CHAPTER 1
“Come, Grace, we must go and speak with some of the gentlemen. Look, there is Mr. Sinclair over there. I will introduce you.”
Diana glanced at her sister Grace, standing next to her at the edge of the dance floor. She could see excitement sparkling in Grace’s eyes. That was a good sign, she thought.
She looked around at the grand ballroom of the Harrington estate, which glittered like a jewel. The chandeliers cast a soft glow over the elegantly-dressed couples swirling in time to the music of a string quartet. It was like a scene from a fairy-tale, but Diana felt only a knot of anxiety in her stomach as she looked around the ballroom. This was nothing new; she always felt like this at a ball. But she knew that she must pull herself together, for her sister’s sake if nothing else.
“I’d rather not,” Grace whispered, her gaze darting towards a tall gentleman who was conversing with a small group of ladies.The excitement had faded from her eyes now, leaving behind a shadow of nervousness.
Diana tried to suppress her frustration. Grace, with her golden curls and bright blue eyes, was the embodiment of youthful charm. She could have captured the attention of any man in the room, Diana was sure of it. But despite her natural attractions, Grace was shy, and always reluctant to push herself forward. She would retreat behind polite smiles and half-hearted conversations, to the point that Diana wondered if she would ever achieve a suitable match. Her sister simply did not realize how important this evening was, but Diana knew that she had to take control of the situation.
“Come on, Grace. You must try to make an effort,” Diana whispered. “There are so many eligible young men here. You do not have to dance, although it will look rather odd if you don’t, but I do insist that you try to make conversation with at least some of them.”
Before Grace had the chance to protest, Diana took her arm and led her towards Mr. Sinclair, trying her best to look approachable as they drew near to him. When he saw them coming near, he greeted them with a smile that illuminated his whole face. And it was no surprise, Diana thought, since her sister was so beautiful.
“Mr. Sinclair, may I present my younger sister, Lady Grace Kingsman?” Diana gestured towards her sister, her heart racing as she hoped for a spark to ignite between them, or at least the beginning of one. But Grace remained rooted to the spot,not making eye contact with the gentleman. Her fingers fidgeted with the delicate lace of her gloves.
“I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Lady Grace,” Mr. Sinclair said, offering his hand to Grace. She took it hesitantly. The moment felt fragile, and Diana held her breath, praying that Grace would respond with the enthusiasm she so desperately needed to display. After all, even the most arrogant of gentlemen would be unlikely to proceed without a little encouragement, and she did not get the impression from Mr. Sinclair that he was in the least bit arrogant. Far from it, in fact; the gentleman seemed rather unprepossessing, despite the rumors of his considerable wealth.
“Thank you,” Grace murmured, her voice barely audible.
“I trust that you are enjoying the ball this evening?” Mr. Sinclair said. “It is rather busy, of course, but that is to be expected. The Harringtons throw such a wonderful party, and it is such a fine way to open the season!”
Grace nodded, but said nothing.
Diana cleared her throat. “Of course, we are having a wonderful time,” she replied, filling in the awkward gap in conversation left by her sister’s silence. She glanced at Grace and saw that her eyes were flickering towards the exit, as if she were contemplating making a hasty retreat.
“Lady Grace,” Mr. Sinclair began, looking at her a little hesitantly.
He was going to ask her to dance, Diana was sure of it. She felt the tension building within her as she watched Grace refuse to look at the young man in front of her.
Grace let out a gentle cough, then spoke, almost as if she were forcing the words out of her mouth. “Forgive me,” she uttered. “I find myself in need of refreshment.”
“Oh, you must allow me!” Mr. Sinclair said, seizing the opportunity to prove himself gallant and helpful all at once. But it was too late. Grace had already turned on her heel and begun to walk away. Mr. Sinclair watched her go, a rather shocked expression on his face.
Diana turned to Mr. Sinclair. “Please, do forgive my sister,” she said quickly. “I think that perhaps she is feeling unwell. I will go after her.” She turned around and fled the scene, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment on behalf of her sister, and the rudeness she had shown to poor Mr. Sinclair. To be sure, he was not the most handsome gentleman in the room, but he was well-connected and wealthy and would make a fine match for her, if she could only see it. But she had not given the encounter the attention that it deserved, and now it was too late. She could not imagine that Mr. Sinclair would be asking Grace to dance any time soon. And worse still, he might recount the encounter to his friends, who would then perhaps also hesitate to approach her.
As she made her way through the crowd, following her sister towards the refreshment table, she glanced at the other young ladies being courted by eager gentlemen, and a wave of frustration washed over her. Why could Grace not see that sheneeded to make more of an effort? Did she want to end up like Diana, a spinster who everyone pitied?
Diana pushed the thought away. It would not do to allow herself to dwell on her own situation and succumb to self-pity. There were much more important things to worry about. Tonight was all about Grace, and making the most of the opportunities that presented themselves to her.
When she caught up with Grace, who had procured a glass of lemonade for each of them, Diana seized the moment to challenge her on her behavior. “Grace, why do you persist in behaving like this? Mr. Sinclair is a perfectly acceptable young man, and you were almost rude to him, when really you have every reason to be interested in him.”
Grace drew her shoulders back and stared at her sister. “Diana, I wish that you could see things from my point of view for a change. I don’t want to be a pawn in some matchmaking scheme.” Grace’s voice was firm. “I’d rather not dance with a man simply because he’s eligible, or even because he asks me. I do not owe that to anyone.”
“But you must understand, Grace,” Diana insisted, her tone betraying the pressure that had been building inside her. “It is very rude to refuse a gentleman a dance, unless you have very good reason. And you have already been out in society for a year. Everyone was surprised that you were not engaged by the end of last season. If you do not find a match soon, you may find yourself in the same position as me…” Diana’s voice trailed off. Looking at her beautiful sister, standing there with the lightfrom the chandeliers bouncing off her hair, and dressed in an exquisite gown of pale blue silk which flattered every curve, she could not for a moment imagine that Grace would ever find herself in the same predicament as Diana was now in. It seemed unlikely, but Diana also knew that her sister was going to have to make some effort to find a husband, even though, wherever she went, she was the most beautiful young lady in the room.
“I don’t want to settle for a beneficial match,” Grace said, her blue eyes flashing with indignation. “I want love, Diana! You make the whole thing sound like a business arrangement, and that is not what I want for myself.”
Diana’s heart sank at her sister’s words. She had always believed that practicality would lead to happiness. But Grace seemed steeped in her youthful ideals and dreams of romance. “You don’t understand?—”
“No, you don’t understand!” Grace interrupted, her voice rising above the music. “You’ve always been so focused on practicality that you’ve forgotten what it means to feel. I want more than a comfortable life; I want something real!”
Diana opened her mouth to respond but found herself at a loss for words. The weight of her sister’s frustration hung heavily in the air, and the laughter and music around them seemed to fade into a distant murmur. “Grace…”
“I need some air,” Grace declared, her tone leaving no room for argument. “I’m going outside for a while.”
“Grace, wait! I’ll join you,” Diana insisted.
