C10 The Earl and the Feledencian Woman

“Have a sip from my very own handmade aged wine under the cool temperature of the lake in Winstow, my lord,” one of the muses offered to Lord Syford who was busy conversing with another woman on the side in an attempt to steal his attention.

Bending over, she made sure her healthy and firm bosoms do their hypnotizing talents but to no avail. Lord Syford had already mustered the art of resistance long before he started with his unhealthy habits on women. He knew ambitious and wicked women would do such in order to win him over as a man, that’s why his paranoid father included them in his training as future successor to the lordship of the earldom.

“That’s a wonderful offer my lady. But I am afraid wine wouldn’t do any good especially for a man responsible for such soiree at early times like this. It would be more joyous to heed at your offer later when the night respite was ‘bout to commence. It would be a good sleep inducer and for whatever events might happen afterwards.” Lord Syford had successfully refused the muse offer without hurting her feelings. It was one of the local lordships’ daughter in the marriage march, after all.

Despite his infamous refusal of the distorted system of aristocracy, few noble women still wish to have him as their other half. Perhaps it was for looks, but most definitely because of his wealth and title.

“Look at the engraved bust of you, my lord. I carved it with all my heart, with no minute that I forgot you,” a sweet sculptor temptress flexed again to grab his attention from the one who offered aged wine.

Until the decent favorite muse of the earl had interrupted the petty hitting of some Verindale women to their earl.

“I am afraid my lord to disturb you in such a fanciful ordeal. Nonetheless, this humble servant of yours think you should get yourself together to welcome Lady Margaret’s granddaughter, who had only arrived in town few days ago. I am sure the spoken lady wasn’t used to the new style of party like this,” Emily rebutted with her head lowered down her neck so as to express he utmost respect to the earl despite being straight forward with her thought.

Other lords in the peerage would definitely punished her severely for doing so, but the Lord of Verindale was one of the exception. He heeds even the lowest of breed’s suggestions and opinions, provided it got the approval of his own principles and ideals.

“If you may, my lord…” Emily added, gesturing her hand towards the newly arrived classic and elegant woman clad in wonderfully tailored royal blue ball gown and black lace gloves.

Dynirho was quick to spot the said woman as her beauty exudes unique strong aura that naturally grabbed every man’s attention towards her. Even amidst the crowd, her exquisitely luxurious silks stand out in sight.

The earl couldn’t help but to smirk when his eyes landed on such familiar beauty. ‘How can fate be so connected and playful?’ he thought. “That yesterday’s divulger can be today’s visitor…” He even noticed the tailing lady from her behind.

Catherine Gunner, the fairest among his list of muse in terms of physical beauty. The one whom he was currently intimate with as of the moment. She was indeed gorgeous especially with a decently beautiful gown she wears tonight, far less expensive than her mistress.

The Feledencian woman, whom he cannot help but to look into as if something was drawing him to look at her and her alone. Not on the lovely commoner Catherine nor any other woman surrounding him in his seat, offering different gifts and tales.

***

Lady Francesca could feel the penetrating eyes of the earl as they slowly pushed themselves among the crowd to reach the front. ‘Great! How can he not have the least manner of not making a woman feel uncomfortable with his gazes?’ she silently protested in her mind while trying to suppress any signs of uneasiness show in her face. She should possibly let him know how much his uninvited gazes conquered her composure and womanly tendencies.

For an heiress at the brink of the edge of losing he freedom and much-loved duchy, she cannot afford to let her feelings and personal whims meddle with her plan. She should, at any cost, proceed with her plan with the earl no matter what.

Before they could actually reach the frontal part of the function hall, Lady Francesca tried to clear something out with the handmaid. “By the way Catherine, if you do not mind… can you enlighten me about the sort of relationship you have with Lord Sy…Syford, was it?” she asked.

Blushing, the handmaid was more than grateful that her mistress didn’t look her way. Having her breath under control, she answered.

“N-Nothing my lady.” Though confused with the answer, Lady Francesca could feel the integrity on Catherine’s voice, making her arrived with the conclusion that the said earl was neither a gentleman nor a man of honor.

How can he go around ravishing women without giving the rightful due they deserve? To at least let them know what they are worth for. He is a womanizer. Actually fitting and perfect for her plan of walking into ruination. No strings attached. No commitment. No responsibility.

But at the back of Lady Francesca’s mind, she was actually bit disappointed he turned out to be such. In the very least, she wanted to have the man who will take away her innocence and purity would regard such privilege an honor and a source of pride. But with a man, who was almost entitled for having such without reserve, she highly doubts she could receive the regard she expected afterward.

‘Perhaps, Lord Syford was not actually the one should be thinking of pulling out the plan with,’ she tried to convince herself.

Not long after, they found themselves standing at the foot of the table where the Lord of Verindale was currently seated at. Lady Francesca curtsied with an insincere sweet smile plastered on her face.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of receiving such beautiful curtsy coming from a lady of refinement and elegance,” Lord Syford started after he dismissed the other ladies who was surrounding him.

“Don’t be silly my lord. You owe me nothing at all. From all I know about London society, t’was at the proper discretion of the guests to present themselves before the soiree host, right after arrival. Or was your long stay here in a rather indifferent earldom rusted your idea of what truly London parties are supposed to be,” the Feledencian woman sarcastically pointed out with no regard of getting a bad impression from the man. The earlier sentiments about woman had made her extra agitated than before.

But instead of showing any sign of defeat or irritation, Lord Syford had gave her a warm welcome. “Oh! What an articulate mind you have there? You sure was an Anderson child as you were as good as your grandmother, Lady Margaret. And speaking of my rusted conduct about what London society was supposed to be, kindly accept my heartfelt suggestion of you two taking the seat,” he retorted back with a little sense of jesting in his words.

Borrowing Francesca’s words indeed had successfully got into her nerves, but she was determined on not letting him knew he did. Putting on a facade, she gladly obliged with a smile. Once seated, she started throwing a composed counter attacks.

“I just heard you knew about my grandmother, but I am afraid my lord that I wasn’t much familiar with you except that you were the vulgar man I once saw at the flea market making out with my aspiring handmaid,” Lady Francesca straight forwardly asked without mincing her words. Not even for her handmaid. T’was the truth after all. They should take responsibility on their previous actions. They do not have the right to be mad over something they are actually guilty at.

Lord Syford slightly laugh at her bold remarks when her lovely muse Catherine was burning in hot seat embarrassment. In return, the Feldencian woman couldn’t help but to raise one of her eyebrows to expressed her confusion on the matter. What there anything funny worth laughing for?

“We are speaking about London etiquettes not long ago, but your ladyship had not had the least desire to sound less offending and more decent more than you desired to be treated with,” the bold earl answered back with high excitement. It’s been a while since he found a woman, who can boldly match him in arguments with no regard on who he is in the society.

“Oh! Is that so? Certainly, from your point of view, that is. But on mine, it was just a matter of honestly expressing the truth. It should not be confused with offending someone as you say it. In the first place, why would you do such if you knew you wouldn’t be comfortable with it when mentioned?” Lady Francesca defended, standing firm on her belief on the matter of being honest and being straightly being rude.

Feeling the increasing tension on the two, Catherine decided to stepped in even though she knew it wasn’t on her place to do so. In facts, she was envious on how her mistress can easily ague with an earl without thinking of the consequence of falling out of the graces of the nobles.

Swallowing her own pride, she stood beside Lady Francesca as expected from her line of work as handmaid. “L-Lady Francesca was right, my lord. One should be doing things they would not feel proud about later,” she agreed.

The earl just shrugged his shoulder and looked intently at the noble woman beside her. The handmaid couldn’t help but to feel saddened on where she was borne into.

“I am admitting my lost to a beauty, but I am not admitting you were right either way, my lady. Why don’t we go on for a dance and do some proper introduction with the beats of music?” Lord Syford proposed, which the young lady had accepted. Not that Lady Francesca had anything good to do in a peculiar commoners stricken party like this, if not stick with the nobility.

“That would be great idea,” she conceded and accepted the extended hand of the man.