Hostage to Fortune

HOSTAGE TO FORTUNE

By

Maggi Andersen

© Copyright October 2011 by Maggi Andersen

New Concepts Publishing

Lake Park, GA 31636

www.newconceptspublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author's imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

Dancers gathered for the Roger de Coverley, and Henrietta had time to study Mr. Hartley at closer quarters as they advanced and retreated, performing the intricate steps. When they held hands for a brief moment, his gaze found hers. “Why, your eyes are green, Miss Buckleigh.”

Henrietta flushed, forgetting she’d been covertly noting the blue-grey color of his. “As you see, Mr. Hartley.”

“I am delighted,” he continued, when they next came together, “for I thought them blue.”

Henrietta twirled away.

When they met again, he said, “And blue is a most common found in England, don’t you think?”

“Yours are blue, Mr. Hartley.” Henrietta didn’t feel inclined to admit they were more grey than blue, not like the sky, but shadows over a deep lake. For some reason, she wanted to get the upper hand with this man.

He grinned. “So you noticed.”

“One could hardly fail to. This dance is so long-winded.” Unable to sustain a fiery gaze when his was so pleasantly warm, she fixed on his satin waistcoat, admiring the silver buttons.

 “Your hair is as fair as a Greek goddess,” he said when the next opportunity arose. “I like the way you wear it, with the ribbon.”

“Yours is as black as a devil’s,” she responded.

A man dancing next to them coughed.

Mr. Hartley chuckled. “I prefer yours flowing free. As you wore it when I first spied you on your balcony. Like Juliet in Shakespeare’s play, I felt tempted to play Romeo and climb up to you.”

“A good thing you didn’t, Mr. Hartley, for I would have thrown a pitcher of water over you.”

The neighboring man’s cough turned into a guffaw which made his partner frown and inquire what ailed him.

The dance ended, and they left the floor. “Why someone has trod on your shoe, Miss Buckleigh. I do hope it wasn’t I.” He bent at her feet to dust her shoe with his handkerchief. Her cheeks grew hot as she stared down at his dark head. Her fingers itched to touch his unpowdered black locks, and she hurriedly looked away.

“Oh, I don’t doubt that it was you, Mr. Hartley,” she said to control her disturbing urges. “But please don’t concern yourself.”

“Then I apologize profusely.” Mr. Hartley returned his handkerchief to his pocket, his eyes brimming with laughter. “It’s been a pleasure, Miss Buckleigh.”

Henrietta swept him a deep curtsy. “And mine, Mr. Hartley.”

“I trust we will meet again.” He offered her his arm and escorted her back to where her aunt sat among the dowagers.

 “London is a big town. I doubt that’s likely.” Henrietta’s heart fluttered with the hope of meeting him again, but she dismissed the thought as quickly as it arose.

 “Oh, we will, for the ton tends to flock together, in ballrooms or on horseback.”

Henrietta watched him walk away. She didn’t know his first name. What would it be? His handkerchief bore the monogram ‘C. H.’. Cornelius? Christopher? Charles? Cuthbert? She giggled. She dared not ask her aunt, for that lady was far too observant.

Hours later, everyone prepared to leave, retrieving coats, cloaks, reticules and shawls.

Her father placed her cape around her shoulders. “Did you enjoy your first dance, Hetta?”

 “It was lovely, especially the play.” She turned to look at him. “Did you enjoy the evening?” Ordinarily his thoughts would be on his cattle, and he would have suffered through this for her, but now she doubted it. He looked far too delighted to be here.

 “I found it most entertaining,” he said, as a smile lit his eyes.

 “You looked as though you really did enjoy it, Anthony.” Aunt Gabrielle had come to join them.

 “Father has planned to stay a little longer in London, Aunt.”

 “I must say I’m gratified,” she said, with a twinkle in her eye. “I wonder what attraction has made you so enamored of London society, when it never tempted you before.”

 “Yes, Father, do tell.”

He laughed and guided them towards the door. “One might ask you, Hetta, how much you enjoyed that last dance with Christian Hartley.”

Henrietta’s cheeks grew warm. So his name was Christian. She repeated it under her breath.