Enticing An Earl

Part 6

Almack's was well attended that night. Lady Jersey had told everyone who would listen that the elusive Earl of Cambridge had bought three tickets. Lord William Hamilton had raised his sister exclusively in the country. The only people to ever lay eyes on Lady Emma Hamilton swore that she was an angel, in looks and temperament. The fact that it might be Lady Emma’s first foray in to polite society and she could make a mistake was exciting for some while others wanted to see the girl who would make her debut at twenty years of age.

Lord William was fashionably late with his mother on one arm and his sister on the other. It was obvious that the siblings had inherited their mother's platinum blond hair and pale skin. While William was tanned, his mother and sister had flawless pale skin. The mother and daughter where delicate little flowers next to a giant William. The chatter at Almack's almost stopped as most people stopped to stare at the good looking family when they entered and then everyone started talking at once.

Everyone in attendance was making wild guesses about why the family wasn't seen in public before now and why was there never a debut ball for Lady Emma. Feeling indignant, Lady George started walking towards her good hearted rescuer and his family. She glared at several people as she overheard their vulgar suggestions for the absence of Hamilton family. On the way, she was intercepted by Lord Maximillian Crawford.

"Your reputation, my dear, is already scandalous. Do you want to further destroy it by introducing yourself? Come with me now, I'll introduce you to Will's family." With this he started leading George towards her previous destination.

"You don't have to tell me what I can and can't do. I was going to ask for an introduction. Do not treat me like an errant child, I'm a grown woman. This woman can look after herself." George hissed meaningfully as she gestured towards Lord Cooper. Her pursuer had decided that his efforts were wasted on such a hoyden, he had taken to trailing after a heiress.

"I'll treat you like a grown woman when you'll behave like one." Max hissed back. Turning around he raised his voice a bit.

"Now, let me introduce you to my good friend the Earl of Cambridge, William Hamilton, his beautiful mother, Lady Sarah Hamilton and sister Lady Emma." He smiled as if the two of them just didn't have a disagreement. He was a rather good performer even as a kid. George gave a curtsy and moved away from Max so that she was beside Lady Emma.

"This is Lady Georgiana Malcolm, a dear friend of mine. We have been inseparable since we were small kids. I'm sure that Emma and George will be the same as soon as they get to know each other." Max finished with a smile and saw the ladies start a conversation about weather immediately.

"William stop standing stiffly by our side, as if you the whole ballroom is ready to attack us. You are scaring off potential suitors and friends. Go, be useful and get me some watered down punch that I have heard so much about.” Emma's exasperation was clear in her voice and George couldn't help laughing.

“If I'm enough to scare them, then these people do not deserve your favor or friendship. You are better off without them.” William answered like a petulant child. He even went as far as to fold his hands.

“The punch brother, I want to drink some of it.” Lady Emma repeated slowly, as if she was taking to a child who had trouble understanding things. William scowled at his sister but still started to leave to get her punch.

"Oh! I love you already, we are going to have so much fun this season. Max introduce the poor girl to some dandies and eligibles. Stay by her side and make sure that no one makes her uncomfortable. Lord William, I think we should dance.” Squashing all sounds of protests from William, George dragged him on to the dance floor as the first strings of waltz started. William kept on trying to keep an eye on his sister from the dance floor. Half way through the song, George had had enough of his obsessive behavior.

"I'm absolutely positive that I look ravishing and I haven't stepped on your foot then why do you keep looking at your sister? Observers will think that I'm dreadful company and obviously have nothing interesting to say if i can not keep you engaged. Am I a really bad partner? Or do you trust your sister so little that you can’t leave her alone in a crowded ballroom?" George saw William's eyes widen as he understood the consequences of his actions. She saw him take a deep calming breath as he finally looked at her.

"I'm afraid that I have been a bad partner. Thank you for pointing out the obvious to me. Max said something similar this morning but I'm afraid, I'm a hopeless case. I think that the ton won't treat my family well. My sister is a beautiful woman and the Ladies of Haut Ton can be vicious to potential threats to their daughters. She is alone with the wolves in expansive clothing and I don't like it."

"It's fine. Max will never let anything happen to her or your mother and they are both mature smart women who can take care of themselves. Stop worrying." George suddenly understood with clarity why Lady Emma didn't want her brother near her when the introductions would have started. He would have attacked anyone who came near his family without provocation.

"I'm not worrying, I'm protecting them. As the head of my family, I have a huge responsibility of making sure that everyone under me is happy and satisfied." George saw Lord William get stiffer and stand up straighter with every word he spoke. He started looking for his sister once again.

"Max was right, you do have a large stick up your behind. Get over yourself and give those two some space to breath in. If they make a mistake, they'll learn from it. Don't handicap them, you won't always be there to protect them. Sometimes they'll have to be their own hero." Lord William sighted but remained silent. He stopped looking for his sister as well as his gaze grew distant. George considered this a small victory because she managed to make him listen to her and maybe he was thinking over what she said.

After the song ended William started walking towards his family and Max with George on his arm. When he stopped mid stride, she collided with him. She had not been paying attention to her surroundings and saw that they were in a rather secluded corner.

"You are right. I'm sorry, I just worry a lot. I'll try to let them make their own decisions, even though it won't be easy. Thank you for your advice. May I be the first to say that you look ravishing tonight. Half dressed or fully clothed, you manage to look extraordinary." George suddenly felt dizzy as she realized that Lord William was complimenting her as if he was one of her suitors. She could hear her own heartbeat and was nervous that maybe he could as well.

"Well, you can give them advice if you don't agree with something they say or do. I’m sure they will benefit from your vast experience." Lord William looked at her as he was seeing her for the first time, his eyes showed his respect for her intelligence. His look made George's already foggy brain shutdown. They stared at each other quietly before his contemplative gaze turned towards his family. George was surprised when he suddenly started cursing.

"That bastard! I'll kill him." With that he rushed off, leaving a dazed George behind.