Read Online Red Rose by Mary Balogh - Free Book Online

was satisfied with the appearance of his wards. His cousin, of course, looked inviting, as he had expected. But he had been half-prepared for some resistance from Rosalind. He had thought that she might try to appear in an old gown or with a plain hairdo. He had been quite prepared to march her back to her room and threaten to take her inside and dress her himself if she did not immediately cooperate and dress herself becomingly. But he was impressed. In her own way she looked almost magnificent. Not in his style, of course, or quite in the style that was likely to take well with the ton, but certainly she was quite acceptable. If only she did not have that ugly limp!
    She did not take his arm at all during the hour in which they stood greeting guests, even though he offered it several times when there was a lull in the lineup. But he could not complain about her attitude. She was not sullen. She smiled and shook hands with each person who passed. Raymore was pleased that he had taken such a firm stand with her from the beginning. She had obviously learned to accept his way as best for her.
    When even the last trickle of guests appeared to have passed into the ballroom, Raymore sent Hetty and Sylvia in to draw the eyes of his guests, while he ushered Rosalind to the sofa that had been reserved for her.
    She watched with something between amusement and wistfulness as the earl led Sylvia into the first set of country dances. She had never been to a ball, but had watched her cousin have dancing lessons at home. It was a silly pastime, she had decided in self-defense. But she did feel a momentary pang on this occasion as she watched so many elegantly dressed men and ladies move gracefully through the intricacies of the dance. It must be wonderful to be able to move with such grace.
    She was not left long to brood alone. After the first set, her guardian approached with a young man who was trying to look at ease in a coat that must have taken three grown men to squeeze him into and collar points that held his head almost completely immobile. Although she conversed with him for almost half an hour, Rosalind could never remember afterward so much as his name. She was watching Sylvia dancing with a string of dazzling partners, including Mr. Charles Hammond, who looked even more dashing tonight than he had at the theater.
    Rosalind remembered Sir Rowland Axby afterward, mainly because he sat with her during the supper dance and insisted on bringing her a plate of food and sitting beside her while she ate, though she urged him not to miss the gathering in the supper room on her account.
    She felt a little sorry for the man. Nothing in either his looks or manner was particularly attractive, and such must have been the case all his life, she judged, because he talked very fast, holding her eyes with his anxiously, as if he were accustomed to being interrupted. Rosalind had been bored even before his arrival. She might as well listen to him and give him a little happiness, she thought resignedly. He talked about his home, his possessions, his friends (she suspected there was some fabrication there), and his children, who ranged in age from twelve down.
    The Earl of Raymore was definitely gratified. He had already assessed the ball to be a resounding success before supper was over. He had never enjoyed a ball, of course, and could not be said to be enjoying this one. But both his wards appeared to be well-launched. Sylvia had had a dizzying array of partners, many of them eminently eligible and many of them appearing smitten by her beauty and her sunny manner. He had noted with particular interest that Lord Standen had danced with her twice and had escorted her to supper. That would indeed be a dazzling match. The man had rank, looks, wealth, everything that could commend him to a prospective bride.
    And Rosalind was not to be the utter disaster that he had feared. He had seen to it that she was partnered during each dance but the