A row of velvet-upholstered chairs had been set up about the edges of the ballroom, he saw when he looked back into the room. Just a single row. The room was really not large enough for a second. Besides, only elderly people ever wanted to sit through a ball here, and not even all of them much of the time. People wanted to dance at the Ravenswood ball, or at least walk about and mingle with their fellow guests. Even children who had passed their infancy were allowed to come, though only until ten o’clock. They were almost always well behaved for fear they might be banished early to the nursery. Devlin thought about the balls he had attendedin London last year with his father. They had been far more formal and elaborate affairs than this would be, but none of them had been even half as lively and enjoyable as these balls invariably were.
He felt a sudden rush of almost painful love for Ravenswood, for his parents and siblings, for the extended family, for friends and neighbors from miles around. For the traditions that linked the generations down the years. He felt a welling of gratitude that he was heir to it all, that he would always belong here. He would marry and raise his own family here to perpetuate the same traditions, and one day it would all be his. Though he was in no hurry whatsoever for that day to come.
Tonight he would dance with Gwyneth.
He would dance each set following the first with a different partner, of course, as was expected of him as a Ware of Ravenswood. But during that first half hour he knew he would will time to stand still, which it was never obliging enough to do when a man was particularly enjoying himself. Today had been one of the happiest of his life, however, and he would surely always remember it even without the added memory of tonight. In the rose arbor this afternoon, though he and Gwyneth had said very little to each other, he had allowed himself to fall all the way in love with her. And to allow himself to hope, surely without utterly deluding himself, that perhaps she returned his feelings or might return them sometime soon.
His thoughts were interrupted when his father came striding into the ballroom and crossed the floor to join his son. The earl was looking very elegant in black evening coat and breeches, the newest fashion in London, with a waistcoat of silver brocade. His stockings and linen were very white in contrast, his shirt points high and crisply starched. He beamed at Devlin before looking around the room.
“Your mother is a genius,” he said. “Everything today has proceeded without a flaw, and all because she has worked tirelessly for a month or more to bring it about. She organizes her army of helpers, and they do just what she tells them to do—without fuss and without argument.”
That would include her telling his father to stay out of the way, Devlin thought with inner amusement. And just like the rest of them, his father had done exactly as he was told.
“I could not have done better for myself if I had tried, could I?” his father continued. “She is the perfect wife, the perfect countess. And she has given me handsome sons and daughters. Even Steph may grow up to be a pretty girl once she loses that baby fat.”
“She is beautiful even with it,” Devlin said.
“Oh, absolutely. Yes.” His father laughed. “This will not be quite the elegant ball one grows accustomed to in London, will it? Nor will the company be as illustrious or the fashions as dazzling. But it will do very nicely indeed for a country party. It will make everyone happy. And that is our duty, Dev, mine and yours after me. To keep everyone happy—our wives, our children, our neighbors from far and near, and those men and women who work for us. We must always remember to put other people before ourselves. That is what your grandfather taught me, God rest his soul, and it is what I have tried to teach you. Not that we need to deny ourselves entirely, of course, for a man is entitled to some private pleasures of his own. But always remember to put other people first and you cannot go far wrong in life. Your mother—and your wife when you get one—must always be honored above all others. Kept content and happy.”
Devlin smiled at him. It was moments like this one that he treasured above all others—father and son, earl and heir, alone together and talking of duty and responsibility, but in terms of service and love. Putting others first. Making other people happy. Yetentitled to some personal pleasure too—but then did not personal pleasure derive from giving it to others? By tradition the earl would lead his countess into the opening set tonight, and as always they would smile warmly at each other and about them at their family and guests of all degrees. They would radiate welcome and happiness.
It was what an Earl of Stratton and his countess must always do—did in the past and in the present, and must on into the future. It was tradition.
“I will always do my best to live up to your expectations of me, Papa,” Devlin said. “Just as you have lived up to Grandpapa’s.”
His father squeezed his shoulder with a heavily beringed hand and laughed again. “Always so earnest, Dev,” he said. “You need to learn to laugh more. And to enjoy yourself more.”
Hedidlaugh, Devlin thought. And enjoy his life. And show warmth and interest and fellow feeling to those around him. At least he tried. He lacked the outgoing nature and bonhomie of his father, it was true. Nick had it. He did not. But he could not help that. The magnetism that came naturally to them was a God-given gift and impossible to learn or even to imitate.
“Enjoy yourself tonight.” His father gave him a final pat on the shoulder. “Here comes your mother with Pippa and Steph.” He beamed his pleasure across the room and raised his voice as he strode toward them. “My love, as always you look quite exquisite.” He extended one hand and bowed over the countess’s when she placed it in his. He raised it to his lips as she smiled warmly back at him.
Philippa, flushed and pretty in pale blue, gathered the sides of her gown in her hands and twirled for Devlin’s benefit.
“Lovely,” he said. “You look quite the woman already, Pippa. Are you sure you are only fifteen?”
Stephanie’s face had been scrubbed clean. It shone.
“I met a princess on the terrace this afternoon,” Devlin said, wagging a finger at her and frowning in thought. “She looked remarkably like you, Steph. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Someone has coiled your braids around the back of your head. You look very grown-up. Turn and let me see.”
She turned. “Breathtakingly beautiful,” she muttered scornfully under her breath—and then giggled with glee.
“The loveliest hair of anyone in my whole family,” their father said, beaming at her when she turned again. “Your crowning glory, Steph. Promise me that you will never have it cut.”
“Caleb,” the countess protested. “Long hair must always be trimmed once in a while to keep it healthy.”
“I promise, Papa,” Stephanie said, and stepped forward to hug her father about the waist.
—
There was never a receiving line at the Ravenswood balls. What would be the point when all the guests had been at the fete all day, and the host family had mingled freely with them there? Nevertheless, the earl and countess and their older children stood close to the ballroom doors as everyone entered, welcoming them, shaking hands, and finding chairs for those who required them. Very soon the room was crowded and loud with conversation and laughter and the sounds of the musicians tuning their instruments.
Gwyneth gazed about the ballroom, eager to see how it was decorated this year. It was always a bit different. The countess, she suspected, worked hard to make sure the whole day did not grow stale with too much of a sameness from year to year. It must not be easy to achieve some variety.
There was not too long a delay before the earl mounted the steps to the orchestra dais, the countess on his arm. Something approximating silence fell even before he raised both arms to draw everyone’s attention. He beamed about at them all.
“Now this,” he said, “is what among thetonin London would be known as a sad squeeze. The ball would be deemed an instant success.”
He waited for the inevitable laughter to subside before continuing with a few words of welcome and the hope that they would all enjoy the ball more than they had ever enjoyed any other. He reminded them that there were beverages and light refreshments available in the dining room just through the open doors at the other end of the room.
