“Not at all,” Paula said. “You had a terrible thing happen, and the shock of it took time to work through.”
Tears misted Katie’s eyes, but she forced them back. She would not make a cake of herself. She could get through this, and then, things would be better.
“I must say, it seems as though everyone in the ton is out in full force this evening,” Lucy said. “I’ve never seen such a crush before. I went to the lady’s retiring room earlier and it was packed with gossiping women. A few of them turned and gave me the look—” She scrunched up her face as if she had smelled something horrible, before laughing. “All I wanted to do was tinkle, but I wager they thought I was going to retch like I did two Seasons ago. Two. And they are still talking about it.”
Paula and Katie giggled. Her dear friend Lucy had unfortunately lost her accounts at the Clarence ball in their very first Season after being served too much champagne. Lucy had had a challenging time since then, and certain members of the ton had made it even more difficult for her.
“Their memory is long, and gossip is what women of the ton do best,” Paula said.
“Yes, it’s unfortunate, but gossip seems to be the only pastime for many,” Katie said.
She’d avoided the worst of it, having spent most of her time in the safety of her home for the past year.
“It certainly makes one rethink the entire marriage mart,” Lucy added in a self-deprecating tone. “I’ve gained quite the reputation among eligible bachelors, it seems.”
“Speaking of bachelors, there are two over there,” Paula said, nodding toward two men standing in front of a Romanesque column near the ballroom stairs. “They are both handsome, but something is intriguing about the one with the hair like dark copper. He’s tall, but he’s standing next to a giant,” Paula whispered loudly, nudging Katie from her thoughts. “I don’t believe I’ve seen him before.”
“Just before you arrived, I saw him sign the Dowager Duchess of Clarence’s dance card. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her dance,” Lucy added. “Oh dear, there’s one of the gossiping mamas from the retiring room. She keeps staring at me and clutching her pearls.
“Poor sweet, Lucy,” Paula said. “Oh my, that handsome fellow just looked at me. What a brazen smile! The very cheek!”
“I think that’s Sir Jonathan Nelson,” Katie began. “He’s a friend of my brother’s.”
“Sir Jonathan Nelson?” Paula said with a huff. “I heard a rumor he keeps several mistresses.”
Katie was about to suggest Paula stop listening to gossip when a woman’s scream from nearby made her gasp.
Katie and her friends turned to see the matron who had been gossiping about Lucy had broken her strand of pearls and the beads were bouncing and scattering on the ballroom floor.
“My pearls, my pearls!” the matron screeched as people rushed to her aid.
“Oh no—” Katie gasped.
“Katie, are you all right?” Paula asked, reaching for Katie’s hand. “Cousin, you look pale. Shall I fetch Frankie?”
“No…no, please don’t bother them. I’m fine. Truly,” Katie whispered, weakly. “My shoes are pinching my feet,” she lied.
But she wasn’t fine. Her forehead was beading with sweat and her vision was beginning to dim, despite the hundreds of candles in the crystal chandeliers above them. Fragmented images of the night of the attack—Wendel’s face, the blood, and another face she thought she should recognize flashed in her mind.
Her breath was now coming in short, sharp gasps, and the room began to spin.
“Girls, it seems that I’m not feeling quite myself,” Katie said. “I think I need to sit down.” Her voice sounded shaky and wispy to her ears.
What is happening?
Her dizzy spells had been fewer and far between in the past few months, and she had hoped she was overcoming them. But the woman’s scream and the string of pearls snapping must have triggered something inside her. She didn’t understand, but nor could she surrender to this extreme nervous distress.
Not here. Not in front of the entire ton.
“My goodness, Katie! You are so pale. And your skin is like ice,” Lucy said, gently cupping Katie’s face.
Lucy possessed a gentle and calming nature and could usually make Katie feel better just by holding her hand. But tonight was different. Tonight, she was feeling so overwhelmed in the crowded ballroom, the heat from hundreds of people and candles, and the shock of that woman, that she was having trouble even standing.
Hold onto me,” Paula whispered, concern threading her voice. “There’s a row of chairs against the back wall near the refreshment table. Lucy, run ahead and fetch a glass of lemonade. We’ll make our way over there and we can sit for a while.”
“Yes, a glass of lemonade will soon have you restored,” Lucy added as she hurried away.
Katie nodded and pasted a smile that she didn’t feel on her face. She allowed Paula to lead her forward. Katie felt her legs growing wobbly. If it wasn’t for Paula propping her up, Katie might have tumbled to the floor.
