Isabelle wasn’t quite able to hide her concern and Lucy turned slightly so as to ignore her. This had the added benefit of putting some distance between herself and the handsome Mr. Northcott.
Not that “handsome” and “Northcott” really narrowed it down. Those descriptors could apply to more than one man here tonight. All five of the Northcott brothers were decidedly handsome. And three of them were in attendance at that evening’s rout. In fact, Lucy was rather certain their host was some sort of connection of the Northcotts. Perhaps not actually family, she acknowledged. Lucy thought their hostess was best friends with Mr. Ashford Northcott’s wife.
If she were speaking with Roderick, she would ask him about it.
But of course, she couldn’t do that.
They weren’t on a first name basis any longer anyway, since she was now out in Society, she reminded herself as she went in search of someone she could tolerate, putting further distance between herself and her problems, at least temporarily. Lucy could almost feel Isabelle’s gaze following her as she crossed the room, but she didn’t betray her awareness by even a flicker of her eyelashes.
“Miss Scranton,” Lady Crossley greeted her with a wide smile. “I’m happy to have you join me. We didn’t manage to exchange much more than a greeting when you and your family arrived. Are you enjoying the evening?” To Lucy’s surprise the other woman blushed a little. “I don’t suppose, as hostess, I ought to have asked you that. What if the answer is no?” she added with a light laugh. “Don’t worry, if it is, I can take it, I promise you.”
Lucy laughed along with the countess. “Not at all, my lady, routs are my favourite sort of gathering, and yours seems particularly genial.”
“You aren’t just saying that to make me feel good, are you?”
“Not in the least,” Lucy immediately replied before frowning at the other woman. “I am surprised, though, that you would question yourself in this manner. Why do you seem more nervous about this evening than usual? I would have thought you’d be a very experienced hostess by now.”
“It is odd, isn’t it? I have had a few years to grow accustomed to such duties, and it’s usually breezy and light.” She shook her head and lowered her voice. “I will try harder to hide it from everyone, but since you’ve witnessed it, I’ll admit it to you. It’s my sister.”
Lucy’s eyes automatically shifted to regard the young woman in question. She was one of the very young women making her debut along with Lucy. But she seemed sweet and pleasant even if she was quite young.
“Are you nervous that she hasn’t taken? I can assure you I have heard nothing untoward about Miss Holton.”
“No, I know she is doing well.” Lady Crossley shook her head. “Do nerves ever make sense, Miss Scranton?”
Lucy laughed lightly even if the other woman’s words touched a little too close to home for her comfort. She could thoroughly relate to the sentiments. “I see your point. You are nervous for her whether you have cause or not.” At the other woman’s nod, Lucy reached out to clasp her hand. “How can I help?”
“Oh, how kind of you, but no, I couldn’t so impose, do forget that I’ve said anything.”
“Are we not to be friends?” Lucy asked, lifting her eyebrows the way she’d seen many a nobleman do to express their disdain. It had the desired effect of making her hostess laugh again. “I am quite determined that it will be so.”
“Of course, I would like that immensely. But you’ve helped already. And you know, I wouldn’t have expected it.”
Now it was Lucy’s turn to colour even though it was Lady Crossley who had been unconsciously rude. The kind, young countess obviously hadn’t expected the flighty and popular debutante to be helpful toward her. It took effort for Lucy not to sigh. She had worked hard at establishing her reputation. Never mind that it didn’t really suit her. Without shaking her head, Lucy managed to rattle her senses back into order.
“You and your sister both look to be dressed in the very height of fashion this evening. I do adore the lace overlay of your sister’s gown. Did you or she order that fashion detail?”
Lady Crossley’s shrewd gaze examined her closely for a brief moment, as though trying to ascertain whether or not Lucy was truly wishing to discuss fashion or if she had a deeper meaning to her conversation. Lucy didn’t squirm or flinch so much as a muscle or eyebrow hair under the scrutiny. She had learned from an early age to withstand watchful gazes. She was an expert. The perfect, seemingly relaxed smile was pinned precisely to her lips. Lady Crossley’s smile matched it exactly, which made Lucy feel cautious, but there wasn’t much that could be done in the room full of nobles who would salivate at the possibility of something scintillating to gossip over. No one would believe Lucy was being kind in changing the subject.
Thankfully, Lady Crossley was not the sort who would wish to provide salacious gossip to or for her guests. Lucy suspected the woman suddenly had questions about Lucy and her supposed social intentions, wondering why Lucy would be kind when so few in her position would be. The countess didn’t utter the questions that Lucy thought she saw on her face, though. For that she was very grateful.
Suddenly, Lucy realized her suggestion that she and Lady Crossley ought to be friends was even more true than she had realized. She would have to think on it some more, but she would make it one of her goals for the Season. She didn’t have many friends. Lucy didn’t think it was likely that anyone could have too many of them. Was that even possible?
She would have to think on it another time – there was a rout to reign over.
Chapter Two
Mr. Roderick Northcott glanced around the room with a jaundiced eye. In theory a rout should be the perfect social gathering for someone like him. Unfortunately, it looked to him that this was one in name only. Or rather, it was possible that he had an imperfect understanding of the accepted description of such a gathering.
He had always thought a rout to be a gathering for intellectual discussion. But from what he could see of those present, it was unlikely he was going to find anyone to offer him much mental stimulation.
Unless he could get Lucy Scranton to forget herself for a moment, he thought with a small grin that he quickly dismissed. She wouldn’t thank him for that, he was sure. But it would certainly liven up the evening. Adelaide would have his head, though, were he to hear of it. And he always heard of everything. Roderick could never figure out how his brother was always so well informed. It was as though the oldest Northcott brother had spies everywhere.
Perhaps he did, Rod thought with a guilty start and a glance around the room.
Not that Roderick had anything to actually feel guilty about, he reminded himself with a lift of his chin. Despite Society’s seeming disdain for intelligence, Roderick was fully convinced there was nothing wrong with his continued education. Even Adelaide didn’t truly censure him for his extended stay at the University, his regular teasing was in the form of funning, rather than truly calling him to task, despite the drain it was on the family coffers.
Adelaide seemed to consider it his own personal challenge, a game even, to replenish generously the family treasure chests, so Rod didn’t believe his brother begrudged the expense, even if he enjoyed twitting his youngest brother about it from time to time.
