Her embrace was returned and then the woman pulled back with a shuddering breath. “So you’ll come home?”
“No. But I would happily come visit, if that is acceptable.”
“Visit? Of course, you can visit. But you can’t mean to stay here. It doesn’t look right. And there’s no reason to… to…”
“Work?”
The lady nodded. “You don’t need to.”
“But I do. I want to, and I’m happy.” That wasn’t the exact truth, but the more she said it aloud, the more the Aaron-sized hole in her heart might heal.
“But you can’t be!”
And here the woman’s limitations showed. She could not understand that Lilah enjoyed helping others to learn their jobs, find good employment, and succeed in whatever life’s work they chose. The countess didn’t understand it.
“I have to check on the musicians,” Lilah said. Aaron would be opening the ball soon. She had to see that everything was set to rights.
“No,” the lady pressed. “Elliott tell her—”
“I think Lilah’s made up her mind, Mama. As her family, we should support her choices.”
“But she wants towork! Her father said she didn’t need to. That she could marry respectably.”
Her father was long gone as were the limits of her old life. So with a nod to all three of them, Lilah left to the life she wanted. And right now, that meant she had to make sure the musicians were in their place to begin the ball. It was a bit of a walk as they were on the upper floor, but she moved quickly through the growing throng. At first her thoughts were simply on performing her task, but as she maneuvered, she found her heart growing lighter and lighter.
Her family loved her. Even her adoptive mother loved her, and that was a wonderful feeling. They had their own ideas, of course, of how she should live her life. Didn’t everyone? But now that Lilah had finally chosen her future, happiness had grown inside her. She wasn’t letting anyone tell her how she should spend her days or nights, and that was liberating and delightful.
Silly of her to allow her thoughts to distract her, but they did. Which allowed a dark figure to step out in front of her to block her way. She recoiled in surprise, and he caught her elbow to steady her. They were beside the open doors to the garden and Mr. Reuben Bates looked very dapper as the breeze ruffled his curly locks.
“Miss Rees. I was looking for you.”
“Mr. Bates! How nice to see you. Are you having a good time?”
“I am, I am,” he said warmly. “Clever to bring entertainers to the garden. Keeps us all busy before the dancing begins.” He gestured outside to where several of the acting troupe were performing. Margarite and Jamis were taking a holiday to celebrate their wedding, but several of the other performers were here doing acrobatics.
“They needed the work, and I was happy to use them. They’re very good.”
“Yes, they are,” he said, his gaze never leaving her face. “You’re proving to be an industrious woman, Miss Rees. The registry office is doing very well—”
“I’ve only begun the changes I want to make there.”
He grinned. “Of course. And you’ve planned this ball and your friend’s wedding.”
“I had plenty of help, I assure you.” Clara had done a great deal of the work once Lilah had shown her how. She’d even helped with Margarite’s wedding. “I need to get upstairs to the musicians, Mr. Bates. Is there something you needed from me?”
He shook his head. “Nothing immediately, but I can see a bright future for you in my organization.” He leaned forward. “If you were interested in more pay.”
Her brows rose. She’d been running the numbers for a while now, trying to figure out how to live independently on her pay. Even if she shared a flat with Clara, her options did not look good. But she also wasn’t sure she wanted to do more for Mr. Bates. He’d been unfailingly polite with her, but she’d heard a few rumors. He was powerful in the London underworld, and that was not something she understood at all.
“Just give it a thought,” he said with a grin. “We’ll talk tomorrow. And in the meantime, I believe there are several beautiful young ladies I could charm into giving me a dance.”
“I’m sure there are,” she said with a laugh. Then she ducked away. Her schedule for tomorrow was rapidly overflowing, but that was good. As opposed to the endless sameness of her life before, every day seemed filled with exciting new possibilities. It made her giddy. Apparently, one could have a wonderful life without marriage or children. And it appeared that was what was in store for her.
She made it to the upper deck and found that the musicians were already in their place. Lilah glanced down at the gallery below and saw that most of Aaron’s guests were there and Aaron was just then looking at his pocket watch. He knew it was time to open the ball, and right on cue, he looked up to the upper gallery where she stood.
They were several yards and a floor apart, and yet her breath squeezed in her throat. How handsome he was, and when their eyes met, she felt as she always did in his arms. As if the world had narrowed down to the two of them.
Then he smiled at her, and her world brightened. She didn’t care that they’d never wed, didn’t care that she’d tumbled down from the elite world of thetonto the life of a working person. If only they had found a way.