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Siena had dearly hoped that no one would ask her to perform at a ball this season.
While people rarely paid attention to her at those events—too occupied with their own lives—performances like that usually paid quite well, so she would never complain. Nonetheless, she had felt wary after receiving an invitation.
Avoiding the Viscount had been quite easy. Their lives rarely crossed. He had spent the summer at his country seat, as always. Siena had no need to visit White’s anymore, as she had a gentleman by her side—who was her betrothed now. And the Viscount had not been present at any of her performances at the Opera.
Yet she had know that he would be here tonight.
Though, there was no reason to be nervous—not truly. She had moved on. She had been way too busy to think about him either way. And for a moment, it had seemed like he had finally moved on as well.
First, everyone had been talking about his desire to find a wife this season. Then, she had been forced to listen to people detailing his courtship of Miss Lucy Grant. Soon, he had proposed to Miss Grant. But then, all of a sudden, the engagement had been disbanded.
It was all quite strange. And Siena was quite curious to know what had truly transpired.
Though, that was none of her business.
She was glad, however. Everything she had heard made her believe that it had merely been a match based on duty. And while a part of her still cursed him to hell and back, she did not truly wish for him to be miserable.
Yet his happiness was none of her business either. She should feel neither curious nor glad. She should simply focus on her performance this evening.
And so, she went to sing her aria.
Quickly, she noticed him in the crowd. He was not alone, however.
Next to him stood a woman. About his height, and age as well, with dark skin and hair, wearing a cornflower blue gown.
Who was she? Not a debutante, that was obvious. She was too old. Another one of his endeavours? But why would a woman as beautiful as her not be married yet? Or a friend, maybe?
Or had she, perhaps, been the reason for his sudden change of mind?
Siena did not wish to stare. Yet she could not help it. There was a smile on his lips—a soft, tender smile as he was glued to the woman’s face, seemingly mesmerized by her every word.
He laughed at something then, before slowly, he leaned closer—whispering into the woman’s ear. That made the woman chuckle. However, she then placed her hand on his chest, gently pushing him away as she looked around the room, seemingly alarmed.
Nonetheless, her hand lingered for a few seconds.
Quite intimate, Siena thought with a smirk as she continued singing her aria. Surely not just a friend.
Then, someone else approached them. Lady Bridgerton, Siena realised. She led the woman away and Siena’s gaze followed them, her heart growing even more curious now.
Was he having an affair with a lady? Surely he would not dare. He had always been talking about honour and what it meant to be a gentleman.
But then again, he had always been quite the hypocrite.
It was still none of her business. Yet she wondered who that woman was. She was now talking to Lady Bridgerton and one of Anthony’s sisters. A friend of the family, maybe? Or perhaps, they were already engaged.
Now that would be quite the scandal. A cancelled engagement was awful enough. But announcing a new bride shortly afterwards? The gossip sheets would undoubtedly run out of ink.
Was he truly willing to risk such a scandal?
Then, she suddenly noticed his gaze. She turned towards him, giving him a smile. He returned the smile with a nod. His face was difficult to read. He seemed quite content. Yet Siena knew what he looked like whenever he was lost in thought. What was going on inside his mind?
As she was looking at him, she dearly hoped that he was willing to risk it all. He deserved happiness. And he also deserved a little chaos.
Soon, Siena left the ballroom and went to change. But as she walked along the hallway to leave the house and return home, she halted suddenly as she noticed a figure standing at the end of the corridor.
It was the Viscount, looking at her quietly.
Siena smiled, walking towards him, as he asked, “How are you?”
Her smile turned into a smirk. “Have you been waiting for me, my lord?”
He chuckled. “Perhaps.”
Siena had feared exactly this happening. Yet there was no fear inside her heart anymore. Because what she had witnessed inside the ballroom earlier left no doubt that his heart belonged to another. He had not been waiting for her to chase some wild fantasy again.
“Sorry that your engagement didn’t last,” Siena told him then. “Though, I believe you moved on quite quickly. Or did it not last because of that lady you’ve just spend your evening with?” she added with a smirk.
If he was shocked at her observation, he did not show it, as he merely asked, “So you’ve been watching me?”
Siena chose to ignore that question. “Who is she?”
He gave her a smile. “My sister’s governess”
Siena’s eyes widened in shock. Then, she broke out laughing.
“What?” he asked, mildly bewildered.
“It is quite impressive how you simply cannot stay away from trouble, no matter how hard you try,” she chuckled.
It was even more ridiculous that she had thought. Oh, how delicious.
“Is that a compliment or an insult?”
She wrinkled her nose to a grin. “Well, let’s just say that there was a reason why I chose to be with you.”
“I’m certain there were lots of reasons,” he replied, as conceited as always.
Siena raised her brows. “Like what?” she asked. “Your arrogance? Your aloofness? Your thoughtlessness? Your inability to brew your own coffee?”
He sighed, rolling his eyes. “Well, I certainly wasn’t with you because of your bluntness.”
Siena gave him a smile. “Now that surely is a lie.” He chuckled at that as she said, “But I’m happy for you. When I heard about your engagement to Miss Lucy Grant, I was … well, I did wonder for a moment whether might not have been a bit too harsh that one evening,” she muttered, biting her lips.
He raised his brows in surprise as a smirk appeared on his lips. “Ah, so you admit it had been unnecessarily cruel?”
She stared at him, crossing her arms. “Was I the one at fault?”
He gave her a conceded smile. “No.” Then, he looked down to his feet for a moment before he asked, “How is your composer doing? Or should I say fiance?”
“Ah, so you kept up with me.”
“The announcement was so big, even a blind man would’ve been able to read it.”
Siena laughed at that. Then, she bit her lips again, admitting, “Well … perhaps I’d hoped a bit that you would stumble across it.”
“So you were indeed trying to vex me,” Anthony stated with a smirk. “Why? Did you wish I had married you?”
He was merely teasing her. And he undoubtedly expect her to return the favour. But instead, she asked, “Did you ever consider it?”
The smirk left his lips.
“Well … that evening I planned to take you to my sister’s ball, it did cross my mind shortly.”
“What a shame,” Siena sighed. “I would’ve made an excellent viscountess.”
He stared at her in shock—before they both burst into laughter. Well, there certainly would have never been a viscountess like her.
He then looked at her quietly for a moment, a small smile on his lips. “You know, for a while, I thought that I had to follow a clear path in life,” he told her. “And after what happened with you, I was trying to stick to that path at all costs—no room for taking risks. Yet I took a big risk. And I’m more than glad that I did.” He bit his lips then, a curious look inside his eyes. “You have always valued your freedom. Do you truly wish to marry him?”
Surprised at the question, her eyes shot to the floor. “It’s not that easy,” Siena muttered then.
“I believe it is.” She did not reply anything to that. “And if you ever need help, you can ask me.”
She sighed, looking back up at him.
“I mean it,” he told her before she could retort anything. “I promised to provide for you, regardless of anything. I should’ve kept that promise from the beginning and I’m sorry I didn’t. And perhaps you don’t want or need my help anymore. But if you do, then please don’t hesitate to ask.”
She was quite surprised to hear all that. Whatever happened to him?
Then, a grin appeared on her face. “That little governess of yours must be quite special,” Siena teased him. “I never heard you talk like that before.”
He did not consider that funny.
“Her name is Kate.”
Siena chuckled. “And she surely is special, considering how offended you are.”
“Well , ‘little governess’ does sound quite demeaning.”
“Oh, don’t worry, I hold her in the highest regard,” she told him. “I watched you both earlier and she certain struck me as a woman that gave you a pretty hard time.”
Now, the smile returned to his face.
“She did.”
“Well, then I’m happy for you,” she told him honestly. “Though, I hope you’re not planning to keep her inside the shadows.”
“I’m not,” he replied. “We are engaged. We just … wish to wait a little.”
“That’s smart,” Siena agreed. “But the trouble will still come. Which, I must say, is exactly what you deserve,” she added with a little smug smile.
“Didn’t you say that you were happy for me?” he asked, raising his brows.
“Well, someone keeping you on your feet is exactly what you deserve.”
He chuckled at that. Then, he looked at her quietly again before he stated, “I hope one day I can say the same to you.”
Siena sighed in annoyance. “Well, I can tell you that you are certainly not invited to my wedding.”
“Well, you’re not invited to mine either.”
“If such an event ever takes place,” Siena retorted with a smirk.
“Do you think I will get cold feet?”
“Maybe not,” she shrugged. “But your governess—Kate —can certainly do better,” she stated. “So perhaps you should return. I would wager that there are quite a few other gentleman at that ball willing to risk it all for her.”
Siena did not know whether he truly feared that or if he had merely accepted her hint at saying goodbye—but one way or another, he then returned to the ballroom and Siena went on her way home.
He might not be wrong. She had never fancied the idea of becoming someone’s wife. But it would have been foolish of her to decline a gentleman’s proposal. And he was a kind man. She could have done far worse.
Though, after watching Anthony and his mysterious lady—Kate—earlier, she had to admit that she missed it a bit. Missed the incontrollable laughter as the result of jokes that had surely not been that funny; missed the tender, hidden intimacy in a public place; missed the ability to look someone in the eye and feel like you are the only two people inside a crowded room.
But who knew what life had prepared for her. She would certainly never be a complacent wife. Her future would always belong to her.