“Thank you.”
He offered his arm. “Shall we be off?”
“Yes.” She smiled and took his arm.
The Wakefield ball was clearly the event of the week. The Canbury carriage was caught up in the traffic building around the Wakefield residence. It took them nearly a half hour to reach the red carpet that had been laid out to welcome the guests to the ball. Adele tried to school her face so that she looked like she felt like she belonged, when really she was in awe. The women entering the Wakefield home were dressed impeccably, with beautiful gowns and perfectly coifed hair and sparkling jewelry. Adele felt plain by contrast, but she was enchanted by how beautiful everything was.
They arrived at a grand entryway and followed the crowd to the ballroom. They entered a balcony before a short staircase where each arrival was announced.
“The Viscount and Viscountess Hayes! Lord and Lady Morrow! Baron Fielding and his son Lord Berkley! The Earl of Canbury and his daughter Lady Adele!”
Adele’s father offered his arm again, so she took it and let him escort her down the stairs. She had been so long out of society that she hardly recognized anyone. She turned to begin a conversation with her father, hoping he’d keep her company, but he was already engaged in what looked like an intense conversation with another man.
“I shall find some refreshments for us,” she said.
He nodded and returned to his conversation.
With a sigh, Adele crossed the ballroom and found a servant ladling cups of lemonade. She waited behind a line of party guests and examined the other fare offered at the table. She’d had dinner before leaving for the party and was grateful now, for there was not much in the way of food aside from some tiny cakes.
“Lady Adele?”
Adele turned and found Larkin Woodville standing beside her. She gave him a shallow curtsy and said, “Lord Waring, it is refreshing to see you.”
“Agreed. You are waiting for lemonade?”
“Yes. It is quite warm in here and I thought to bring some to my father.” She turned to look for her father and saw that the group of men around him had grown. “I suspect he’s forgotten all about me.”
“Government business undoubtedly.”
It was finally Adele’s turn. She motioned to Lark to ask if he wanted anything. When he shook his head, she took one cup of lemonade. She stepped away from the table and took a sip. The lemonade was warmer and sweeter than she would have liked. She looked up and saw that Lark still stood beside her.
She smiled at him. “You don’t have to keep me company, although I would be much obliged if you spoke with me for a few minutes. I haven’t been to a crush like this in years and I do not know many people. I assumed my father would introduce me, but he’s clearly engaged in other business.”
It occurred to Adele then that Lark’s presence at this ball meant Hugh might be there somewhere as well. She’d known that was a possibility but had been trying not to think about it. She was about to ask where he was when she heard the announcement from the balcony.
“The Duke of Swynford and the Dowager Duchess of Swynford.”
Adele turned and saw Hugh standing with an older woman—his mother presumably—on his arm. He escorted her down the stairs, but as soon as his foot hit the main floor of the ballroom, a crowd descended on him.
“That all seems to be in order,” said Lark. “His last social event was the Rutherford ball the night he turned up on your doorstep. It may be some time before he can escape.”
“I didn’t come here to see him. My father invited me.”
Lark nodded. “I assumed as much. I think he will be glad to see you, though.”
“Do you think so?”
“Your name has come up in conversation a few times.”
Adele shook her head, feeling embarrassed. “I’m afraid I did not leave things well. That is, I did not say good-bye to him the day he left. I merely left him a brief note.”
“Did you not want to say good-bye?”
“No. That is, of course, that I wanted to see him off, but I was feeling sad about his departure. I did not want him to leave. So I took a coward’s way out.” She pressed a hand over her mouth. “I should not have said that much.”
“It’s all right. I seem to be everyone’s secret keeper of late. I will not breathe a word.”
“I appreciate that.” She glanced about. “You mentioned the night he ended up in my company as the last time he attended a ball. Have you come any closer to determining how he ended up with his head injury? Does he remember?”
