“Jacob handed something to you, and I must confess to being curious all evening.” She paused in her tracks, pulling him to a halt beside her. “Oh please, dear Ethan,” She smiled, “end this curiosity and tell me what the note says.”

“Why would you assume it's a note?” A teasing smile played at the corners of his lips.

She shrugged.

“Fine, it's an invitation.”

“Oh?” She pouted her lips.

He laughed then, for the first time that evening. “It's the social season here in England, Gretchen; a time where a lot of social events take place but the most popular of them all is the debutante ball. I've been invited to one.” He sighed. “But I'm not going. You'd think that after staying away from the social scene for so long, I'd stop getting these invitations.”

“It sounds exciting and you should go!”

“It's Lady Henrietta's coming out ball. She has always had a ridiculous attraction to me. With my wife gone, her entire family thinks I'm the best choice for their daughter.”

“Because everyone thinks you're still a bachelor, Ethan.” Gretchen announced, before gasping. “You know what will be fun? We could go together. That way, the entire London will know you're anything but alone and Henrietta can think of finding herself an entirely different man.” She beamed, feeling proud of her own idea. The thought of being with Ethan always put a smile on Gretchen's face. Now that his entire household knew she was being courted by him, Gretchen couldn't wait for the news to travel around London, and what better way to get the news around than through a room full of high class people?!

Chapter Sixteen

One look at Gretchen with the lovely ball gown that Sue had labored for many days to make, and Ethan couldn't help the smile that was now creasing his face. It was a blue, long sleeves dress, with a corseted bodice that helped to give her an even thinner waist, and the neckline left a generous part of her bosom exposed. Her full mass of red hair was pulled into a tight bun behind her head—she was absolutely breathtaking.

At first, he had been reluctant to go to Henrietta's coming out party with Gretchen simply because he couldn't trust Gretchen to act discreet. But as he watched her walk down the curvy stairs from his position at the foot of the stairs, he couldn't help but think he made a wonderful decision.

His smile broadened as she approached. She came to a halt before him, and lifted a perfectly carved brow.

"Oh please Lord Williams, surely you can come up with a compliment other than this gawk you have on." Gretchen batted her eyelashes, certainly meaning to tease him with her laughable attempt at an Englishman’s accent.