Clara slowly raised her head, realizing that it wasn't Nigel. Thank God, she thought. She turned, and felt her heart skip a beat as she saw the gentleman standing before her.
He was a couple of inches taller than she was, possessing dark red curls and dark blue eyes. He was wearing a maroon silk jacket over a white button up shirt cravat black trousers and black boots. He was beautiful.
Clara couldn't breathe, her heart feeling as if it would fly right from her chest. She was mesmerized by the gentleman before her. She smiled sweetly. "Hello."
The gentleman took a step forward, his dark blue eyes glittering with intrigue. "I do hope I wasn't disturbing you, I simply saw that you were standing out here alone."
Clara shook her head. "No, you were not disturbing me at all sir. I came out here to get some air."
The gentleman nodded. "May I ask your name?"
Clara smiled. "Clara Harrington. And yours?"
Her companion smiled back. "Lord Brandon Howard, the Duke of Manchester."
Clara gave him a curtsy. "It is a pleasure to meet you your grace."
***
Brandon felt as if his body would burst into flames, his heart hammering loudly against his ribs. Miss Clara Harrington was a jewel. She was the most exquisite young lady he had ever seen. He extended his hand, taking her right one and brushing his lips softly against her knuckles. "It is a pleasure to meet you as well Miss Harrington."
Clara. "Aside from coming to keep me company, what brings you to the terrace?"
Brandon moved to stand next to her, placing his hands on the railing. "Quite frankly, I have come out here to escape the crush of mamas pushing their daughters on me. It has become very overwhelming."
Clara nodded. "I can completely understand that. I've had to dance with four gentlemen today, one of which I found pleasing, the other three terrible."
Brandon glanced down at her dance card. "Do you have any empty slots left?"
Clara shook her head. "Sadly I don't your Grace, my twin brothers took the last two slots. They simply did it to take me away from a gentleman who I did not wish to be with any longer."
Brandon chuckled. "Your brothers had the right idea. If I may ask, which gentleman did you not wish to be with any longer?"
Clara. "Lord Nigel Broderick."
Brandon made a face of discussed. "Barron Broderick, of course."
Clara gave him a sideways glance. "Do you know him?"
Brandon. "We attended Oxford together. Broderick is a rake to the highest degree. I had the misfortune of dancing with his sister Giselle not 15 minutes before coming out here."
Clara giggled. "It seems you and I have both had the misfortune of dancing with those we do not like."
Brandon. "It seems we have."
They continued talking for another hour, deciding to take a walk through the Palace Gardens. They discovered they had quite a lot in common. They both had twin siblings, had lost their father three years prior, had quite the love of literature art and music, and shared the same birthday.
Clara. "Are Penelope and Georgina out this season?"
Brandon. "Next year, they are not yet 21."
Clara. "Arthur and Bronson have not yet found suitable matches either. Maybe next year our siblings will find each other."
Brandon chuckled. "That is a possibility. I am thrilled that you and I share the same birthday, 3 March."
Clara Beend. "I am glad of that as well. It is nice that we get to share that day together."
Brandon. "It certainly is. It is also wonderful that we are three years apart in age."
Clara. "Indeed."
As the sun began to sink low in the sky, they decided to turn back and re-enter the ballroom. Scandal couldn't come to either of their names before the season had begun. They smiled at each other, feeling the sparks cascading between them.
Brandon pressed his lips against Clara's gloved knuckles. "I look forward to seeing you again Miss Harrington."
Clara smiled. "Likewise your grace."
Their eyes remained locked in a magnetic gaze, neither one wanting to break contact. Reluctantly, they separated as they noticed Elizabeth making her way toward them. After introductions were made, Clara and her mother said good night to Brandon before turning and leaving the ballroom, Arthur and Bronson right behind them.