today and that itself had made heads turn. What was he to do? He couldn't watch her dance with the other simpering idiots.

She had not mentioned their kiss, it was as if it had never happened. Except, it had. And Theo remembered it quite vividly.

He recalled every little detail– the softness of her lips, the hitch in her breath, the curve of her cheek beneath his rough palm, her heavenly scent and most of all, her taste like the most potent wine.

Rosalyn was driving him mad.

When she spoke of his stables, as if it was her dream too, she'd look so passionate. And if she disagreed with him on something, she wasn't afraid to tell him that he was wrong. She challenged him and surprised him at every step and it was so refreshing.

She stood so close to him, so trustingly. She failed to understand the depth of his need for her. As a lady, she'd lead a very sheltered life and couldn't comprehend his desperation. And never in his twenty nine years of existence had Theo wanted a woman so bad.

"You can always marry her," Gavin had said. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if it was with Lady Rosalyn Orford. But just the notion of marriage made him break out in a cold sweat.

"What about that chestnut filly?" she asked.

He just nodded, he didn't even know what she was saying. That was happening a lot these days,it wasn't his fault that she was so distracting.

"I'm getting married tomorrow," she said.

"Yes, sounds good," he murmured.

"I knew it," she pinched him.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"You're not paying attention to anything I'm saying," she complained.

"I'm sorry, I was just woolgathering."

She didn't look like she believed him.

They were mercifully interrupted by his mother.

"I feel a bit queer, Theo," she said, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"I'll take you home right away," he replied turning, looking at her face.

"Who might this be?" she smiled at Rosalyn.

"Forgive me, this is Lady Rosalyn Orford. Rosalyn, this is my mother," he said dutifully.

His mother raised a brow at his usage of her given name.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, my lady. I've heard so much about you," Rosalyn curtseyed gracefully.

"All good things, I hope. And the pleasure's all mine," his mother replied, looking extremely pleased.

"Mother, let me take you home."

"Oh I already feel better," she said, not taking her eyes off of Rosalyn.

Wonderful.

Theo knew his mother well, she was probably already imagining blond, blue-eyed grandchildren.

"So have you known Theo long?" she asked Rosalyn.

"I'm afraid not, My Lady. We met but a month ago."

"Oh, so are you courting?"

Way to be subtle, mother.

"Mother..." he started to say but Rosalyn interrupted him.

"It's alright, Theodore. We're not courting, my Lady. We're just friends, but I'm helping Lord Fortescue to find a suitable wife," she smiled at his mother.

"Oh," his mother said, injecting that one word with so much disappointment that Theo actually felt guilty about not courting Rosalyn.

"Well, it's nice to meet a female friend of his. I must say, it is quite a novelty for me. Theodore never really introduces me to his female companions," his mother seemed to be in full spirits to mortify him.

"It's a good thing too, my Lady. It would be quite embarrassing for you to meet the women he generally consorts with," Rosalyn winked at his mother.

What?

Much to his annoyance and embarrassment, his mother laughed.

"I approve of your friend, my dear. She seems to know you quite well," she said, tapping his arm, still chuckling.

What was so funny?

"Mother, you just said that you were ill, let me take you home," he said in a desperate attempt to take matters into his own hands.

"If you insist," his mother sighed.

"A good night to you,my lady and I hope you feel better soon. It was delightful meeting you," Rosalyn said, bending to kiss her cheek.

"I look forward to getting to know you better, Lady Rosalyn," she grinned.

His poised, elegant mother never grinned.

Depositing Rosalyn near her friends, Theo excused himself and left with his mother.

"She's quite lovely, Theo," his mother said to him once they were in the carriage.

"She is," he said shortly.

"Why don't you marry her?"

"Didn't she tell you mother? We're friends," he answered exasperatedly.

"Hmm...I see," was all his mother said.