— "Lady Ophelia Latham."
Alex and the Duke rose from their chairs.
— "Nathan, Young Lord!" exclaimed Ophelia as she entered the room. She did not embrace Nathan as she was accustomed to, but instead offered him a playful curtsy.
— "Young Lord Carlston, I am so very glad that we may at last make each other's acquaintance in a proper manner. Nathan has spoken so much of you that I already long to be your good friend myself!"
— "I am glad to make your acquaintance as well," Alex replied, somewhat abashed.
The three of them seated themselves at the table in the garden. Sebastian poured the tea and discreetly withdrew.
— "Oh, Young Lord, how are you feeling? I believe we have not met since the masquerade ball. You were unwell that evening, were you not? I do hope you are fully recovered! I was quite anxious for your health," said Ophelia, laying her hand upon his. Her face bore such genuine concern that Alex could not reproach her for insincerity.
— "Yes, all is quite well now, thank you," he answered, feeling the need to abandon his usual curt replies. I must show interest, ask her something in return.
— "Lady Ophelia, that evening I was somewhat beside myself, and forgot to tell you that you dance most beautifully."
Her expression brightened at once.
— "Do you truly think so? Oh, I am delighted! Thank you! To hear such a thing from you is the highest of compliments! You have danced with every lady of the season and must know who cannot help but tread upon one's toes. I confess I am sometimes guilty of that myself. I was merely fortunate that you were my partner that night. At times a gentleman simply cannot hold me steady, and I fling myself into the dance with rather too much abandon. You, however, I could never accuse of such weakness! Whereas the Duke…"— she cast Nathan a mischievous glance—"…is quite another matter."
Nathan laughed.
— "Must you ever jest at my expense?"
— "Forgive me, Nathan, but you know it is the simple truth. Perhaps you will allow Young Lord Carlston to instruct you? If we do indeed proceed to wed, I would hate for us to disgrace ourselves…" She broke off suddenly, a hand flying to her lips. It was plain she had not meant to mention the wedding aloud.
Alex found it strange. Surely everyone knew of their engagement — why should she conceal it?
— "I should be glad to assist the Duke in this as well. I would not see my friend dishonoured at his own wedding. As for you, Lady Ophelia, I have not the slightest doubt."
Ophelia laughed.
— "You are so very kind! What would Nathan do without you? And please— call me simply Ophelia. All the young men of our acquaintance address me as though I were some married matron, and I have no wish to feel quite so venerable!"
Her laughter was so infectious that, whatever she said, one could hardly help but laugh with her. Alex found himself warming to her, though he could not quite understand why.
— "You speak as though I were not here at all," Nathan interjected, feigning injury.
— "Oh, forgive me, forgive me! You wished us to be friends!"
— "And I wish to be part of that friendship too," Nathan answered with a smile.
— "Do not dissemble — you fear I shall steal your friend away, and you shall be left with nothing!" she teased with a wicked grin.
Nathan widened his eyes in mock astonishment, but he was well accustomed to her manner and knew how to meet her on her own ground.
— "Perhaps I do fear it. But I doubt you shall succeed," he returned, smiling just as wickedly.
Alex was not yet accustomed to their banter, which so often skirted the edge of impropriety. He sat in silence, somewhat flustered, listening first to one, then the other.
— "Are you suggesting that it is possible to resist my charms?" Ophelia continued her play.
— "I am suggesting you cease embarrassing the Young Lord with your antics. Forgive us, Alex, we sometimes let ourselves be carried too far," Nathan said with a smile.
— "Perhaps the Young Lord prefers such women? Oh, Nathan, you understand nothing of it. Tell me, Young Lord — what do you say?"
"You may call me Alex, Ophelia," he replied.
— "Oh, thank Heaven, I thought you would never offer! Alex, tell me, what sort of ladies are to your taste?"
— "Ophelia, can you truly not think of a more suitable question?"
— "And why is this unsuitable? Believe me, it is the most suitable I possess. I should never begin with something improper. Those I reserve for the close of our meeting. I have quite a store of them!" She smirked.
Alex felt odd, as though bewitched. For though she flushed his cheeks with embarrassment, he found he could not be angry with her.
What sorcery is this?
— "Now I understand why all say you and the Duke are so perfectly matched. You are very much alike," Alex said, laughing.
— "What perfidy! You avoid my question by resorting to compliments! I underestimated you! Or was it not a compliment?" She laughed with all her heart. "Tell me then — in what way are we alike?"
— "You both have a most remarkable gift for placing your companion in awkward situations," Alex replied with a smile.
— "Ah, Nathan, I knew nothing of this! From whom have you learned it? I daresay you must reconsider your circle of acquaintances!"
They all laughed together.
Nathan stole glances at Alex now and then. He could not determine whether Young Lord's smiles were genuine, or merely the mask of courtesy.
— "Alex, which do you prefer — brunettes or blondes?"
— "Forgive her Alex. Ophelia can be overwhelming to the uninitiated," Nathan interposed.
— "Overwhelming? I rather like the epithet! But still, Alex, I must know your preference."
— "It matters not to me," Alex answered with a smile.
— "And what does matter then? Now, Nathan has always favoured light eyes — blue ones, for instance…" Ophelia elongated the last word, as if to hint at something.
— "Ophelia…" Nathan warned.
— "There, there, not another word about you, I promise. You wished to join the conversation, and I gave you the chance. No gratitude at all!"
Alex could not contain his laughter. He had never laughed so much in a single conversation. Ophelia left a strong impression upon him. He could not have imagined that the Duke would so easily allow himself to be teased in such a fashion. The Young Lord found it charming — he liked to see Nathan in this new light.
— "And tell me, Alex, what eye-colour do you favour?" Ophelia asked, fluttering her brown eyes rapidly.
Feeling uncharacteristically unguarded, Alex replied:
— "I believe I should never be able to look away from a pair of green eyes…"
Nathan looked at him in surprise. The boy was so prone to shyness and constraint that the Duke could scarcely believe his ears.
Am I to be teased by both of them today?
— "Oh!" Ophelia clasped her hands to her mouth, looking first at Alex, then at Nathan. Suddenly she dropped her head onto the table, drummed it with her fists, and nearly cried out:
— "I saw you through the keyhole, forgive me!!!"
What?
The lovers widened their eyes and stared at her in shock, while she writhed in mock convulsions.
Raising her head, she folded her hands in supplication:
— "I am truly ashamed—I so regret it! I only wished for a drink before bed. I heard voices in the chamber, but knew Nathan had already retired. I grew curious, and peeped through the keyhole, and there… and THERE!"
She covered her face with her hands.
— "Forgive me, I shall never do such a thing again! In my heart I do not regret it, for one does not often behold such a sight, but in the eyes of morality I am truly ashamed!"
Alex and Nathan looked at one another — and both burst into laughter.
— "What is there so amusing? Ah, but laugh, do laugh! It means you are not angry with me! Then I am forgiven! I am SO HAPPY FOR YOU!" Ophelia seized both their hands and shook them fervently, before laughing along with them.
When the mirth had subsided, Alex asked:
— "But what were you doing at the estate that night?"
— "I visited Nathan during the day, and then… then I had to see a physician about a certain… matter"— Alex guessed at once which — "and afterwards it was too late to return home, with the rain pouring down in torrents. I thought it best to remain there. And then I saw you! I scarce could sleep after it! And in the morning I resolved to depart, lest Nathan should remember me at all. Which, it seems, he did not." She ended with a mock-severe glance and a hand set saucily on her hip — then at once laughed again.
Alex could hardly believe he had so easily confessed his feelings for the Duke to another. With Ophelia, everything seemed lighter, simpler, more joyous.
Nathan appeared to recover from the shock.
— "Ophelia, I sincerely hope you shall keep your word, and not go creeping about, spying through keyholes."
— "I swear it—you shall not see me again! Well, you shall, but not in that way. Now do not keep me in suspense — tell me how it all began!"
Nathan and Alex exchanged a smile, and then began to recount not only the recent events but also their private emotions, long preceding the masquerade.
Ophelia was all excitement, reacting vividly to every new revelation. Alex found it most amusing — and strangely touching — that someone should so rejoice in his happiness. Nathan, too, was smiling.
Then Nathan and Ophelia shared with Alex the plan they had devised and carried out until now. The Duke's friend spoke freely of her beloved Emily, with not the slightest embarrassment.
— "You must meet her at once — she is simply wonderful!"
— "I have no doubt," Alex answered, smiling still. His cheeks ached from it, yet he could not stop. To his own surprise, he received Ophelia's secret with ease, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. He found himself sincerely wishing to see them together, to share in their joy.
— "Then we must marry soon. Could we manage it by November?"
— "I should prefer no grand ceremony. In that way, perhaps it would be within our power."
— "What do you mean, no grand ceremony? I shall be wed but once, and you must not grudge the expense!" Ophelia laughed with her usual unaffected gaiety.
Nathan laughed with her.
— "Very well. But in that case you will need the help of Lady Carlston. She assured me she knows just which strings to pull to make everything come together as it should."
— "What an excellent idea!"
— "She has even invited you and the Duke to visit," said Alex.
— "Oh, blessed Lady Carlston! I feel as though she is my most beloved aunt! Alex, I trust I may rely on you as well? Pray, you must teach Nathan to dance properly," Ophelia said, folding her hands in mock entreaty.
Nathan scoffed.
— "I am not so bad."
— "Very well, I shall help you, Ophelia," the Young Lord replied, laughing.