In Pursuit of Miriam (21 page)

Rollo, the Earl of Brockwood, checked his reflection in the mirror without any vanity. His shirt was pristine white and the double breasted burgundy waistcoat fitted him perfectly. His necktie was elaborately tied in a fashionable Gordon Knot; cream close fitting drop front drop breeches and brown boots which shone from prolonged polishing completed his outfit. All that was needed was for his valet to help him into his tailcoat, hand him his hat and gloves and he would be ready.

His destination tonight; no different from the previous Wednesday and the one before that, was the ball at Almack's Assembly Rooms. According to his mother it was not an option not to attend and Rollo usually found it was easier to acquiesce to her. He would dutifully dance with half a dozen young ladies and stay just long enough to satisfy his mother and then escape to White's for the rest of the evening.

‘The Earl of Ice.' Rollo was quite aware of this nickname and why it was bestowed on him. Having unexpectedly suffered a seizure four years earlier on a trip to Yorkshire he had come to the decision that he would never marry for the simple reason that he did not want to reproduce offspring who may be similarly afflicted. Having had one more seizure since that time he had no thought to changing that decision. On his father's death he had taken the title of Earl of Brockwood and, following this, had endured much pressure from his mother to find himself a suitable wife but he had no intention of ever doing so. He had younger brothers who would be able to produce enough heirs to satisfy.

Rollo had sown plenty of wild oats as a teenager and, despite rumour to the contrary, he had not been celibate since. He was however extremely discreet. He always exerted great care when in contact with single young ladies and was even more careful in any conversation with their mothers.

He never danced more than one dance with any young lady and made a rule never to escort one into supper. He did not permit himself anything other than the most circumspect conversation and did not ever succumb to teasing or flirting. He had learnt to school his face to ensure that he never smiled or showed any encouragement during conversation. Friends and family who knew him when he was younger would say this was a great loss because, although considered extremely handsome, he was even more so when he did smile. He had trained his blue eyes—which he had heard described as being piercing—to show no reaction.

He was intentionally cold towards all women and not only was he aware of his nickname he found it served him very well indeed.

As none of his friends were aware that he suffered from seizures he did not enlighten them as to the cause for his apparent indifference to women. He knew that some malicious gossips had even questioned whether he had a preference for boys but he ignored this knowing it to be unfounded.

Rollo had a very small circle of people who he could describe as his true friends. He had many acquaintances and found the number of people who claimed friendship with him had vastly increased when he inherited his title. Only his closest friends saw the true Rollo; to all others he maintained his cold, frosty façade at all times.

Tonight, as usual, Rollo would stoically endure the Ball. Occasionally he even found some amusement at the lengths the ladies, both married and single, would go to in order to try and gain his attention.

Arriving at around nine o' clock the ballroom was already over crowded. He acknowledged Lady Sefton, the patroness, and then made his way towards his mother and brother, Oliver, who were surrounded as usual by a number of old friends and acquaintances. Rollo, assuming his customary bored, rigid expression joined their party and endured a slight scolding from his mother about his late time of arrival. He imperceptibly raised an eyebrow and only Oliver recognised this and smiled at him sympathetically.
Let the onslaught begin
thought Rollo. The sooner he could get out of there the better.

Lady Fanshaw was the first to capture his attention and so he dutifully marked her daughter's card for a dance; he knew that would please his mother. He was next approached by Lady Devonson and he obliged her eldest daughter, Miss Daphne Spence, with the offer to dance. She was a plain little thing but very rich; he would not have any trouble keeping his distance from her. Lady Bellhouse was more of a problem because he did find her very attractive indeed so he steered her towards Oliver who was more than happy to agree to partner her.

Rollo took the floor with Miss Spence and, after she had tried to make conversation with him and gained little response, she thankfully gave up and he could let his mind drift; his feet automatically completing the steps and staying in time to the music.

He returned Miss Spence to her mother at the end of the dance and seeing his old friend, Bono, namely Viscount Bonton, he crossed the room to talk with him.

“Dashed dull affair as usual,” commented Rollo. “What say we escape to White's for a nightcap?”

“Excellent notion,” agreed Bono. “I am engaged for the next set so shall we say about eleven o' clock?”

Rollo checked his fob watch. “Only another hour to survive.”

Bono was engaged to dance the next dance with the beautiful Miss Elizabeth Stannidge and he went off cheerfully to do this leaving Rollo unable to escape from Lady Sefton who was heading his way.

“Lord Brockwood it is as always a pleasure to see you here,” she greeted him. “There are two newcomers to our Assembly who I would to introduce to you.”

Rollo groaned inwardly but his features did not reflect his thoughts. It seemed to have become a custom that every new debutante had to be paraded in front of him. He knew that regardless of how they looked or how large or small their dowry was he would offer to dance with them both. He did this purposely to emphasise the fact that he was not influenced by either asset.

As he expected two girls were drawn forward for his inspection. They were obviously friends and, heads together, they giggled as Lady Sefton first introduced their mothers to him. He then waited for them to introduce their daughters. He had played this part out so many times it was no effort to look bored. He did wonder if he was becoming somewhat jaded because the young lady debutantes seemed to get younger and younger.

He thought the first girl was called Caroline but was not sure as he had not been paying much attention. He showed no emotion as she smiled up at him in awe and pencilled him in for a dance.

The second young lady was propelled forward and introduced as Miss Diana Wells; as Rollo asked her if she would be so kind as to reserve him a dance he did not bother to hide his bored expression. She raised her head and looked directly into his eyes as she withdrew her dance card from her reticule. Immediately frissons of shock ran through him. He had seen those large brown eyes before and they were now looking at him with exactly the same compassionate expression that he had seen in them then. He knew instantly that she was the girl from Yorkshire who had witnessed his seizure…this young lady knew his greatest secret.

Rollo experienced a number of different emotions but he did not allow any of them to show on his face. Anyone observing very closely would have seen at the most a slight catching of his breath. That she had recognised him was beyond doubt; it had shown in her eyes. Whether or not she would disclose his secret he did not know. To his knowledge she had never done so before but maybe she had not known who he was.

Looking at her empty dance card he indicated the next dance but one. He was fully aware that this was a waltz however he kept his face schooled and gave no indication of this. He needed to speak with her and the waltz would give him the best opportunity. He hoped that people would not see anything in this; after all, as far as any observer would be aware, there was nothing remarkable about the girl to warrant his particular attention.

Rollo was not sure what he hoped to achieve but knew that he needed to gauge whether Miss Diana Wells was likely to tell others what she knew of him; if this happened, the reaction from society would be swift. Society did not like imperfection amongst the nobility and, if imperfection was found, it was kept hidden or the unfortunate person almost shunned. He did not care over much for the opinion of others but he knew that, if his affliction became known, not only himself but his mother and siblings would suffer from the tainting of the family name.

Having gained permission from the patron for Diana to waltz he approached her and she smiled shyly at him. He had noticed she had not been partnered to dance since her arrival and hoped for her sake, that having danced with him, this would encourage some of the young gentlemen to do likewise.

“I believe I have this dance reserved?” Rollo asked. “Lady Sefton has given permission.”

Without speaking Diana took his arm and he led her to the dance floor. She was of petite build with her head coming no higher than his shoulder. Her gown was a pale peach colour and was suitably demure for a young girl in her first season. Her light brown hair had been fashioned in a simple style. He noted that there was nothing in her features to displease but she was not a beauty.

Having swiftly made his assessment of her he raised her hand and placed his other hand on her back just above her waist as he heard the orchestra strike up the first bars of the waltz. She rested her free hand timidly on his shoulder and feeling her trembling he knew that she was nervous. He did not speak to her immediately but waited until he felt her relax as they moved across the dance floor. She danced extremely well.

Eventually he broke the silence. “Miss Wells I think we have met before?”

Rollo had to revise his first observation that her looks were nothing out of the ordinary when she raised her large brown eyes to his and smiled. Her eyes were very fine indeed and her smile transformed her face making it, if not beautiful, very compelling.

“Yes, indeed; I hope you are now keeping well?” Her eyes searched his as she waited for a response. Rollo felt as though she was looking into his very soul and had to blink and quickly dismiss this thought as being fanciful.

Keeping his expression shuttered he probed further trying to determine whether or not she intended to disclose his affliction.

“I am indeed keeping well. Thank you for asking. I am only very rarely afflicted in the way you observed. So rarely in fact that none of my friends and acquaintances are aware of this issue.” Damn it, he wished she would stop looking at him; he was not going to beg her to keep his secret.

“I am pleased you keep well my lord.” She studied him closely as if trying to read his mind. “I can see no benefit for you in others knowing that you have suffered fits. It is after all a very personal matter.”

It was only habit that prevented Rollo from smiling down at her in relief. He knew instinctively that he could trust her and that she would not spread her knowledge. He respected the fact that she had directly referred to the fit rather than trying to politely fudge around the matter.

“I had not had a seizure for many years and I was so very taken aback by it that I did not think to thank you for help at that time. So I will do so now.” He hoped that was now the end of the conversation however the young lady was not prepared to let it drop so easily.

“Is it the fits—or seizures, as you call them—that make you unhappy and cross?” Diana questioned without guile.

Rollo was at first at a loss how to respond; it was not polite for a young lady to ask such a direct and personal question. However reasoning that it had been he who had first introduced the topic he felt a rebuke would be unjust.

“I am neither unhappy or cross,” he replied a little sharply, and to his amazement he saw the girl raise one eyebrow slightly as though she did not believe him. He even imagined he heard a slight, “humph” sound come from her.

They continued the dance in silence and when the music stopped he escorted her back to her mother. With satisfaction he noted that it was time for him to find his friend Bono and escape to their club.

Diana and her cousin, Caroline, were still vibrating with excitement as they returned home from their first ball at Almack's Assembly Rooms. It was everything they dreamed of and more.

They had already been in London for two weeks; they had shopped, been fitted for new gowns, avidly read the gossip columns and the society pages in the newspaper whilst waiting for vouchers for Almack's to be purchased. Tonight had been their first proper introduction into society and they had both enjoyed themselves immensely.

Caroline and her mother were staying with Diana and her family in her father's London residence. Viscount Westbury, Diana's father, had business to conduct and her mother and Aunt had the task of bringing the two girls to town for their first season.

Diana and Caroline's worst fear was they would not have a partner for any dances but, although at first they had sat quietly, once Lady Sefton had introduced them to Lord Brockwood and they had each enjoyed a dance with him their dance cards filled up quickly. It was beyond hope that they would have met with the infamous Earl of Ice at their first outing!

“Did you see how severe he looked?” Caroline observed. “He well deserved his nickname, does he not?” She chattered on. “He was so frightening and cold. He did not speak one word to me throughout the entire dance. I noticed he did speak to you.”

Diana was not about to divulge the nature of their conversation. “He said very little—just the commonplace.”

Caroline gave a pretend shiver. “I could scarcely remember the steps I found him so frightening. I will not dance with him again.”

Diana laughed at her friend. “You would never be brave enough to refuse him.”

Although the girls would have happily stayed up all night reliving the ball their mothers soon put a stop to this and ordered them both to their bedrooms.