Yours Truly

Chapter Eleven

As she slid her hand into his, she could feel the excitement that prickled along her senses. A rise of emotion that she couldn't quell even if she wanted to. At this moment, she just wanted to forget about Henry's imminent engagement. Wanted to forget that, if she ended up being part of his life at all, it would be as his mistress. Not his wife. He would never offer her the type of relationship she needed to escape her father's control and truly begin her life. She just wanted to be who she had shown him in the guise of Mrs. Williams.

She could feel the heat of his hand through her glove as they made their way to the open space designated for dancing. She glanced up at Henry as he took his place in front of her. There was still residual anger in his eyes. From what, she did not know.

"Is something the matter, Lord Devonshire?" She asked quietly, as the beginning strains of waltz music began to sound in the ballroom.

"I've just been thinking about a woman that I've been courting."

"Oh?" She asked, feigning flippancy to stem the rising tide of emotion. She bit down on her lip to prevent everything she wanted to tell him from spilling out.

"Yes, I'd quite like to understand a woman's...understanding of a certain scenario. If you are willing, of course."

She inclined her head slightly in a nod.

"Why would you not ask Margaret?"

She tried to ignore the light touch of his hand against her back. The perfect guide to her movements.

"Well, I think you know as well as I that it has been quite a few years from the time when Margaret was engaged in courtship."

Adelaide laughed lightly, hoping that it sounded genuine.

"I have to say, I'm not quite sure that I'll be any more help than Margaret. I consider myself as much of an old maid as she is!"

Henry glanced down at her, his dark eyes inscrutable as they swept through the movements of the waltz. His jaw tensed slightly as he spoke.

"Well, I can assure you that Lord Sheffield, and his peers, certainly esteem you highly."

Blushing slightly, Adelaide looked away from his piercing gaze.

"Regardless, I'd still like to have your opinion," Henry continued. "I believe that I have made my affection for this woman rather clear."

He flushed slightly and Adelaide looked over his shoulder. She couldn't bear to see such raw emotion on his face as he spoke to her of another woman.

"And I have asked Margaret her advice on proposing. But she has advised that it is much too quick. What would you propose I do, Miss Fairfax?"

So that had been their argument earlier today. Henry wanted to propose to Sybil and Margaret believed it too early into their courtship.

"How long have you been courting this woman?" Adelaide asked, her gaze still trained over Henry's shoulder.

"Only a few weeks but it feels as though I have simply been biding my time until she stumbled into my life."

He laughed a little and Adelaide closed her eyes. Hating the sound and yet...still wanting to hold it close if she ended up married to a man she did not love.

"When I am with her, I feel more like myself than I ever have."

Adelaide laughed softly at the irony. Henry completed her and another woman completed Henry. Perhaps she should just join a nunnery for all this courting business was driving her mad!