Rowena

Stepping out her front door in her elegant mint green coat Rowena gave a delicate shiver. She hurried to the waiting carriage, nodding and smiling to Robert who stood solemnly holding the door open.

As she sat on the plush padded seat she situated her lavender gown so that when they arrived there wouldn’t be any unsightly creases in the silky fabric. Once settled she looked up and over to the beautiful woman sitting across from her in a deep blue satin confection of a dress.

“Good evening Aunt Marilyn.” Rowena knew her father was seated next to her aunt, watching. Lord Dalton, Earl of Kensbridge, was insistent on good steady manners with no unseemly displays of frivolity or excitability. Yet she couldn’t hide the sparkle of unrestrainable joy in her eyes upon seeing her dear aunt.

“Are you ready, Rowena?” Marilyn leaned forward. With only a dozen years separating Rowena and Marilyn, she had fast become Rowena’s favorite relation. And since her father despised being the object of gossip, both Rowena and Marilyn had determined that at the Vauxhall Christmas Party Rowena would instead cause everyone to stop talking; in awe of her, of course.

They had taken great care in planning out what she would wear that would draw everyone’s attention without subjecting herself or her family to ridicule or rebuke. Color, cut, neckline, jewelry, shoes, hair; if it pertained to the party they had discussed it. Everything went under scrutiny.

Everything but Lord Theodore Wallis, Earl of Auldemoore.

Marilyn had been careful to avoid the subject and Rowena had been immensely relieved to not have to broach that topic.

Lord Wallis had been her best friend every summer when they were younger and not merely country neighbors. They had been close friends until two summers ago when he had not come back home, no explanation. The one or two times they had been at the same event since her coming out last season he had acted as if he didn’t know her at all. It was clear that he did not want to know her any longer and it caused her heart to ache most cruelly.

When he pretended she didn’t exist was the first time in her life she had felt a deep shame for being raised in the country and she didn’t even know the cause of the rift.

Her father had been quick to point out and blame any and all moments when her manners had faltered in Lord Wallis’ presence during her formative years as cause for his sudden distance. To father, her lack of propriety had earned her understandable scorn from the most influential member of their acquaintance. 

The news that Lord Wallis was going to be at the same event once again had almost frozen her to her seat. However, she had managed to hide her dismay from her father so far. He would be appalled if he knew. Hopefully Lord Wallis’ indifference would not mar her evening.

The ride to Vauxhall was quiet as Rowena lost herself in her anxiety to not appear anything but poised. While her father didn’t notice a thing, Marilyn gave her a soft pat on her knee. When Rowena looked up at her, Marilyn sat up straight, pulled her shoulders back and gave her a short assuring nod. Rowena followed suit, forcefully pulling herself out of her own worry.

Only a few short minutes later the carriage stopped. Rowena disembarked last, again nodding her thanks. Her father had not waited for her and was already halfway up the stairs. Instead, she made her entrance with Marilyn at her side.

On the inside Rowena was jumping and squealing with barely restrainable joy as the room quieted. On the outside she remained the epitome of the graceful lady of high society her father had trained her to be.

After that, it only took a mere few seconds to locate Lord Wallis across the huge hall, conspicuously not looking in her direction, even though everyone around him was. A few minutes later Rowena glanced from her admiring circle of friends to discover that Lord Wallis was no longer safely in sight and far away from her. As inconspicuous as she could manage she surveyed what she could see of the room. He was nowhere to be seen.

Turning her full attention back to those around her Rowena mentally chastised herself. Now was not the time to be distracted by the man. Tonight was her night of triumph.

The music and dancing started and Rowena was quickly asked out onto the dance floor. It wasn’t until Lord Geoffney was leading her back to where she had previously been standing when she almost stumbled, faced as she was by Lord Wallis glaring at her.

“Lord Wallis.” She acknowledged with a curtsey after Lord Geoffney bowed and stepped away. 

The harsh glare did not diminish as Lord Wallis moved forward and extended his hand, bowing over it. Once she curtseyed in return she reluctantly took the hand he continued to silently hold out. Immediately he clasped hers, tucking it securely into the crook of his arm as he escorted her out onto the floor. He had never so publicly acknowledged that he knew her. Rowena was in shock.

Drawing her in, he looked down at her as Rowena was transported into the many memories she had of them gleefully practicing their dancing lessons out in the meadow behind his manor.

His voice was low, barely audible, when he finally spoke. “Rowena.”

She drew her gaze from the audience surrounding them and focused on his face. “Lord Wallis.”

She was proud of how indifferent she sounded.

“Forgive me.”

Rowena nearly stumbled. “Whatever for, my Lord.”

The scowl he directed her way stabbed through her. It was how he used to look at her when they had been friends and she was mercilessly teasing him and he knew it.

She forced herself to not feel that painful ache that had haunted her those first few times he had ignored her so thoroughly. She took a deep breath. “I am in earnest, my Lord. I do not know what you are asking forgiveness for. After all, you have made it quite apparent that we are not to know or even acknowledge that we once knew each other at all.”

“Rowena.” His hand that was holding hers tightened, unseen by any but felt by her.

“Lord Wallis. You say my name as if I should glean information from it.” She looked over his shoulder instead of his face. “Someone might hear you.”

The dance ended and Rowena fought the urge to give him a scowl of her own.

His voice was still low as he returned her to her aunt. “We are not done with this discussion. I will inform your father to expect me tomorrow.”

Aunt Marilyn ushered her away to where she could pummel her with questions, only to discover that Rowena had no answers. She could only wait and hope to discover tomorrow what it was that had brought on this change in him.

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