After two days of recuperating, Klaus hoped that Sophia would be well enough to attend the Everstons’ ball. He also desperately hoped he would finally get a chance to speak with her. He’d tried so many times in so many different ways, but he’d never managed to find her alone. On the afternoon of the thirty-first, he found Isa in the conservatory where he’d gone in the hopes of running into Sophia.
“Oh, cousin,” he said, finding her there with her baby in her arms. The child was wiggling and clearly upset but not quite crying outright.
“What are you up to, Klaus,” she responded in German, bouncing the baby.
“Er, nothing,” he said, speaking in the same language. “I like this room with its enormous windows, that’s all. It’s like being outside only a great deal warmer. And you? How is my little cousin?” He chucked the baby’s velvety cheek.
“Not sleeping when he should be,” Isa said with a little laugh. “I’m giving Nanny a break. Apparently, he didn’t sleep very well last night, and instead of being a good little boy…” She glared down at him fondly. “He is not even napping when he usually does.”
“Ah, I suspect there is simply too much to do and see,” Klaus said. “May I?” He reached for the baby.
Isa handed him over with a little surprise and curiosity. “I never thought of you as someone who would like babies.”
Klaus shrugged. “I’ve never had any interaction with them before this. But I find this little one quite fascinating.” He arranged the baby so that his head rested on Klaus’s shoulder with the baby’s face toward his neck.
“Perhaps you should put this between his wet face and your nice coat,” she said, offering him a soft little blanket.
He bent himself at the knees so his shorter cousin could arrange it on his shoulder and then stood back up and began to slowly walk around the room with a gentle bouncing step. With his free hand, he gently stroked the baby’s face, encouraging him to close his eyes. After a couple of minutes, Klaus asked, “Have you seen Miss North today?”
“She was in the drawing room most of the morning,” Isa told him, watching him wander from the center of the room.
He nodded and turned to wander in the other direction. “Is she feeling better?”
“She is. It’s quite amazing she wasn’t hurt worse when she was knocked off her horse.”
“Indeed. I can’t imagine how painful and difficult it must have been for her. But it was lucky she found the cabin even though she wasn’t able to bring in the firewood that was nearby.”
“But you did. And I hear you spent a very pleasant night just chatting,” she said, looking at him curiously.
“Don’t give me that look. That is precisely what we did. We talked,” he told her honestly.
“And decided to marry,” she added.
He nodded and turned about to walk back the way he’d come. “It was the least I could do since I hadn’t wanted to risk returning her to the house injured in the middle of the night.”
“Why was it that you didn’t return right away?” she asked more closely.
“It was dark and snowing, and she was in a great deal of pain,” he told her.
“And you wanted an excuse to propose,” she suggested.
He gave her a little smile. “I might have.”
She chuckled but then stopped quickly. “I’m sorry that didn’t work out.”
“Oh, don’t worry. The subject isn’t fully closed yet. My father objected because I hadn’t been granted my freedom, and he didn’t want Miss North to be subjected to imprisonment because of me.”
“Hadn’t been granted your freedom?” she asked.
“I don’t know that he wants it announced quite yet, but your father has offered me a position as his secretary. With it, I will be granted my freedom.” He paused. “Does that bother you?”
“No!” she said quickly. She paused as if thinking about it. “I do believe that you have atoned for what you did.”
“I have—I hope so. Truly.”
She nodded. “Then you should be allowed to be free and to take this position with my father. It’s the sort of thing you wanted all along, isn’t it?”
“It is. And I’ve warned him that I will be looking to advance from there.”
She looked at him with amazement. “What did he say?”
“That he would consider it once I had proven my worth. He thought four or five years as his secretary would be a good amount of time, and then he will consider me for a higher post.”
“That’s wonderful, Klaus. I’m really happy for you,” she said, sounding as if she truly meant it.
“Thank you. Now, I just need to secure my bride, and everything will be as it should be. I don’t suppose you would know if she were planning to be at the ball tonight?”
She smiled ruefully. “No, I’m afraid I don’t.” But then a sly little twinkle entered her eyes. “Do you want me to find out for you?”
He stopped walking directly in front of her. “Would you?” he asked, peering down at his shoulder where the baby was now fast asleep.
“I’d be happy to, especially since you’ve just made my life so much easier.” She gave a little chuckle, nodding toward the baby.
When she didn’t immediately make a move to take the child he asked, “Should I take him directly up to the nursery or will you?”
Her smile was brilliant as she said, “I’m afraid I’m going to ask you to do so, so we don’t disturb him any more than necessary. Do you mind?”
“I do not.” He reached out and gave her arm a gentle, loving squeeze. “You’ve got a wonderful little family. Hopefully, I will as well before too long.”
“My prayers are with you, Klaus.”
Klaus had been thrilled to learn that Sophia had, indeed, planned to go to the ball. It was to be held in London so that the greatest number of people would be able to attend despite it being in the middle of winter.
Lord and Lady Everston went up to Town in the morning to ensure everything was in readiness. Lady Hope and Nik, in whose honor the ball was being held, left a little early, so they were there on time for anyone who arrived early. Everyone else made the two-hour drive in a caravan of coaches.
Klaus had been hoping to get into the same coach as Sophia, but she somehow managed to leave with Lord and Lady Melfield and the Dowager Lady Melfield just as he arrived in the entrance hall. Instead, he rode with his parents. The last coach, carrying Isa, Ranleigh, and the Prince was just behind theirs.
Lady Everston had truly done a magnificent job of having the ballroom decorated. There were hundreds if not thousands of candles, and the room was filled with the festive greenery of the season. Footmen wandered about handing out glasses of champagne to those who wanted it, lemonade to those who were not imbibing.
Before the start of the first dance, Klaus managed to locate Sophia as she stood across the room with her sister. Strangely enough, by the time he reached the vicinity she had disappeared.
“Lady Melfield,” he said, approaching the woman.
“Good evening, Lord Klaus,” she said, giving him a polite smile.
“Good evening. I was hoping to ask your sister for the first dance,” he told her, still looking around to see if she might be nearby.
“Oh, I’m sorry, you just missed her. She’s gone off to greet some friends. I’m not entirely certain she is planning to dance tonight in any case,” she said, looking at him. Was that disapproval he read there? Maybe this was going to be more difficult than he’d thought.
“Oh, of course. Well, perhaps I’ll get a chance to promenade with her a little later, then,” he said. He gave her a nod and then went off to see if he could even just get a glimpse of where Sophia had disappeared—if she had actually gone to speak to friends or if she were simply avoiding him.
He did see her a short time later speaking with some other young ladies, so perhaps he still stood a chance. He could only hope.