Louise shook her head. “No man will want to saddle himself with a woman who might lose her sight at any second. I’d be a danger to his reputation.”
Kimberly placed a calming hand on Louise’s arm. “Your condition is fixable, Louise. And every time your sight is restored, it lasts for years.”
“There’s no guarantee it will though. If I lose my sight again, the procedure might only last a day, a week, or a month. I’ve been incredibly fortunate so far to have it last in such long increments, but it might not keep doing so.”
“I still think you should talk to Mr. Fairbanks,” Helen said. “You’ve been in love with him for so long the very idea of him marrying anyone else would be highly unpleasant.”
Louise smiled on account of her sister’s kindness. “You’re a romantic, Helen. Of course you’d say that. But that doesn’t mean Mr. Fairbanks deserves to be burdened by me.”
“Stop it,” Kimberly admonished. “You’re a wonderful catch for any gentleman lucky enough to get to know you.”
“Only if I’m able to keep my eyesight.” A horrible thought struck. “Can you imagine if I were to lose it while walking up the aisle at our wedding? I’d likely trip and get tangled in my gown. It would be disastrous.”
“I suppose that is a legitimate concern,” Helen said.
“Agreed.” Kimberly gave Louise’s arm a squeeze before letting go. “I’d be worried about that too if I were in your position.”
“And it’s not just that,” Louise told her sisters. “It could happen while I’m hosting a dinner, or during a ride, or while I’m watching our children.”
“You probably ought to refrain from riding,” Helen said in a pensive tone.
Louise cut her a glance. “I already do.”
A pause in the conversation followed while chatter ensued around them. The music guiding the dance Mr. Fairbanks had been participating in began to fade, and Louise invariably sought him out as he bowed to his partner. A flutter fanned out within her breast as she watched him step off the dance floor. Impeccably dressed and with almost black hair and classically handsome features, he cut a striking figure in his evening attire.
“No risk, no gain,” Kimberly whispered near Louise’s ear.
Heat filled her cheeks. She swallowed. “Quite right.”
“Then talk to him,” Helen urged. “We can come with you, if you like.”
“No.” That would only make her feel more like a coward. If she was going to do this, she’d do it alone. Because in spite of her fears, her sisters did have a point. If she wanted to marry, she needed to make a match sooner rather than later. At twenty years of age, her chance to do so would soon be gone, and she could only use her eye surgeries as an excuse for so long. Plus, Mr. Fairbanks had proved himself to be a good man. He wouldn’t laugh at her or treat her cruelly if she approached him. She was certain of it.
“I’ll simply inquire about his wellbeing,” she said, more to herself than to anyone else.
“And we’ll be waiting for you right here,” Kimberly said, her voice full of encouragement. “Take as long as you need.”
Grateful for the support, Louise made her way through the crowd toward the man she’d been dreaming of since he’d saved her from being overlooked. Her stomach tightened as she drew nearer, and then he was suddenly there, his attention focused upon…
Louise sucked in a breath and prayed she might turn invisible. She seriously pondered the idea of taking a sharp left turn to avoid Mr. Fairbanks completely. Because the last thing she wanted was to have to greet him while Lady Deidre gazed at him as if he were some magical creature who’d promised to make all her wishes come true.
And then, as if things couldn’t possibly get any worse, Lady Deidre’s gaze swept toward Louise. A smile curled her lips.
“Lady Louise,” Lady Deidre said, obliterating whatever hope she’d had of being ignored so she could escape into the crowd and pretend her life wasn’t one long series of awful moments. “It’s so good to see you again.”
Louise froze. She stared at Lady Deidre, balled her hands into fists, and straightened her spine. She did her best to offer a smile in return. “Likewise.”
A pause followed, during which Louise could feel heat creeping up the back of her neck. She could think of nothing else to say, so she glanced at Mr. Fairbanks, who took this as his cue to ask, “Are you enjoying the ball?”
“Yes,” Louise said. “And you?”
“To be honest I found it rather dull until I encountered Lady Deidre. She told me the most incredible tale earlier.” He smiled at Lady Deidre who promptly simpered with affected bashfulness. It was nauseating to watch. “Perhaps you would care to repeat it for Lady Louise’s benefit?”
“Of course, I’d be delighted to do so,” Lady Deidre said, “though it is a rather long story and our set is sadly about to begin. Shall we proceed, Mr. Fairbanks?”
“Indeed.” He offered Lady Deidre his arm, which she latched onto like a leech. “Perhaps—”
“Mr. Fairbanks,” Lady Deidre purred while turning him away from Louise, “the other couples are already taking their places. We really must hurry if we’re to find a good spot on the floor.”
“Of course,” Mr. Fairbanks said while Lady Deidre proceeded to lead him away. “Please excuse us, Lady Louise.”
Humiliation burned the tips of Louise’s ears as Lady Deidre glanced back at her with a vindictive grin. The woman had known of Louise’s affection for Mr. Fairbanks for three long years, and had clearly chosen to turn this knowledge into a weapon.
Swallowing her anger, the frustration it wrought on her nerves, and the keen awareness that every poke Lady Deidre dealt her further chipped away at whatever confidence she still possessed, Louise glanced toward the terrace doors with longing. Kimberly and Helen had said they would wait for her return, but right now, all Louise wanted was to be alone. So she swept through the crowd with determined steps, leaving behind the buoyant music, the lively chatter and laughter, the dazzling atmosphere filling the ballroom to claustrophobic capacity, and Lady Deidre’s hatefulness.
Fresh air filled her lungs the moment she stepped outside, its coolness washing her skin of the heat she’d experienced indoors. She breathed in the sweet scent of jasmine that wafted toward her on the breeze and savored the stillness. Much to her surprise and pleasure, no one else was out here. For once, it would seem, something had worked in her favor.
She moved slowly toward the stone railing, closer to the spot where steps led down to a torch-lit garden. Overhead, the ink-black sky stretched in every direction, as if it wished to encompass the world. Stars – tiny flecks of sparkling silver – twinkled like sun-kissed diamonds. A smile caught Louise’s lips. The world had so much beauty to offer, if one would but take the time to pause and look.
“Riii—bit.”
Louise dropped her gaze. It took her a moment to locate the toad – a fat creature perched upon the top step. Her smile broadened – not because she cared for any form of reptile, but because it occurred to her that a toad’s presence was much preferred to Lady Deidre’s.