Her mother and Wren and Alexander had come to join them. But Colin moved his head closer to hers and spoke for her ears only.
“The Westcott and Radley families are about to close ranks about us like an impenetrable shield,” he said. “Shall we wait for them? Or shall we stroll across to the other side of the ballroom to talk with the group that includes Ross Parmiter?”
She looked across the room to see his friend gazing back at them and raising a hand in greeting. Why could they not wait forhimto come and speak withthem? But that was not the point, was it? And when had she ever been afraid to walk across a ballroom floor?
“Let us stroll by all means,” she said.
•••
And so the great ordeal of the evening was under way. Everyone was, of course, fully aware of them almost to the exclusion of all else, though many were too well bred to stare openly. Normally Colin felt perfectly comfortable in large gatherings in the sure knowledge that he was not fascinating enough to draw more than his fair share of attention. Even this year after interest was piqued at the Dunmore ball and word had quickly spread that he must be in search of a wife, he had not felt unduly uncomfortable. For the extra interest had meant that his search was made easier for him. Eligible young ladies had been brought to him without any effort on his part.
Tonight he felt distinctly uncomfortable. And conspicuous.
It helped to know that Elizabeth must be feeling worse and that really tonight was all about her, not him. Her hand was light and steady on his arm, and when they had smiled at each other a few moments ago, he had found just what he had expected to see—calm dignity, a smile of warm sociability, slightly twinkling eyes, a woman perfectly at home in her body. And he had felt a rush of affection for her, as well as a great welling of pride that this woman was his betrothed and everyone knew it.
He understood now, as he had not at Christmas, how hard she had had to work over the years to achieve this poise, which was more than skin-deep, for there was nothing brittle about it. Yet for all that, there was a fragility deep inside her that he found endearing, for she was not a marble woman but one of deep feeling. He had always admired her serenity. Now, in her fragility he saw the promise of a relationship. From a perfect, controlled Elizabeth he could only have taken. With a vulnerable Elizabeth, he could also give. The age gap between them had somehow narrowed. No, it had closed. It was irrelevant.
He concentrated upon giving and thus lost his self-consciousness.
They stopped a few times as they made their leisurely way about the ballroom to where Ross Parmiter was standing with his group, watching them. They spoke briefly with friends and acquaintances who made a point of speaking with them, congratulating him and offering their good wishes to her. No one openly denounced them, but he had gambled upon that. For though thetoncould gossip quite viciously among themselves, its members rarely displayed open bad manners in public. That was why Codaire’s words at the betrothal ball had been so shocking. Even some of the highest sticklers nodded formally to them as they passed and made no concerted effort to keep out of their way or give them the cut direct.
But how could anyone ostracize Elizabeth Overfield? Seeing her tonight, elegant, dignified, warmly smiling, surely all but a very small minority must realize how ridiculous the stories about her had been. Surely the vast majority must realize they had been deliberately set in motion by someone who meant her harm.
There was in some way more discomfort for him than for her. Miss Madson was at the ball, and his path about the ballroom floor with Elizabeth took them directly past her. She had a faction of relatives and friends and young gentlemen gathered protectively about her, all of whom were intent upon making it perfectly clear to him and everyone else in attendance that she had never been in any way interested in him. Colin did not hear more than a few stray remarks from the group, but it did not take any great effort of imagination to understand the intent of its members.
Miss Dunmore was also present and unfortunately close to Ross Parmiter’s group. There was an even larger faction gathered about her, led by her mother, who ostentatiously turned her back upon them as they drew near and made a comment, just audible, that the nasty smell must be coming from the French windows, which were some distance away and were shut fast. Other members of the group raised their voices just sufficiently to be heard commenting upon the plainness ofsomeone’sgown and the unbecoming style of her hair, upon how she had driven one husband to the grave and would surely not be happy until she had done the same to a second. There were quips too about cradle snatchers. And on and on while Miss Dunmore herself looked pale and bravely tragic. It was interesting that they were all attacking Elizabeth rather than him. Unless, that was, the bad smell comment had been aimed at him.
At least Codaire was not present.
Ross looked curiously at Colin when they came up to him, but he bowed to Elizabeth and wished her well and reserved a set of dances with her for later in the evening.
And then the opening dance was announced and Colin led Elizabeth off to join one of the lines. He smiled at her as he took his place opposite, and she smiled back. No one shunned them. Indeed, the lady next to Elizabeth, a plump young matron, turned to congratulate her and inform her, with a giggle, that she was the envy of all the unmarried ladies in town and very possibly some of the married ones too.
Michael Ormsbridge and his wife joined the head of the lines and the dancing began.
They had done this thing, Colin thought sometime later as he and Elizabeth reached the head of the lines and took their turn twirling down between them while the other dancers stood back and clapped their hands. And, wonder of wonders, they had survived intact. She was flushed and bright-eyed and looked as though she might be genuinely enjoying herself.
Mrs. Ormsbridge would have her wish. Her ball would surely be declared the grandest squeeze of the Season so far and the one most talked about for the whole of the spring. She dazzled her guests with her beauty and smiles, and Ormsbridge looked fair to bursting with pride and happiness. They did not really need the added allure of two notorious guests.
Radleys and Westcotts prepared to rally around them after the opening set was over. Colin was aware of Louise, Dowager Duchess of Netherby, stately in purple with tall hair plumes to add height to her already impressive figure, bearing down upon Mrs. Westcott and Wren and Alexander from one side and of Sidney Radley coming from the other direction with Susan and Alvin Cole. But Elizabeth, who seemed not to have noticed either group, caught his arm before they reached her mother and nodded in the direction of the door.
“Oh look, Colin,” she said, and her face lit up with a warm smile.
For the second day in a row he found himself looking upon Blanche and Nelson. He could not recall ever seeing them at a ball before—or ever seeing them anywhere without his mother until they had appeared in his rooms yesterday. A quick glance assured Colin that she was not with them now.
“Do let us go and meet them,” Elizabeth said, slipping a hand through his arm. “They must have come on your account.”
His sister and Nelson watched their approach, both striking and elegant figures, neither of them smiling. Colin wondered if they had received a formal invitation.
“Lady Elwood,” Elizabeth said when they were close, her voice warm and welcoming. “Sir Nelson. How lovely actually to meet you at last.” She held out her right hand to Blanche as Colin realized the two had never been formally introduced.
“Lovely,” Blanche murmured, her voice chill. “Mother said you would be pleased.”
And of course there were a dozen or more people close enough to hear the brief exchange and only too eager to do so, and there were many more than a dozen who had a clear view of what was happening—Elizabeth smiling with warm charm and offering her right hand, Blanche cold-faced and ignoring it, Nelson poker-faced with his hands clasped at his back, Colin no doubt looking like a grinning idiot.
Washe grinning? He checked. No, actually he was not.
What the devil?Just yesterday they had come quite unexpectedly—and quite out of character—to warn him that his mother was about to trap him into an engagement to Miss Dunmore. Tonight they had come…why?
