Page 41 of The Lady No One Noticed

“Well, how does everything look?” His mother’s soft yet magnetic voice greeted him from behind, and Ian turned around. She was dressed for the soiree and looked extremely stylish in her sapphire blue dress.

“Just like it always does, Mother. Tasteful and exquisite,” Ian replied with a smile and a kiss to her cheek.

Only five days ago the idea of this soiree had given him a headache but today he was eager for it to begin. He was perfectly content for his entire focus was on seeing Esther. Adam and Lisa were simply two people his mother had invited, and he wouldn’t allow them to ruin his mood or the event that was to take place.

“Thank you, son, I am glad you like it,” Grace said with a smile, looking proud of herself.

“Are the refreshments ready? I am ravenous,” Ian asked, making his mother laugh.

“Don’t you dare touch a thing! You’ll ruin the aesthetic before anyone arrives,” She exclaimed with a smile before turning to look at him with a serious expression. “Ian, can I say something to you?”

“Absolutely, Mother,” Ian replied, already knowing that she was going to mention Adam and Lisa. She only turned serious when addressing that matter.

“I wish to thank you so much for pushing aside your differences with Adam and Lisa and agreeing to attend this soiree. I hope you are not cross with me for forcing you into this situation. I just want my family to be whole again,” His mother went on and Ian smiled at her.

“Mother, you know I would do anything for you. I was not pleased that you forced my hand in this way, but I understand your reasons,” Ian told her. He knew there was no point in taking it out on his mother because it obviously wasn’t her fault, though he simply couldn’t help his anger.

“I know that, Ian, and I appreciate both your candor and your sentiment,” his mother said, clearly understanding the tumult of feelings rising inside him.

The butler then entered to inform Grace that the first of the carriages had arrived. Ian escorted his mother to the top of the stairs, where she and his father would greet their guests. He bowed to his parents and moved further into the ballroom, wanting some time to compose himself.

Soon the ballroom was filled as guests began to arrive in great numbers. Ian busied himself with mingling with everyone in attendance though in his heart, he was only waiting for Esther and her family to arrive. He was curious to see how she looked tonight as she had hinted that a new gown was being made for the occasion.

Ian excused himself from his latest group and went in search of something to drink. He knew he would only get wine or punch since spirits were discouraged at these types of events, but he didn't really need anything else. Alcohol would only make the warm space unbearable.

He poured himself some punch and stood by the table. His ears were strained towards the butler who was announced the name of everyone that had arrived. His eyes widened as two very familiar names were announced, and Ian turned to look towards the door as Adam and Lisa entered the ballroom, hand in hand. He knew that he couldn’t have escaped them but hoped that Esther would be there before they arrived. Ian put the glass back on the table and walked towards the back of the room, not ready to meet his brother and sister-in-law without Esther’s calming presence by him. It had been three years since he had laid eyes on them, and just one look at the two of them brought every single painful memory back to the surface. Ian knew it wasn’t going to be an easy evening for him and longed for Esther to be by his side.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Ian continued mingling with guests while making sure that he didn’t come across Adam and Lisa. He was tolerating their presence at the party, but it did not mean that he had any wish to interact with them. He knew that his mother would eventually force an encounter, but he would prolong his avoidance for as long as he possibly could.

He excused himself from the group he was engaged in and walked towards the refreshment table placed at the other corner of the ballroom, for he was starving.

Just as he was about to reach the table, his eyes fell on Lisa, who was standing a little distance away. He ignored her and busied himself filling a plate. He was hungry and he lived here; he wouldn’t let her keep him from the food, but he glanced at her and noticed that she looked exactly as she had three years ago. Her black hair was dressed in an elaborate style that accentuated her perfect face. Her high cheekbones, blue eyes, and milky white skin were striking. She was wearing a dark blue dress, which Ian was one of her favorite colors. He laughed to himself as he thought about all the little things he knew about her. The things that he had prized himself on knowing once but now hated. Motherhood had made her gain a little weight but it suited her and Ian couldn’t deny that she was still an extremely attractive woman, which had been the reason that he had fallen for her so quickly and so profoundly.

However today, Ian felt no tender feelings towards the woman he had once loved. She was just another woman in this ballroom full of women, and this knowledge grounded him. Her eyes no longer the deep oceans he had wished to drown in for the rest of his life. Ian watched as Lisa walked a little closer to him, involved in conversation a friend.

“Have you seen Lady Sylvie’s gown? I have never seen an uglier color combination. She looks like a circus tent,” Lisa’s remark reached his ears, and Ian couldn’t believe that she could be so mean. He had never before heard her speak in such a way.

“Forget Lady Sylvie, you haven’t yet seen Lady Gwen. She is wearing a pastel yellow gown with pink undertones. It is hideous,” her friend commented, and Lisa laughed

“I can only imagine how awful the pastel yellow looks on her skin tone. It must be a disaster!” Lisa replied, still laughing rudely as they walked away to meet Adam.

He had no idea that Lisa, someone he had loved so dearly and had thought to be the most perfect woman in the world, could say something so mean about another lady. He couldn’t remember her ever doing that. Apparently, his ardent love for Lisa had dulled her flaws.

In that moment, all he could think of was Esther. It felt as if a light had pierced on inside his brain, and suddenly, Esther was all he could see. Lisa paled in comparison, for Esther’s kindness and good nature made her stand out from probably every other lady in the ton. Does this mean that I have feelings for her? Ian’s brows scrunched in confusion. He didn’t wish to believe it because thinking someone was kind does not equate to having feelings for them. But Ian vividly remembered everything he had once felt for Lisa, and he now felt it for Esther, although those feelings were based on his respect for her. Her kindness and warmth had captured him and he did not wish to leave anytime soon, or perhaps ever.

Just then, he saw his mother walking towards him with a forced smile on her face. She intercepted him, affectionately holding both his hands in hers.

“Ian, Adam, and Lisa are coming towards us to meet you. Promise me you will be civil to them?” His mother said, and Ian stiffened.

“I do not wish to meet them, right now. Please allow me to pass,” Ian said wishing to escape.

“I know that this will be difficult for you, Ian, but you can’t continue to skulk around the ballroom all evening. People will begin to notice and make unwanted speculations,” Grace scolded lightly, and Ian stared at her with a pained expression.

“What do I care about gossip?” Ian whispered, trying his best to not appear agitated.

“Ian, since your reentrance into society, your every move has been scrutinized. Until now, no one has found any fault with your behavior. Please do not change that tonight. What would Esther think?” his mother whispered back, plastering a fake smile onto her face. Neither of them wanted anyone looking to find out that they were arguing.