Esther at the Ballroom: Esther's Story (Belles of the Ball Book 4) by Abby Ayles

Author:Abby Ayles [Ayles, Abby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Starfall Publications
Published: 2023-10-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Laurence

Laurence cursed as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of Surrey Manor and he spotted all the other carriages in front of the home. As the wheels stopped moving, he pushed open the door and stepped down into the gravel. Laurence turned to Charles where the valet sat in the driver’s seat of the carriage and gave him an admonishing look.

“Well,” Charles said with a grin, “what are you waiting for? Go confess your love!”

Laurence laughed at his friend, his spirit lifting a little as he climbed the stairs. The servants had apparently been expecting additional suitors and noticed the new carriage approaching the home, because the doors swung open before Laurence had a chance to knock.

Frederick, the frazzled-looking steward, stood in the doorway, blinking wildly at Laurence. Just over Frederick’s shoulder, Laurence caught a glimpse of a line of men milling in the atrium, and he assumed they were all waiting on their turn to call on Agnes.

“Sir Laurence,” Frederick said with a deep bow. “A pleasure. Are you here for Lady Agnes?”

“Yes, Frederick, thank you.”

Frederick stepped back, waving Laurence through the door, and shutting it behind him. Laurence glanced around the space, eyeing the suitors that had come to call upon the woman that he loved. There were some faces that he knew, and he gave them all a nod in greeting. But there were many that he was not familiar with, and the thought made him nervous.

Frederick leaned in close to Laurence, so that only he could hear him, “I will speak with Lady Jarvis, I am sure she would wish you to be moved to the front of the line.”

“It is much appreciated, Frederick,” Laurence said, and then watched as the man turned and disappeared down the hallway that led to the drawing room.

Laurence glanced around the quiet space, awkwardly placing his hands in his pockets while he waited. None of the other men were speaking to each other, and Laurence had a feeling it was due to a sense of competition. Laurence took the time waiting to study the walls of the atrium again. He noticed that at least one more painting was no longer hanging. But he also noticed that everything had been cleaned and polished to perfection. So, Dorothy had ensured that the manor was prepared for the arrival of the suitors, even if a bit of the family’s finery was now gone.

It did not take long for Laurence to spot Frederick rushing down the hallway once more. When the man stopped in front of him, he grinned at Laurence. Laurence wasn’t sure when the last time he’d seen the steward smile was, and it caught him quite off guard.

“Right this way, Sir Laurence,” Frederick advised with a slight bow of his head.

Laurence followed after the man as he turned and strode through the room. He did not miss the fact that a few of the men he passed shot him quite a few looks of jealousy or contempt. Frederick

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