An Exotic Heir

Chapter One

Chapter One

Calcutta, November 1810

Julian Ritchie entered the ballroom with his usual self-confident swagger. This night was going to be different, he told himself.

He didn’t know what it was that made him think so. Indeed, he had entered many a ballroom before thinking the very same thing, only to be severely disappointed.

But tonight there was something in the air—something magical. It was going to be a good night.

He stopped for a moment just inside the door and took in the ballroom. The brilliant colors of the ladies’ dresses and the officers’ uniforms warred with the vibrant colors of the flowers which were everywhere overflowing from sconces on the walls and in vases on every surface. The smell filled the room. It made for a very nice change from the street smell of spices and animals that always seemed to hang in the air.

And then there were the people themselves. All of Calcutta’s English society was here. Everyone who was anyone had been invited to Miss Renwick’s coming-out ball. He could even see a few prominent, wealthy Indian gentlemen present.

Julian had been a little surprised that he had been invited, but then, everyone in his office had been on the list of invitees. It would have been too obvious a cut if he alone had been left out.

Besides, he believed his employer, Sir Lionel Renwick, rather liked him, despite the fact that his wife loathed the sight of him. He suspected Sir Lionel had insisted on Julian receiving an invitation. Lady Renwick certainly would not have issued one otherwise.

Julian took a deep breath and headed for the first group of people who were standing and chatting nearest the door.

“How do you do, Mrs. Hurst, Miss Hurst,” Julian said, bowing to the two ladies.

Adelaide Hurst turned around, gave an imperious sniff and then turned her back on him once again. Her daughter, Anne, did little better, managing a small nod in his direction before turning back to her conversation.

Julian did not let their reactions bother him. He moved on, slowly strolling about the room and nodding to people who deigned to notice his existence.

He stopped outside a few different groups of people whom he knew, but they always closed their ranks against him just as he approached.

He found Sir Lionel in conversation with the Governor-General, Lord Minto.

“Good evening, sirs,” Julian said, bowing to them.

“Ah, Ritchie,” Sir Lionel said, nodding to him, “I am happy to see you could make it.”

“Good evening, Ritchie.” Lord Minto gave him a very brief smile and then turned back to his conversation with Sir Lionel.

Well, it was the warmest welcome he had received all evening, Julian reasoned.

He turned toward the dance floor. The dancers hopped and skipped about as they executed the complicated steps of an English country dance.

But his gaze was held captive by the young woman at the head of the line. She was dressed in white and staring directly at him.

Julian couldn’t help himself. He stared right back.

She was beautiful.

There was an odd sensation in his stomach. As if a fire had been lit somewhere inside of him. Heat began to rush through him as he watched her.

She was like a porcelain doll. Her creamy complexion set off by just a little flush of color on her cheeks from the exertion of the dance. Her eyes were the color of the sky and her hair the color of the sun.

If her mouth was a little too wide, or her nose a little too small, he could not say. To him, she was perfect.

But why was she looking at him, of all people?

Cassandra could not imagine why her eyes kept straying toward the man in the old-fashioned blue coat. That he was unusually handsome and stood out from the other gentlemen present did not weigh with her. She was not interested in men. Not anymore. Not after what Lord Felbridge had done to her.

And yet her eyes kept finding their way to him.

Cassandra studied the man. What was it about him that made him stand out so? Yes, he was tall and his high cheek bones and strong jaw were exceptionally pleasing to the eye.

His eyes were the most amazing color. They were not quite green and yet not quite blue, but something in between–turquoise, she supposed.

Although the cut of his coat was out of date, it was well-cut and it was easy to see that he had a fine physique. He looked like he had been out in the sun too long, his skin was so brown–clearly he did something that involved some work outdoors. Perhaps some sport, since he was clearly a gentleman?

But there was more to him than merely his physical attractiveness. He had something elusive, a presence that drew her eyes and her attention.

Something that made everyone else in the room seem insignificant.

That was bad.

She was supposed to be paying attention to Major Vernon, her dance partner for the third time this evening. But she simply could not garner up any enthusiasm for the ruddy-cheeked major, who, with his fulsome attentions, was reminding her of all the other cads she had met since that fateful day in Vauxhall.

“You’re looking very serious, Miss Renwick,” Major Vernon said, smiling, yet looking at her with narrowed eyes.

“Oh! I’m so sorry, Major. My mind was wandering, I’m afraid.”

He looked hurt. Cassandra couldn’t imagine why–it wasn’t as if he was providing scintillating conversation to distract her.

She suppressed a sigh and then tried to think of something to say. Now that she was on her own without her cousin, she could relax and be herself. It still didn’t make conversation much easier, though.

“Do you go out often, Major? To parties and such?” she asked, finally.

“Whenever I can, Miss Renwick. Do you enjoy parties?”

Cassandra thought about that for a moment. She used to enjoy going to parties very much when she first arrived in London, even though she’d had to tamp down her natural enthusiasm. Lord Felbridge had destroyed that joy for her. Now she truly had no desire to be out in company, but she supposed she should not say as much.

“I enjoy dancing very much.” That, at least, was the truth.

“And you are an excellent dancer,” he said, just before they moved away from each other.

Cassandra’s eyes wandered over to the gentleman in the blue coat. She nearly gasped out loud–had Miss Stroughton just given him the cut direct?

Cassandra had to turn about with the movements of the dance, but she could have sworn he was being treated in the most monstrous way. When she caught sight of him once again, he had moved to another group of people, a smile plastered to his face as yet another person turned her back to him.

Cassandra had to fight the urge to run to his side. She wished she could do something to stop this horrific behavior! How could people behave this way?

Unexpectedly, she felt tears sting her eyes.

“You are still looking very upset, Miss Renwick,” Major Vernon’s voice reclaimed her attention.

She turned to him, this time completely unable to muster up even a smile. “I’m sorry, Major. I was just wondering if you knew that man over there. I believe he has just been given the cut direct, and I’ve noticed that very few people seem to be speaking to him. Has he done something horribly gauche?”

The Major looked over his shoulder. When he turned back to her, his eyebrows were drawn down and he looked very displeased. “You too should have nothing to do with that man. He is a nobody.”

Cassandra drew a sharp breath, and fought to keep herself from slapping Major Vernon’s smiling, superior-looking face. Lord Felbridge’s words echoed in her head.

He had called her a nobody as well.

“That’s a horrible thing to say! How dare you? Everybody is somebody. And I’d like to know who that man is,” she said unable to contain her anger.

“I am terribly sorry if I have hurt your delicate sensibilities, Miss Renwick. It is very good of you to think that way, but truly, you should have nothing to do with him. I am surprised he was even invited this evening. As you noted, no one is speaking with him. He has no place among us.”

He tightened his grip on Cassandra’s hand. “If I were you, Miss Renwick, I would stay away from Julian Ritchie.”

“Mother!” Cassandra whispered fiercely. She could not believe how embarrassing this was. She simply was not going to dance with Major Vernon yet again! “Mother, this is unseemly! In London if one dances with a gentleman more than twice you are as good as engaged.”

Her mother smiled and nodded. “That is in London, my dear. We are in Calcutta, and I’m certain that the major does not mind, do you, sir?”

Major Vernon smiled brightly at Cassandra. “Not at all. It is an honor and a pleasure to dance with such a lovely young lady.”

Cassandra just could not find it in her to return his smile. She knew she should, but she was tired.

In fact, she hadn’t even wanted to have this ball in the first place. She’d argued with her mother about it, but in the end had allowed her mother to win. Lady Renwick had been so upset at the thought that Cassandra had not wanted a coming-out ball that Cassandra just could not break her heart.

But this time, her mother would not win. “I’m very sorry, Major, but I simply cannot dance with you again. Mama, I am going to get some refreshment, and look, Mrs. Hurst is trying to get your attention.”

Julian stood at the refreshment table, helping himself to a lobster patty. A tap on his shoulder made him turn around to see his closest friend.

“Don’t eat too many of those or you might end up like me,” Reggie said, smiling broadly and patting his round belly.

“Have no fear. I don’t believe I will ever be as, er, comfortable as you are.” Julian laughed. “I haven’t seen you dancing as yet.”

“Oh, I shall. I shall. Just have to find the right girl, you know.”

“Ah yes, a particular young Miss Blighten, no?”

His friend’s complexion went from its usual light pink to a much deeper shade of the color. “Yes, well…”

“If you wait much longer, you shall have to follow my lead.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. I am going to ask a young lady to dance,” Julian said. He looked about the room once more, but was brought up short to see Miss Renwick walking directly toward him. He had planned on asking her to dance, but here she was approaching him!

“Julian,” Reggie said warningly.

“Don’t worry, Reggie. I am simply going to follow up on a certain look which I received from the young lady–or should I say, looks.

“And don’t look now, but here she is.”

As Reggie whipped around, Julian quickly wiped his greasy fingers on his handkerchief and pulled on his white gloves. He had the pleasure of seeing his friend’s jaw literally drop at the sight of his quarry.

Reggie quickly recovered himself just as the young lady joined them. “Good evening, Miss Renwick,” he said, bowing to her.

“Good evening, Mr. White. I hope you are enjoying yourself?”

“Y-yes. Yes, indeed, thank you.”

“Miss Renwick, may I be so bold as to introduce myself?” Julian said, nearly cutting off his friend.

Miss Renwick gave him an encouraging smile.

“I’m Julian Ritchie, one of your father’s clerks.”

“I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Ritchie,” she said softly.

Julian felt his stomach tighten. Had he ever met such a sweet young lady? He rather thought not.

He took a deep breath and steeled himself for the usual stab of rejection. “Miss Renwick, would you care to dance?”

“I would be delighted, sir.” She held her hand out for him to take.

A broad smile burst out of him probably making him look like an i***t, but Julian couldn’t stop it, nor did he want to.

He managed to contain his happiness as they took their places for a country dance. From either side of them, Julian could hear gasps of outrage. He ignored them, and, he was pleased to see, so did Miss Renwick.

Instead, she smiled even more brightly up at him. She curtseyed to him in the most graceful way as the orchestra began to play.

Murmurs, exclamations and shock followed them throughout the dance, but Julian held his head up high and continued to smile at Miss Renwick. He did not know why she continued to ignore the comments, but he was incredibly grateful that she did.

As they danced, the sounds all around them seemed to fade away. All he could hear were the sweet strains of the music and all he felt were Miss Renwick’s hands in his own.

She moved so gracefully. Julian found himself completely unable to take his eyes from her. Perhaps it was just wishful thinking, but he thought that she hadn’t taken her eyes from him either.

Calling himself to order, he knew they couldn’t just stare at each other through the entire dance. He had to make some sort of conversation. He pasted his social smile on to his face.

“I am certain everyone has asked you already, but how are you adapting to Calcutta? I have heard that it is quite a change from London.”

“Do you know, you are the first person to ask me how I am doing?” she said, with a sparkle in her eye and the most lovely little smile. They moved apart with the movements of the dance.

When they were brought back together again, she said, “The people I’ve met so far only want to hear news from home and aren’t interested in how I am coping with the change.”

He moved around the lady next to him as they advanced through the dance.

“So how have you been coping?” he asked when they were back together again.

“Quite well, actually, thank you. It is not as hot as I had expected.”

“But it is winter. Just wait until April and you will be wishing yourself anywhere but here.”

She laughed, but couldn’t give him a rejoinder as the dance had moved them apart once again.

Julian noticed the whispers and stares as he led another young lady round about in a circle. He wondered what Miss Renwick must be thinking of all this. How was it that she was not bothered by them?

It was clear, by contrast, that the young lady he was with was not happy with him as her partner for the moment–she was frowning fiercely at him and her face was uncommonly flushed.

He was grateful to return to Miss Renwick’s smiling countenance and easy acceptance of him. She seemed to be truly enjoying his company, and was somehow able to completely ignore everything else that was going on around them.

“Well, I’m enjoying being here so far, and I suppose I’ll just have to learn to deal with the heat as everyone else does.”

“That would be by escaping it. We all travel to the mountains when it gets too warm. To the hill stations.”

“Oh yes? I have so much to learn. It’s all very exciting and quite fascinating,” she said, curtseying to him.

As the dance had ended on that note, Julian was not given an opportunity to respond to Miss Renwick’s enthusiasm. But with her obvious indifference to society and its rules and her interest in Calcutta, an idea was beginning to germinate in Julian’s mind.

He would have to think on it, though. It wasn’t something that one just jumped into with both feet. Not like taking the chance and asking Sir Lionel’s daughter to dance.

But he might do just about anything to be with Miss Renwick again.

Julian set aside his thoughts as he led Miss Renwick back to her parents. Lady Renwick looked like she had swallowed a lemon and the veins in her neck were standing out—definitely not a good sign.

He bowed once more to the young lady. “I must thank you, Miss Renwick, for a most enjoyable dance. I am deeply honored…”

“And so you should be,” Lady Renwick interrupted, frowning at him fiercely.

“I thank you, sir, for the dance,” Miss Renwick quickly put in. “You are an excellent dancer. I hope I have an opportunity to meet you again sometime soon.”

“Not if I can help it,” Lady Renwick said, with a quick glance to her husband for support. He had looked away at that moment, and completely missed what she had said.

Julian dared to look at Miss Renwick to see if she mirrored her mother’s sentiments. Instead, a look of sympathy flashed in her eyes, and Julian had the oddest feeling that she knew exactly what he was going through just at this moment.

But how could that be? How could such an incredibly beautiful, young, English woman know what it was like to be an outcast, to be shunned by society?

It was impossible. Yet the sympathy and understanding she showed him sent waves of warmth through his body, right down to his toes.