“Will you spend Christmas at yours?” he asked.
“Of course,” Ariana said, but then remembered that she could be married and elsewhere by then.
He proved perceptive. “You would rather not?”
“I will delight in it,” she replied with a bright smile. “It’s such an enjoyable time of year in the countryside.”
“Have you ever spent it in Town?”
“No.”
“That, too, has its charms. But I suspect my wife will want a country Christmas.”
He wasmarried? Despite the shock, Ariana maintained her smile, but how had Lady Cawle not known that? Why had Hermione not told her?
“Onlysuspect, sir?” she teased. “Should you not know?”
“We marry next week and still have much to learn about one another.”
Thank heavens the music was introduced then and Ariana could turn her attention elsewhere, if not her thoughts.
A Russian male choir began singing deep and sonorous songs, which suited her mood. She was beginning to fear that her quest was cursed, and matters were not improved by Kynaston leaning close and murmuring, “So much for that prospect.”
“Did you know?” she murmured back, eyes on the choir.
“The purpose of your coming here? Yes. His imminent marriage? No.”
She glanced at him to assess the truth of that, and was caught for a moment by those splendid blue eyes. Yes, they still showed a trace of his debauchery, but they were magnificent at such close quarters and there was something in his expression....
She turned hastily forward.
She must guard against that, for it would be folly to deny his ability to heat her body and addle her wits. She needed a sensible, reliable husband, and must work harder at that. The candidates were dwindling, and no new ones had presented. North had been a new possibility, but he was interested elsewhere. Dauntry was soon to wed.
After a while she realized that she shouldn’t be surprised.
It was true that many unmarried members of the beau monde were intent on changing their state, but people weren’t attracted to every member of the opposite sex they met, especially oddities such as excessively tall ladies. When she considered the matter, no man ever had captured her interest or stirred her emotions in a powerful way.
Except one.
Who sat beside her, emanating something that made her want to lean closer, or move a hand closer to accidentally touch...
None of that!
This was her first social foray, and she had weeks ahead of her. She settled to appreciating the deep-voiced harmonies, trying not to hear sorrow and tragedy in every note.
After the performance, everyone moved toward the ballroom. Once there, Dauntry asked Ariana to partner him. Kynaston, of course, made no objection and offered a hand to Dauntry’s companion, a Mrs. Lansing. Things could have been worse, Ariana told herself. She had a tall and amiable partner and was becoming more relaxed about Town dancing all the time. For the rest of the night, she would simply enjoy herself, especially as she had a choice of partners for every dance.
She was enjoying being part of one of a number of eights, when she almost missed a step—because Norris was dancing in the nearest one. He usually avoided dancing as much as possible, but Lady Lieven must have dragged him to his duty. He seemed remarkably cheerful about it. That was probably because he was partnered with a very pretty young blonde who smiled at him as if he were a god, and danced with exceptional grace.
He even grinned at Ariana as if he was enjoying himself, too.
Heavens! Was he to be her salvation by falling in love?
When the dance ended, she returned to Lady Cawle’s side, but kept an eye on her brother. He and the blonde had joined another couple—a dandified young man and a hopelessly dressed plain girl—but he still looked all aglow.
Ariana asked, “Do you know the young lady with my brother, ma’am?”
“The pretty flibbertigibbet? A Miss Weathersted, I understand.”
