Lady Bess

He surprised her further by asking softly, “And what of Fleetwood? Ye two seemed destined,” he said and smiled encouragingly at her. “Ye look shocked, lass. But ye must realize that the two of ye seem much in accord with one another.”

She was shocked, shocked at his daring to pose such an intimate question. All at once, though, friends surrounded them, allowing no opportunity to respond to his provocative remark.

Donna arrived with Robby in tow, but she sent him off. She then nudged Bess and stepped back to twirl for her and asked, “What do you think? Is not this gown lovely? You didn’t think the color would suit me, but it does, doesn’t it?”

Bess bit her bottom lip and agreed, “Indeed, Donna, I was wrong, and this shade of brown and gold suits you quite well. I suppose I thought it a bit daring, but then you are married and may do so.” It was too late to do anything about it. Donna had insisted on buying this gown, and the truth was she was too large a woman for its busy print. Reaching up and touching her dangling auburn curl, Bess said, “I like your hair tonight. The style makes you look like a Greek goddess.”

“As soon as you are wed, you can wear a daring gown like this!” Donna teased.

“Ah, but perhaps I need something more daring than I have to catch the interest of the man I wish to wed,” said Bess archly.

“Oh, no, Bessy, what are you saying? Get that Scotsman out of your head. He is not for you. He is an outrageous flirt, and I see he has already caught your interest far too much. This will not do. Robby says he is a confirmed bachelor and if he marries anyone, it will be that wretched woman, Lady Sonhurst.”

“Hmmm, I was forgetting the Lady Sonhurst,” Bess said thoughtfully and glanced towards the earl. Just at that moment, he looked her way, and their eyes met. She felt her heart shaken loose from her chest as it broke free and flew across the room into his hands. Whatever was wrong with her? She had to get control. This was absurd.

Sir George Fleetwood arrived at that moment. He had dressed, it appeared to Bess, with more concern than usual. He wore a dark blue cutaway

that fitted his tall and lanky self quite nicely. His brown hair was combed in the windswept style, and his hazel eyes came to life as he found hers and called her name, even as he put away the distance between them in long, hard strides.

She and ‘Fleet’, as she had always called him, stood on no ceremony whatsoever. He arrived before her, took her hands, and held her away to say, “Stunning little pet!”

Donna rapped his arm and did a twirl for him. “What do you think of my gown?”

He eyed her. “Too busy, and brown even with the gold makes you look like a dowager. And I don’t like the fandangles at the shoulders—makes you look absurd.”

“Oh,” said Donna, touching the beaded short sleeves of her gown, “I loved the beads.”

“Do not pay him any mind. He is a man—what does he know about high fashion?” Bess said and laughed.

Sir George didn’t reply to this, and in fact, Bess doubted that he had even listened to it. He was already off and heading for her father. She shook her head and said to her friend, “He seems rattled tonight. I wonder why.”

“He always seems rattled,” Donna said and laughed.

They were both whisked away by other guests, and it was a few moments before Bess made her way back towards her friend. She looked at Fleet for a long moment. Why had the earl thought that she and Fleet were anything other than friends? It was silly. True, he, along with Robby and Donna, had been neighbors and friends since childhood, and when Robby and Donna had paired off, Fleet had sometimes accompanied Bess to local events. And Fleet was very dear, but she had never thought of him in a romantic fashion. He was not much more than a boy, while the earl … oh, the earl was a man.

However, when she gave herself to someone, she wanted that someone to be a man who wanted to give himself completely to her. She didn’t see the earl as that sort. Thus, she was in a quandary. Perhaps Donna was right and she had better just forget him while she still could?

It was at this precise moment that she glanced towards the earl and he turned to once more lock his gaze with hers in a look that sent heat rushing through her body. She was more than attracted by this big, handsome man. She knew all about such things, for she and Donna had discussed the subject of lovemaking and what it entailed. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what she was feeling, and it was saucy—very, very saucy.

“Bess, where are you? Come back to me,” Donna said.

“What?” Bess turned her head.

“I have been talking to you for a few moments, and all you do is sigh. Where are you?” She clucked. “I know where. You are daydreaming about that Scotsman. You must forget him, Bess. He is not for you.”

“Indeed, so you keep telling me,” Bess said with uncharacteristic meekness. “I understand—I am not stupid. He is not for me.”

“Really, you understand that?” Donna said doubtfully.

“I dashed well do, but that won’t stop me from … er … looking,” Bess said and giggled.

~ Three ~

IT WAS A BRIGHT early spring morning. The earl had not bothered riding the hour plus to his home last night but had put up at the local inn and was now enjoying the sweet smell of spring—and the vision of Bess as she rode her horse across the open field. His own horse pranced as he held him in check.

Bess was an exquisite and refreshing beauty, with the delicious and enchanting lure of innocence.

She was a rule-breaker, and he liked that.