“This is my sister, Lady Norah,” Lord Dorset said, as he gestured to the young lady with pale blue eyes and a warm smile. “Norah, this is Viscount Kingsley, someone I have known since Eton!”
“And let me introduce you to another friend of mine,” Lord Kingsley said, quickly. “Lord Dorset, Lady Dorset, Lady Norah, this is the Viscount Warwickshire and his sister, Miss Beatrice Williams.”
“A pleasure to meet you all,” Beatrice murmured, as she settled into another curtsy, wondering if she was ever to have any dance on her card taken or if she was to spend the evening being introduced to one person and then the next.
“You are here with your brother also, it seems.” Lady Norah, her smile still as warm as before, took a step closer to Beatrice. “They are frightfully irritating, are they not?”
Beatrice could not help but laugh, seeing her brother scowl whilst Lord Dorset did the very same thing. “I was just thinking that very thing, Lady Norah,” she said, nudging her brother lightly but unobtrusively, in the hope that he would realize that this Lady Norah might well be someone he could take an interest in. Yes, her hair was darker than the golden hue he had described, but all the same, she was certainly suitable in all other matters of importance!
“A very poor thing to say, I think,” Lord Dorset grumbled, only for his wife to laugh and take his arm, her eyes twinkling.
“You do not much like being teased, do you?” she said, as Beatrice smiled back at Lady Norah. “You know very well, my dear, that we both think very highly of you.”
Beside Beatrice, Lord Warwickshire cleared his throat. “Well, if it may be of any benefit to you, Lady Norah, perhaps I might steal you away from your brother for a short while? A dance, mayhap?”
Lady Norah beamed at him as if he had offered her something quite wonderful. “How delightful, yes.”
“And you, Miss Williams?” Lord Kingsley, not to be outdone, inclined his head. “Might I be so bold as to ask for a dance from you also?”
Within a few minutes, Beatrice’s dance card was no longer empty. Another gentleman by the name of Lord Govanhill had come to join them, and he too had signed both her own and Lady Norah’s dance card. A little wearied from the many introductions and the smile she was continually forced to keep on her face, Beatrice let out a slow breath, only for Lady Norah to speak.
“Mayhap, since your brother is to take me frommybrother for a time, I might offer the same?” she asked, as Beatrice frowned, a little confused. “We could take a turn about the room along with my sister-in-law, Lady Dorset?” This was said with aquestioning look shot towards Lady Dorset, who after a moment, nodded. “In truth, Miss Williams, I should be very glad of your company, for I am quite anxious about this entire evening!”
“You are making your debut, so it is quite understandable for you to be so.” It was Beatrice’s brother who spoke before she did, garnering him a soft smile from Lady Norah, which, Beatrice considered, was precisely what he had been hoping for with such a remark.
“Yes, I should be glad to walk with you,” Beatrice said, before her brother could say more. “So long as that is quite all right with you, Warwickshire? I am sure you will be relieved to have your duties as regards chaperoning me gone entirely for a few minutes!” She said this with a lilt to her voice, teasing him gently and, much to her relief, making him chuckle.
“You know very well that it is no great pain to chaperone you, but yes, if you would wish to walk away from me for a time, then I shall not complain!” He inclined his head towards Lady Dorset. “I thank you.”
“But of course,” she replied, as Beatrice began to walk away, Lady Norah falling into step beside her. “We shall not be long.”
“This is not your first Season, Miss Williams?” Lady Norah asked, nearly the moment after they had taken their leave. “Or is it that you are also making your debut?”
Beatrice shook her head. “My debut was last Season, so I can well understand your nervousness. Even though this is my second Season, I will admit to feeling the very same thing also!”
“Oh, but I am sure you have nothing to worry about,” Lady Norah replied, as Lady Dorset walked a step or two behind them, allowing them a freedom in conversation that might not have been present were she to stay very close indeed. “You already know what thetonis like; you are already fully aware of society and its expectations. I, on the other hand, must learn it all, and I confess myself quite anxious indeed over it. What if I makesome grave error and ruin myself entirely? What if I trip over a gentleman’s feet when we are to dance?”
Beatrice smiled ruefully, recognizing that those had been some of her own fears the previous year. She still was a little concerned that she might trip and fall when she danced the cotillion or some such thing, but did her best not to think about such a scenario.
“I am sure it will all go very well for you, Lady Norah,” she said, in what she hoped was as encouraging a manner as possible. “Do you hope to make a match this Season?”
Her new friend nodded. “My brother would prefer if I did, although Sarah – that is, Lady Dorset – tells me that I am not to be in any great rush. I know that my brother very much desires to be alone with his wife, which is quite understandable, but at the same time, he will not force me into a match I do not want.”
“That is a relief, for there are many gentlemen whowoulddo such a thing.”
“Your own brother included?”
Beatrice laughed and shook her head, imagining what would happen should her brother attempt to force her onto the arm of a gentleman of his choosing. “No, indeed not.” Seeing Lady Norah’s curious look, Beatrice tried to explain. “I am just as strong-minded as he, you understand. He might demand one thing with a good deal of strength, and I would refuse him with the very same strength! Thus, we would find ourselves at war, and neither of us, I think, would dare concede.” Her shoulders lifted in a light shrug. “Besides, he is seeking a match this Season also, and it would not do if he were to force me into a match whilst he made his own free choice!”
Lady Norah’s eyes lit with a flicker of interest as she smiled. “No, I suppose that would not do at all.” She let out a quiet laugh. “My own brother has encouraged me in one particular direction already! He returned from a walk through London having comeupon an old friend, and informed me thathewould make me an excellent match.” She sighed, her lips twitching. “Given that I have not yet even been introduced to the gentleman, I told him that I wanted to make my own decision as regards my future husband.” Her lips quirked. “He was disappointed that I did not think overly well of the description he gave of Lord Surrey, but I, as you are, am quite determined to make my own choice.”
Beatrice stumbled, her feet going from under her. Lady Norah let out an exclamation and caught her hand, holding her steady as Beatrice did her best to right herself without causing a great commotion. To her very great relief, she managed without too much difficulty, giving Lady Norah a quick smile and apologizing to Lady Dorset, who had hurried to see them both. Once she had assured them both that she was quite all right and that she was well able to continue on with her walking, Beatrice let Lady Norah speak while she only nodded, smiled, and tried inwardly to quieten her frantic heart.
He is here in London,her mind screamed, her whole body trembling for just a moment.Lord Surrey is here… and from the sound of it, seeking a match of his own.
3
This is not in the least bit enjoyable.
