Page 18 of The Lady No One Noticed

“Yes, Mother, everything is fine,” Esther replied shortly, faking a smile. Astrid remained quiet and walked back into the drawing room, seating herself near the window.

“I thought you were going to meet your friends,” Hildred said as she followed her daughter into the room and sat.

“I don’t feel like going out anymore, I’ll call on them another time,” Astrid answered, her face looking glum. Esther thought that maybe her words did have some effect on Astrid, for her mood was clearly ruined. It didn’t give Esther any pleasure, but she hoped that Astrid had understood that other people had feelings as well and her actions might cause harm.

Esther took a chair near her sister and the three ladies sat in silence for a moment before the butler again entered the drawing room.

“My Lady, a caller has arrived for Lady Esther,” the butler announced, and Esther’s heart thudded in her chest. She hadn’t had a gentleman caller in ages, and the words sounded foreign on the butler’s tongue.

Could it be Ian?

Oh, how she wished it was Ian.

CHAPTER TWELVE

“Who is it?” Hildred Chapple asked the butler, and Esther held her breath.

“Baron Dunshire,” the butler answered, and Esther’s mother turned towards her with a smile. The flame of hope burning inside Esther extinguished violently and all her dreams met a quiet death in the ashes.

It was silly to think that Ian would call on me. Of course he only danced with me out of pity.

Her stomach knotted convulsively at what Baron Dunshire's call meant. Interacting with him in the ballroom was one thing; calling upon her said he was actually serious about proposing to her. He was declaring himself publicly.

“Oh Esther, I am so pleased Fergus decided to call on you,” her mother said ecstatically before she once again turned towards the butler. “Send him in immediately.”

The butler nodded and exited as Esther sat back down. She had no choice but to tolerate Fergus and be polite to him for the time being. Her mother would be enraged if she acted crudely, and her manners didn’t allow her to be rude to someone.

Fergus entered the drawing room, looking far worse than in the Willmeade Manor's ballroom. That night, apparently he had tried to look decent, but this morning, he was decidedly crumpled. Esther immediately noticed that he was still dressed in evening attire, and his eyes were bloodshot, indicating he had probably been out all night.

“My Lady,” he said addressing her mother. He slipped slightly, and lost balance while he bowed. He was definitely suffering from too much drink. Esther didn’t wish to sit and interact with him for even a moment, but she was bound by duty to her family.

“Welcome to our home Baron Dunshire,” Esther heard her mother saying. Her tone was hesitant, and Esther knew she too must have noticed Fergus’s condition and was trying her best to stay positive.

“Th-thank you My La-ady.” Fergus slurred.

“Please have a seat,” Hildred motioned towards a chair placed beside Esther. Esther didn’t bother standing in greeting. She was already horrified of being forced to interact with the drunken sot. She refused to give him the honor of rising.

“Lady Esther, how do you do?” Fergus questioned while sitting down heavily into the chair.

“I am well, My Lord, and yourself?” Esther asked, her face devoid of expression. She was trying not to let her disgust display on her face, but it was a laborious task indeed.

“I am alwaysss well. You look very beautiful thisss morning,” Fergus said, his tongue slipping on the letter ‘s’ like a small child just learning to speak.

“You are too kind,” Esther replied with a tightness that was lost on him.

Her mother must have noticed Esther's stiffness, for she immediately jumped in to act as a mediator. She conversed with Fergus and forced Esther to join in by asking pointed questions. Astrid stayed abnormally silent, but Esther saw the look of mingled distaste and satisfaction on her face.

“Esther, why don’t you play the pianoforte for us?” Her mother suddenly asked, and Esther looked up from the tea she was sipping. She looked at her mother with widened eyes to convey her annoyance. She loved playing the pianoforte but did not wish to play it for Fergus.

“Unfortunately, I fear my fingers are a bit stiff this morning, Mother. So I must decline,” She said with forced politeness. She wanted Fergus to leave as soon as possible and playing the pianoforte would only delay his departure.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Esther. She is an excellent pianist, Baron Dunshire, truly gifted I would even say,” her mother sang her praises. She shot Esther sharp looks as she inclined her head towards the pianoforte in the corner.

Esther knew there was no escape and stood up from her chair with resignation. She was glad to have escaped Fergus’s close vicinity since she could still smell the now familiar odor of alcohol on his breath. It was unbearable.

She decided to play Sonata by Mozart, it being her favorite piece. She enjoyed playing, and she wouldn’t allow her mother or Fergus to ruin the experience for her. As soon as her fingers hit the keys, she lost herself in the music and played beautifully. Her surroundings disappeared, and she closed her eyes, simply feeling the music. To her surprise, the music brought forth an image of Ian, and she imagined dancing with him to the song. The feeling was enough to make her smile, and the act of playing turned even more exciting. She finally brought the music to a close and opened her eyes to find her audience staring at her openly. Fergus began to clap, and her mother and Astrid followed. She stood up with a smile and walked to sit down beside Fergus once again.

“You were brilliant, Lady Esssther,” he said with a smile and Esther nodded.