The line progressed steadily until finally they found themselves before the dowager duchess.
“Bellamy, so glad you could make it,” said the dowager. Her smile was easy, her eyes guarded, but then Bellamy had always found her a contradiction.
“I am glad to be here,” he said with a smile as he bowed over the duchess’s hand. “May I introduce the Countess of Blackhurst.”
“Lady Blackhurst.” The dowager nodded in acknowledgement. “This is my son, Warrington.”
The duke bowed over Lisbeth’s hand and shook Oliver’s, but said nothing.
Oliver explained the others in the welcoming party to her in a whisper. “Charles, Earl of Harlow, and his wife Gabrielle. Thomas, Viscount Epping, and his wife, Anna. Lord Anthony Ashton and Lady Marianne.”
Lisbeth couldn’t help but stare as they made their bows and curtseys to each other. They were all so handsome. Lady Marianne was a beauty, too, but she had yet to grow into her full beauty. She would be stunning in a few years.
Lord Anthony lingered over Lisbeth’s hand a little too long. She felt him assessing her as she greeted the others. He was handsome, but in a different way to the rest of his family. Ifanything, he most resembled his eldest brother William, except that he was fair. His summer blue eyes showed appreciation at what he saw in her but instead of revolting her it intrigued her.
“I hope you will do me the honor of a dance, Lady Blackhurst,” he said, giving her an assessing look.
She understood his reservations. Bellamy was his friend. She just hoped he would give her the benefit of the doubt. “I would like that, Lord Anthony, thank you.”
“I hope you will do me the honor of a dance, Lady Marianne?” Oliver asked. Marianne giggled and gave her curtsey. He took up her dance card and scrawled his name in the appropriate place. She smiled then and Lisbeth knew that yes, stunning was exactly what she would be when she had grown a little more in confidence.
Lady Marianne was her not so long ago. She too had been young, eager, and hopeful of a good match. All the while she had been overwhelmed by all the men who had fought for her attention.
Nathaniel had seemed like a god to her then. Tall, dark, and handsome with an air of power about him that Lisbeth had found intoxicating. She had been blind to his faults, if he had shown them at all, in those few short weeks he had courted her. He had been nothing but the utmost gentleman. He did not even kiss her until she had accepted his proposal. After that his attentions had waned dramatically. He had what he wanted, her dowry. Why put in any more effort than was necessary? She had told herself it was because he was a busy man and she had much to do anyway planning the wedding. She should have seen the signs, but in her innocence she had not known what to look for.
She hoped for a very different result for Lady Marianne.
*
The ball wasprogressing well and soon Lord Anthony was bowing over Lisbeth’s hand. She caught Oliver giving his friend a narrowed look of warning. She tried to put them both at ease.
“Do stop frowning, Bellamy. I assure you, I shall bring Lord Anthony back to you without any broken toes.”
“It is nothistoes I am worried about.”
“Do not listen to him, Lord Anthony,” she said, as she took his arm.
“I rarely do, Lady Blackhurst,” he replied with a smile.
They had just completed the first set when Lord Anthony spoke. “Lady Blackhurst, I must admit that anybody who can put up with Bellamy for more than an hour has my undying admiration.”
“Thank you, Lord Anthony. I agree that he can be most vexing at times, but he has charmed his way into my affection.”
“Yes, it is most annoying how he does that.” They parted as they turned and skipped to the other end of the line.
“I know you have questions for me,” she said when they were again opposite each other.
“I do. Some you may think ungentlemanly of me to ask.”
He was watching her reaction, perhaps expecting her to swoon from guilt or blurt out a confession. “Will you ask them anyway, Lord Anthony?”
He smiled. “With so many ears about it would be indelicate of me to do so. However, I am concerned.”
“About whether or not I killed my husband or whether or not I would repeat such an act with your friend?”
If he was shocked by her boldness, he did not react. They moved through a few more sets before he spoke again. “I donot care about your dead husband and Bellamy can look after himself. He is no easy mark. Are you aware that Bellamy’s brother invested with your husband?”
“I am aware.”
