“Yes,” Rebecca said, “I have accepted the invitation.”
“I am so pleased,” he said. “May I hope that you willdance the opening set with me, Miss Shaw?”
Rebecca smiled warmly at him, thankful for the change in topic. “I should be delighted, sir,” she said.
Chapter 8
“You should be sitting on this side of the carriage, Rebecca, dear,” Lord Holmes said. “This lap-robe isquite large enough to cover your knees too. I fear the draftin this conveyance, though I have given repeated instructions for the doors and windows to be refitted.”
“I am really quite warm here, Uncle Humphrey,” Rebecca replied. “We are fortunate that the weather has turned mild again. I believe even an open carriage wouldfeel quite pleasant this evening.”
“Never say so!” the baron said with a shudder. “But, of course, you are funning me, Rebecca. Night air is thevery worst bringer of dangerous chills. Maude, my love,put your hands beneath the robe. Your knuckles will beunbecomingly red by the time we reach the Langbournes’house if you do not.”
“Yes, my lord,” Maude replied, obediently tucking her already warm hands beneath the fur-lined robe that herhusband had insisted be laid across their laps during thesix-mile journey to their destination.
All the occupants of the carriage except Lord Holmes were feeling the discomfort of the stuffy interior of thecarriage long before they arrived. Somehow five of themhad squeezed into a vehicle meant to hold no more thanfour. Lord and Lady Holmes sat facing the horses becausehaving his back to them always made his stomach decidedly queasy, the baron said. Across from them sat Rebecca, Harriet, and Mr. Bartlett. Harriet complained loudly that her new turquoise-blue satin gown would be hopelessly crushed before they arrived in the ballroom, but Mr. Bartlett soon restored her good humor by assuring her thatthe great beauty of her face and the perfection of hercoiffure would render all beholders quite oblivious to afew wrinkles in her gown.
Harriet had been in an exuberant mood all day, as Rebecca had found to her cost. Again she was not teachingschool and had stayed at home all morning. Harriet hadvisited her in her room, intent on talking about the previous day when she had journeyed to Wraxby, the closesttown of any size, in company with Mr. Sinclair, Mr.Carver, and Ellen. The idea for the outing had been entirely Harriet’s. She had mentioned in the hearing of Mr.Sinclair that she really needed new blue slippers and a fanfor the ball, but the village could supply neither. Mr.Sinclair had taken up his cue with flattering haste andsuggested that they must go into the town.
And he had been most attentive, Harriet told her cousin, both during the journey and in the town. He had notseemed to mind that they had had to visit three separateestablishments in search of just the right fan and that eventhen she had not been able to make a choice between two.He had suggested that she buy one and he the other as agift, but she had not been so dead to propriety as to acceptthat offer when they were not even betrothed.
Of course, Harriet added, that situation was like to change very soon. She fully expected that Mr. Sinclair wasabout to declare himself—perhaps even at the ball. Certainly he would do so soon.
That Mr. Carver was a perfectly horrid man. She really did not know how Mr. Sinclair tolerated him. And it mustbe perfectly dreadful for the Sinclairs to be obliged to becivil to him for so long. She could not understand why hehad not taken himself back to London or wherever hecame from long before now. She had been understandablyweary after her busy afternoon of shopping and had wantednothing more than to sit down and have an ice beforestarting for home. Ellen had been whining forever about alength of ribbon she wanted to take back for Primrose as asurprise, and Mr. Carver had insisted that they completethe errand.
That would not have been so dreadful, perhaps, if he had offered to accompany Ellen while she and Mr. Sinclairhad gone for the ices. But he had insisted that all four ofthem go—merely to purchase one length of ribbon, and hehad dared—dared!—to reprimand her when she hadprotested.
“He had the effrontery to look at me with that odious smile that he pretends is so amiable,” Harriet said indignantly, “and tell me that I must not behave like a spoiledbrat. Can you imagine, Rebecca? I was so angry I couldnot speak. I think Mr. Sinclair showed admirable restraintin not calling him out on the spot. It really would not havedone in the middle of a street in Wraxby, you know.”
Rebecca had the good sense to make no comment but to let Harriet’s monologue flow over her head. She had reallynot enjoyed hearing about the attentions Christopher wasshowing her cousin. She could have wished that he hadbeen the one to give Harriet the well-deserved setdown.
The Langbourne mansion was an imposing building, though Lord Holmes had never been induced to admit asmuch. The driveway led straight from the gates to themain doors and was lined with tall elm trees. On thisoccasion, as always during the annual ball, the trees werehung with lanterns, and the front of the house was ablazewith lights.
“What a magnificent sight!” Mr. Bartlett was unwise enough to remark.
“Well enough,” Lord Holmes said, not even deigning to glance out of the window.“Nouveau riche,my dearStanley. The style of the house is totally derivative. Nothing original whatsoever. Yes, it is well enough, I wouldgrant you, but it lacks character.”
“Oh, precisely,” Mr. Bartlett agreed. “I was, of course,comparing the house to most that have arisen during the last twenty years or so. I did not imply any comparisonwith established country homes like Limeglade, naturally.The idea is quite laughable.”
The baron inclined his head graciously.
The stairway leading from the tiled hall of the manor to the ballroom above was crowded with a surprising numberof people. The Langbourne ball was considered to be oneof the major social attractions of the year and drew guestsfrom miles around. The five members of Lord Holmes’sparty joined the group on the stairs that was waiting topass the receiving line. The Sinclairs were up ahead ofthem, Rebecca could see, and she lowered her eyes toavoid any accidental eye contact with Christopher. Even asshe did so, though, she realized how foolish she wasbeing. Could she avoid looking at him all evening?
She was relieved to be claimed for the first dance by Mr. Bartlett. She felt unaccountably nervous at the splendor of the occasion; it was several years since she hadattended anything so lavish. The ballroom was decoratedwith what must have been hundreds of flowers. The roomwas heavy with their perfume. And the chandeliers, filledwith candles and reflected in the floor-to-ceiling mirrorsthat stretched one length of the ballroom, were dazzling tothe eyes. Philip was not yet there. He had told her that hewould probably be late as this was the evening when heliked to compose his Sunday sermon.
Christopher was leading Harriet out for the first set, Rebecca saw even as she laid a hand on Mr. Bartlett’sarm. And she looked at him for the first time. He was-wearing black, the new fashion that Mr. Bartlett had described to an incredulous Uncle Humphrey a few weeksbefore—and he looked quite magnificent. The contrastbetween the black and the startling, almost luminous whiteof his linen and stockings was quite breathtaking. Hesucceeded in putting all the other men in their bright colorsquite in the shade.
“I see that Sinclair is exercising his usual bad judgment,” Mr. Bartlett said. “Such a controversial fashion is totally inappropriate for a country ballroom, do you notagree? But then I understand that being noticed is of greatimportance to the man. He thrives on attention.”
“Then I would suggest that we pay him none,” Rebecca suggested, smiling dazzlingly at Mr. Bartlett. Somehow she was going to enjoy this evening. And even if she could not enjoy it, she would appear to do so. She had notseen Christopher Sinclair since their disastrous encounterin the country lane, and she had no intention of showinghim that she had been in any way affected by thatexperience.
It was not difficult for Rebecca to live up to that resolve for the first part of the evening. She was looking well,though she did not fully realize the fact. A new rose-pinkgown flattered her coloring and added a glow to her cheeks.She had not been seen in any large company for a longtime. She was, therefore, much in demand as a partner.She danced with men she had not seen perhaps for a fewyears. And she danced with Julian and with Philip when hefinally arrived.
Philip was a good dancer. He despised the activity, but he always felt it important to socialize with all classes ofhis parishioners. And as always with Philip, if he wasgoing to do something, he would make the effort to do itwell.
“Did you finish your sermon, Philip?” Rebecca asked him. She looked at his tall, slender figure, dressed ingreen, at his good-looking face and his shining blond hairand tried to feel an attraction to him.
“Yes, I did,” he said. He smiled suddenly, a rare enough sight to capture Rebecca’s attention. “I have asurprise for you tomorrow, Rebecca. You will be pleased.”
