“Of course,” she says. “How dreadful to get stuck. We should tell someone about that.”
“Would have been an awful way to spend the whole ball,” Catherine agrees.
“Oh, gosh, yes,” the woman says. “Glad I found you.”
“Me too,” Catherine says genuinely. She may be Lady Rosalie’s friend, but she’s been a colossal help, and she seems sweet. They can’tallbe mercenary masterminds, right?
“I’m MissHenrietta Raught,” the woman says.
“MissCatherine Pine,” Catherine replies, ducking in a very belated curtsy.
Miss Raught sucks in a breath and curtsies herself. “We’ve been watching you. I mean—it’s nice to meet you, I haven’t seen you at the balls before,” she continues, her voice going a little meek, cheeks pinking further.
She steps backward and moves to stand in front of the mirrors, avoiding Catherine’s eyes. Catherine considers her. Lady Rosalie was stealing dances for her all night. She may not have any part in Lady Rosalie’s schemes and might merely be the beneficiary.
She could be a wealth of information, and it wouldn’t hurt to try to befriend someone tonight. Surely Mother would approve of her trying to make a friend, even if Catherine hasn’t entirely accepted her crusade for revenge yet. And if that friend can give her some insight into Lady Rosalie’s intentions, all the better.
“It’s nice to meet you as well,” Catherine says, stepping to stand in front of the mirror beside MissRaught’s. “How long have you been in Bath?”
“About ten years,” MissRaught says, her face relaxing. “My father has a solicitor’s business.”
“Do you like it here?” Catherine asks, pretending to adjust her curls.
“Most of the time,” MissRaught says with a shrug. “It gets a little dull after so many years, but we keep busy.”
“We?”
“Oh, my friends. MissLinet’s been here for her entire life, and Lady Rosalie. They adopted me into their group when we moved, and we’ve been friends ever since.”
Catherine wonders what it must be like to have a friend like Lady Rosalie. To walk about the ballrooms with someone like that. To be under her care and protection...
“That’s lovely,” Catherine says. “Bath seems such a busy place. It must be nice to have such good friends.”
“It is,” MissRaught says, taking a short breath before finally looking back at her. “How are you enjoying Bath so far?”
“It’s been an adjustment,” Catherine says carefully, watching the way MissRaught’s face is going slightly wooden, her jaw tight, lips poised for another question.
“I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it quickly. You certainly have made an impression tonight,” MissRaught says, a little fast.
Catherine hides her smile. It seems she struck a nerve, gaining Mr.Dean’s first dance. Though she thinks MissHenrietta Raught was perhaps not the most subtle of friends to send on a reconnaissance mission. “I get the sense that any newcomer causes some minor fuss, but I’m sure there’ll be another in a few weeks.”
“Oh, but none so pretty as you. All of the suitors are interested, I can tell,” MissRaught says.
“Do you have a formal suitor?” Catherine asks.
“Not... officially. But Mr.Rile comes to call quite often,” MissRaught says, blushing.
“He seems taken with you from what I could see.”
MissRaught’s face relaxes and her shoulders come down. “Oh, thank you.”
“And your friends, are they courting too?” Catherine asks, hoping it comes off as casual.
“My friend MissLinet and Mr.Fortes are close, I think. He seems very set on her.”
“But not she on him?” Catherine wonders. She didn’t get a close look at the third woman in their trio.
Miss Raught’s smile drops. “Oh, well, I don’t know. I’m sure she’s very—she’s very fond of him,” she decides.
