“Where is she?” Lady Cawle asked, raising her lorgnette to look around.
“With some young people somewhere,” Kynaston said. “We old fogies are of little interest.”
Ariana had to squeeze down a grin. Had anyoneever told Lady Cawle she was an old fogy? The lady’s slight smile had disappeared, but Ariana thought she saw a hint of it in her eyes. So, she liked being teased. Probably only by handsome men.
And, Ariana realized, Kynaston wouldn’t speak that way about this Phyllis if she was his ladylove.
“Lady Ariana.”
Ariana turned to find Churston by her side. “May I have the pleasure of the next dance?”
She was surprised by the offer, but had to agree, and another tall partner was to be welcomed. It was a shame she’d miss any further exchanges between Kynaston and Lady Cawle.
“How are you enjoying your time in London, Lady Ariana?” Churston asked as they strolled toward the dance floor.
She was about to respond with a polite platitude, but remembered that she needed to drive him off. Brightly, she said, “I enjoyed the meeting of the Curious Creatures, my lord. The one at Mr. Peake’s house. It’s most interesting to consider life on the moon, don’t you think?”
He gave her an insufferably indulgent look. “Pure folly, dear lady.”
“Are you sure? There was some serious discussion of means of traveling there.”
“I’m sure the folly would easily be exposed by any man of sense.”
Anyman. The bit between her teeth, Ariana said, “Our grandparents couldn’t imagine the speed at which we travel the roads now.”
“The improvement of roads is a relatively simple matter.”
“Then what of balloon flight? If people can rise high that way, why not further?”
“A balloon to the moon? My dear Lady Ariana—”
“We cannot know the future, my lord. I ammostinterested in such matters.”
His smile lingered as they took their places on the dance floor, but she felt sure she’d delivered a killing blow. He probably thought her mad, but even at best he knew her for a woman with an active, curious mind, and one bold enough to interrupt him. He’d never marry such a woman.
One down, she thought as she curtsied. Two if she included Blacknorton. But then she remembered that reducing her suitors was not precisely her purpose.
Lord Dauntry. He was tonight’s target.
As she danced, Ariana kept alert for him, but also took note of all the tall gentlemen around her. Some would be foreigners, and she’d not marry abroad. Others would be married. However, there must be any number of tall eligibles. She noted a few possibilities, but didn’t see Dauntry.
She returned safely to her position near Lady Cawle and her mother. Kynaston hadn’t taken part in the dance and was now with a lively group of ladies and gentlemen.
Ariana felt as if she’d slid into the past.
There he was, at ease, charming, handsome, and, of course, adored. At least two ladies had a predatory glint in their eyes and one gentleman seemed to be drinking in every word he said. Ariana deliberately summoned the memory of his recent debauchery and turned her attention elsewhere.
At last, she saw Dauntry across the room. People were supposed to be able to tell if they were being stared at, so she stared, hoping to attract his attention. However, he hadn’t responded when the next dance wasannounced, and Lady Lieven presented a Mr. Vavasour as partner. He was just a little shorter than she and paunchy, but he’d do.
It was a line dance with two lines, and she saw Kynaston in the other. That was as well. She didn’t want to meet him in the dance and perhaps have her wits softened further. He was partnered with an ordinary-looking woman whom Ariana judged to be married, which was excellent.
Which was nothing to do with her!
Mr. Vavasour was an able dancer with no interest in chatter, so she could enjoy her time with him. Even better, the very short man was in the other line, so she didn’t have to manage that. All was well, but then as the set ended, the next was announced to be a waltz.
The beauty of the waltz was that she would be with the same partner throughout, so there’d be no danger of passing encounters with short men or Kynaston. On the other hand, if a man of medium height offered, she’d be stuck in a slightly awkward situation throughout.
Dauntry would be ideal. She looked at him again, trying to draw him to her side.
