Page 42 of The Lady No One Noticed

“Fine, I’ll meet them, but only for your sake,” Ian replied, giving in. He sounded defeated but he knew there was no choice. His mother was not the kind of woman who backed down from her stance.

That very moment, Adam walked up to them.

“Hello, Ian.” Adam’s painfully familiar voice greeted him, and he had no choice but to meet his brother.

“Adam,” Ian replied tersely and nodded to him. Lisa stood beside Adam, but Ian didn’t turn to look at her or greet her. He was glad that she wasn’t bold enough to try to greet him or converse with him. The woman was a stranger, someone he had known three years ago, but now he doubted he had known her even then. The scene he had witnessed mere moments ago had forced Ian to question all he thought he knew about her. Had he really been in love with her, or had he just been lusting after her? Ian thought, slightly disgusted with himself. He probably hadn’t even know her well enough to be in love with her but he’d been blinded by her beauty. He wasn’t sure what love truly felt like at this point, but he was certain about one thing. He had never loved Lisa; it had simply been an infatuation that no longer mattered. The betrayal had wounded his pride but Adam and Lisa were simply another couple from the ton that Ian had no concern with. He felt liberated, free from the burden that had been weighing him down for the last three years.

“How are you these days? I didn’t know you were back in London,” Adam said as a way of conversation.

“I am well, Adam. I only came back a few weeks ago. How are you and your family?” Ian asked, hating every minute of the small talk he was being forced to endure.

“Everyone is fine. We came to London two days ago, and both I and Lisa miss Bath already.” Adam said, turning to look at Lisa as he said her name.

“Bath is beautiful at this time of the year. I wouldn’t want to leave it either,” his mother chimed in, clearly not wanting the conversation to end.

“Oh yes, Mother! Though we couldn’t have missed your soiree. However, Bath is home and whenever I come to London now, I can’t wait to get back there,” Adam went on.

Ian was getting bored by Adam’s extended monologue but knew that he couldn’t walk away without a reason. He didn’t wish to upset his mother.

“The Earl of Hathershire, Lady Hathershire, Lady Esther and Lady Astrid.”

Ian’s eyes widened as he heard the butler. The Hathershire’s had arrived. Ian had been impatiently waiting for this evening to arrive to be with Esther, and now she was finally here.

He turned to look towards the entrance of the ballroom and just as he had expected, Lord Hathershire stood there alongside Lady Hathershire. The couple entered, followed by their daughters, and Ian sucked in a sharp breath as he took in Esther’s appearance. She had never looked more beautiful. Ian didn’t even know if that was possible since every day he saw her, he thought she looked more beautiful than the last.

She was a vision.

“Please excuse me. There is someone I must meet,” Ian said, cutting Adam in the middle of his speech. “The Hathershires are here,” Ian replied. His mother smiled and nodded at him in understanding. He bowed to his brother, who was staring at him with an odd expression before leaving.

Ian walked towards the entrance of the ballroom but couldn’t see Esther anymore. His eyes fell on Lord and Lady Hathershire who were greeting some guests, but neither Esther nor Lady Astrid were in sight. He searched for her throughout the ballroom and suddenly caught a glimpse of an ivory gown disappearing in the corner. He had no idea why Esther was going off into the corner.

He followed the direction she had gone to and found her standing at a little distance from the crowd. The girl she was with was nearly in tears, her gown wet. Esther handed her something from her reticule.

“Here, you can have my handkerchief,” Esther said, her voice laced with kindness.

“I am so clumsy. There is no point in trying to clean this now, my gown is already ruined.” The girl replied with a hitch to her voice.

“Oh no, the color of your gown conceals the stains. All you need to do is dab this handkerchief in a little water and wipe away any excess. Once it dries a bit, it will be unnoticeable,” Esther consoled.

“You really think so?” the girl asked, wiping away the tears that had started to flow.

“Absolutely! And anyway, you are so beautiful that you do not need to worry about your gown. You must only smile, and everyone around you will be enchanted,” Esther said insisted.

Ian was stunned. Only a few minutes ago, he had seen Lisa passing snide comments about a woman’s gown at the soiree and here Esther was trying to help someone, lifting up her spirits as best as she could. Lisa would probably laugh at the girl rather than help her. Ian couldn’t believe that he had once fancied himself in love with her. If there was anyone worth falling in love with, it was Esther. She had every fine quality that a young lady should possess and the kindest heart Ian had ever seen.

“Thank you so much for your help. You have been so kind,” The girl said, taking the handkerchief from Esther.

“You don’t need to thank me, it was my pleasure to help you. I believe the retiring room is just down the hall. Why don’t you go there and have a maid assist you with drying your gown,” Esther suggested. The girl nodded and departed

Ian was still standing there, and Esther saw him as soon as she turned. Up close, she looked even more gorgeous than he had thought earlier. Her face transformed into a beautiful smile as soon as she saw him, and he knew that smile was worth the wait.

Esther couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw Ian standing a little distance away. He looked extremely handsome in his dark evening finery. Esther had to control herself from running to him.

Was he actually waiting for her? A flutter of butterflies taking root in her belly.

“My Lord,” Esther curtsied in front of Ian as soon as she reached him, and he bowed back slightly. His face was decorated with a stunning smile, and Esther felt her heart might give out. He looked like everything she had ever wanted.

“My Lady,” Ian said as a reply before moving aside and giving her way to pass. The two exited the corner and came back in the midst of the ballroom once again.