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Authors: M. C. Beaton
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rush of sheer pride. The girl was exquisite.
There were many in the crowded ballroom who had heard of Susan but not yet seen her. Everyone simply stared, quite openly, many fumbling for their quizzing glasses to get a better look.
Charles Courtney led Susan into the first dance and Harriet found a seat behind some potted palms. Through the leaves she could catch glimpses of Susan and yet be partially screened and not feel obliged to make conversation. She was very surprised to find a young captain, therefore, bowing before her and asking her to dance. Feeling slightly startled, she accepted and joined a set for the quadrille just as the dance started. Harriet had been taught by an excellent dancing master but at first was frightened she might have forgotten the steps. However, she performed very well and found she was enjoying herself. The captain, when they were promenading after the dance, introduced himself as Captain Preston and, to Harriet’s surprise, escorted her back to her chair and went to fetch her a glass of lemonade. He had returned with it and one for himself and was drawing forward a chair to sit down next to Harriet, when Lord Dangerfield walked into the ballroom.
His eyes rested curiously on Harriet and her young gallant, and then he was lost to her view.
“You are the aunt of Miss Colville, London’s latest beauty, are you not?” asked the captain.
“Yes,” said Harriet with a sympathetic smile. She felt perfectly sure this captain was cultivating her company with a view to getting to know Susan. “I am very proud of her. She looks very well.”
Captain Preston’s eyes rested on Harriet’s face. “Such dazzlers make me feel uncomfortable. I would rather sit here with you and drink a toast to your beautiful emerald eyes.”
“Sir, you flatter me.”
“I tell only the truth. But I am not going to enjoy your company for very much longer. Here comes Lord Moulton.”
To Harriet’s increasing bewilderment, she was led off to dance the waltz by Lord Moulton, who she judged to be also much younger than herself. He was a tall, gangly young man, quite shy, who blushed furiously when he put his hand at her waist, and so Harriet, who had never danced the waltz with anyone but her dancing master, felt suddenly happy and confident. She could not believe she was actually dancing and having fun. She wondered who Susan’s current partner was. He was a dark-haired, swarthy man with wolfish good looks and he seemed to be keeping Susan well amused.
“Who is that man dancing with Miss Colville, my niece?” she asked Lord Moulton.
“Miss Colville is the beauty?”
“Yes.”
“That is Sir Thomas Jeynes.”
Dangerfield’s rival for the charms of Mrs. Palfrey!
“Is Mrs. Palfrey here?”
“You heard that old scandal? No. Mrs. Palfrey is invited some places but not here, for the Trowbridges are very high sticklers.”
At the end of the dance Lord Moulton asked if he might have the honor of the supper dance. Harriet hesitated a little. Perhaps Lord Dangerfield might have forgotten his invitation. But then she said, “No, I regret I cannot. I have already promised that dance to Lord Dangerfield.”
He bowed. “Perhaps we shall have another dance? And may I call on you?”
“Gladly,” said Harriet. He must be interested in Susan, of course. No sooner had he left than a middle-aged colonel solicited her hand for the next dance. Harriet was gratified but bewildered. With the exception of that supper dance, she had not expected to dance at all.
And then finally the supper dance was announced. For a few dreadful moments she thought the earl had forgotten, but suddenly he was at her side, smiling down at her and saying, “I claim my wager, Miss Tremayne.”
After they had performed the cotillion, he led her into the supper room. Susan, Harriet noticed, was being partnered by Charles Courtney. Nothing to worry
There were many in the crowded ballroom who had heard of Susan but not yet seen her. Everyone simply stared, quite openly, many fumbling for their quizzing glasses to get a better look.
Charles Courtney led Susan into the first dance and Harriet found a seat behind some potted palms. Through the leaves she could catch glimpses of Susan and yet be partially screened and not feel obliged to make conversation. She was very surprised to find a young captain, therefore, bowing before her and asking her to dance. Feeling slightly startled, she accepted and joined a set for the quadrille just as the dance started. Harriet had been taught by an excellent dancing master but at first was frightened she might have forgotten the steps. However, she performed very well and found she was enjoying herself. The captain, when they were promenading after the dance, introduced himself as Captain Preston and, to Harriet’s surprise, escorted her back to her chair and went to fetch her a glass of lemonade. He had returned with it and one for himself and was drawing forward a chair to sit down next to Harriet, when Lord Dangerfield walked into the ballroom.
His eyes rested curiously on Harriet and her young gallant, and then he was lost to her view.
“You are the aunt of Miss Colville, London’s latest beauty, are you not?” asked the captain.
“Yes,” said Harriet with a sympathetic smile. She felt perfectly sure this captain was cultivating her company with a view to getting to know Susan. “I am very proud of her. She looks very well.”
Captain Preston’s eyes rested on Harriet’s face. “Such dazzlers make me feel uncomfortable. I would rather sit here with you and drink a toast to your beautiful emerald eyes.”
“Sir, you flatter me.”
“I tell only the truth. But I am not going to enjoy your company for very much longer. Here comes Lord Moulton.”
To Harriet’s increasing bewilderment, she was led off to dance the waltz by Lord Moulton, who she judged to be also much younger than herself. He was a tall, gangly young man, quite shy, who blushed furiously when he put his hand at her waist, and so Harriet, who had never danced the waltz with anyone but her dancing master, felt suddenly happy and confident. She could not believe she was actually dancing and having fun. She wondered who Susan’s current partner was. He was a dark-haired, swarthy man with wolfish good looks and he seemed to be keeping Susan well amused.
“Who is that man dancing with Miss Colville, my niece?” she asked Lord Moulton.
“Miss Colville is the beauty?”
“Yes.”
“That is Sir Thomas Jeynes.”
Dangerfield’s rival for the charms of Mrs. Palfrey!
“Is Mrs. Palfrey here?”
“You heard that old scandal? No. Mrs. Palfrey is invited some places but not here, for the Trowbridges are very high sticklers.”
At the end of the dance Lord Moulton asked if he might have the honor of the supper dance. Harriet hesitated a little. Perhaps Lord Dangerfield might have forgotten his invitation. But then she said, “No, I regret I cannot. I have already promised that dance to Lord Dangerfield.”
He bowed. “Perhaps we shall have another dance? And may I call on you?”
“Gladly,” said Harriet. He must be interested in Susan, of course. No sooner had he left than a middle-aged colonel solicited her hand for the next dance. Harriet was gratified but bewildered. With the exception of that supper dance, she had not expected to dance at all.
And then finally the supper dance was announced. For a few dreadful moments she thought the earl had forgotten, but suddenly he was at her side, smiling down at her and saying, “I claim my wager, Miss Tremayne.”
After they had performed the cotillion, he led her into the supper room. Susan, Harriet noticed, was being partnered by Charles Courtney. Nothing to worry
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