“Jonathan, do you remember Tiffany DeGray?”Elizabeth made the introductions.
“A pleasure to meet you once again, Lord Longdale.”Tiffany extended her hand.“It has been a long time for all of us.”
“Pigtails are what I remember the most about you,” Jonathan admitted.“Now you are a very lovely woman.”
Tiffany blushed.“I outgrew my pigtails.”
“So I see.”He offered his elbows to both ladies.“Shall we go to the ball?”
Each woman rested a hand on Jonathan’s arm and walked with him to the carriage.Once inside, Tiffany started chattering.“I find these parties so tedious.Don’t you, Jonathan?”
“Indeed, I do.But this time it’s necessary.”
‘‘I hope we’ll find Elizabeth a husband tonight—then we can start making wedding plans,” Tiffany said, giving Jonathan a brilliant smile.
“She’ll want a big wedding,” Jonathan quipped before he thought, then he frowned.
“Then we’ll plan for a big wedding.”Tiffany turned to Elizabeth.“Is that what you want?”
Elizabeth reacted angrily to Jonathan’s snide remark.Of course, he was throwing her comments back at her.She remembered asking him for a big wedding; Evidently he remembered it too.“I’d prefer not to get married at all, thank you.But since my brother is insistent I guess I have no choice.Perhaps, I’ll just go to Gretna Green.That’s where all hastily arranged marriages take place.”
“No!”Jonathan stated so quickly that both women stared at him.“You’ll be married in a church the proper way.And I’ll make certain you show up.”
Elizabeth could almost hear the words, “This time!” A stinging reply was on her lips.She could say she had a very good reason to run, but it would dredge up a lot of questions she’d have to answer, so she let his remark go and stared out into the darkness.This night was going to be difficult.Thank God, she had Tiffany to bolster her up.
The Cheshire’sBall was attended by many, Jonathan thought judging from the carriages lining the long drive.When their turn finally came, a doorman dressed in red and white opened the carriage door and offered a hand to the ladies.
Jonathan pressed his lips into a firm, hard line and prepared to do battle.Between the rakes and the sops there had to be one or two decent prospects attending.
They entered a foyer brightly lit with hundreds of candles.The host George Cheshire, the Earl of Long, and his wife were standing at the head of a long receiving line.
After greeting the earl, they proceeded to the ballroom where Elizabeth was soon surrounded by people she’d not seen in a long time.She and Tiffany talked while Jonathan disappeared into the crowd.It didn’t take any time at all before Elizabeth’s dance card was full.
The musicians were playing a waltz as Jonathan got his first drink from a table laden with finger foods and huge punch bowls.He turned, and his gaze swept the room filled with debutantes with their mothers or chaperones in tow and the dandies licking their lips as they tried to pick out the perfect mate.He had never liked these things.“A shocking squeeze” was the first thing that came to mind.Had he not made his rash promise to Adam, he would be anywhere but here.
In a corner, he spotted Ian talking to a pretty young lady, so Jonathan made his way over.The woman had gone by the time Jonathan reached Ian.
“Can you believe we are at one of these disgusting things?”Ian remarked.
“I thought maybe you were shopping,” Jonathan teased.“How else are you going to find a wife?”
“Probably not here with all these protective mothers hovering about.However, I must say that young woman I was just with wasn’t too bad.”Ian turned and looked at her across the room.“But I’d prefer someone older who doesn’t giggle at everything I have to say.Perhaps I should consider Elizabeth since you don’t want her.”
Jonathan’s jaw tensed.“I’m supposed to find her asuitablehusband,” he said.
“I take offense to that statement, ol’ friend,” Ian said, not meaning a word of it from the twinkle in his eyes.“I’m titled, wealthy, and single.I think I’m an excellent catch.”
‘‘And a rake,” Jonathan shot back.‘‘I want someone who will take care of Elizabeth.”
“I could reform,” Ian suggested as he watched Elizabeth on the dance floor.“She really is beautiful,” he said in earnest.“Look at all the men watching her.”
“I’ve noticed,” Jonathan stated as he, too, watched Elizabeth.She was quite stunning.
Elizabeth danced with one gentleman after another.So many, she couldn’t keep their names straight.By the time she was led back to Tiffany, she was feeling a bit dizzy.However, she wasn’t given time to catch her breath.Jonathan seemed to appear out of nowhere.Without a word he took her by the arm.
“Shall we?”
Elizabeth just stared at him.“I’m sorry—you’re not on my dance card.”
