“Yes, you’re correct, love.We need to make an impression.”
“I… am not sure how to do that.Edwin has known me since I was in braids and in the nursery.But tonight, that needs to change.”
“If his mother has any influence, she’ll remind him to pay attention to you, love.We have an advantage, and we will use it shamelessly.All we need is that initial attraction; he can fall in love with you later.We want fascination.A little mystery.”
“Fascination?Mystery?And just how are we to create that?I was thinking I could arrive early, maybe talk to Pere and—”
“No.Not early, we will arrive late,” the duchess stated directly, as if stating a plan she’d already set in motion.
“Whyever for?Won’t Pere be hurt?”
The duchess flicked her fingers in the air with a careless twist of her wrist.“Lady Peregrine will be so busy greeting her guests and dancing she won’t have time to notice.But arriving late… you’ll see.”
“So, I do have time to read a sketch longer?”she asked hopefully.
“Absolutely not!Leave the book, the watercolors, and all the architectural books and don’t mention it tonight, for heaven’s sake.”
“It’s fascinating—”
“Believe me, I’ve heard it plenty.Not ladylike, however.I’ll not have you be a mindless ninny either.”The duchess shook her head and gave the display of books and watercolors an impatient glare.
“Are those my only two options, Mother?”Anna asked, her lips quirking into an amused grin.
The duchess scowled playfully.“Go, I’ll ask a maid to begin preparing your bath and you can linger a few minutes.Samantha will have your blue silk prepared.And I think we will sweep your hair just slightly and keep it soft and curled on the top.It’s a very becoming style for you, don’t you agree?”
“Not my green?A change in dress is required?And yes, I do like the sweeping style.I approve of that.”
“Yes, indeed, we must change the dress.”The duchess stood and regarded her daughter.“We will take no chances; we want to capture his attention and then keep it.”She started toward the door and then paused, turning back to her daughter.“I’ll be in later to oversee your final touches, because tonight, my love, is an evening you’ll be sure to remember.”
*
It was severalhours later that Anna rested her hand on the carriage window as she watched the cobbled street fly by.The carriage slowed just before the entrance to the Rosewood residence, London home for the Earl of Devon.It was a familiar place, one she often visited to spend time with Pere, but tonight was different.The sweet swell of music filtered through the air, almost too quiet to hear.A footman opened their carriage door and Anna waited for her mother and father to alight first.
The Duke and Duchess of Kinfield made their way to the door, with Anna following.Their names were announced, and Anna took a moment to catalogue her surroundings.The music swelled as they came into the ballroom, a swirl of humanity moving in organized chaos.The clinking of champagne glasses and the low roar of conversation made the ballroom buzz with life.
Following her parents into the fray, she wondered just why her mother had insisted they arrive late.There hadn’t been a hush over the crowd when they’d entered; few had even glanced in their direction.In fact, it was very anticlimactic.Her father patted her mother’s hand, then paused to speak with another gentleman, which was the silent cue for her to take her mother’s side and find their own social circle.
“Anna,” her mother called to her.
When Anna took her place beside her, she listened closely as her tone dropped.
“Now we can thank our host.Without a lineup behind us.”
Anna cocked her head and then grinned.“Why, Mother, you truly are brilliant.”
“I know.”
Anna bit back her smile as they navigated the ballroom floor in search of the Earl of Devon and his family.The duchess led Anna around the refreshment table, and then as dancers in the Scottish reel parted, Anna’s heart thumped an erratic beat when she caught sight of the Viscount Devon from across the room.The dancers blocked her view as quickly as they’d given it, and Anna took the opportunity to indicate to her mother the direction they should travel.Taking a fortifying breath, Anna willed her body into a calm state, one that it immediately refused to obey.With each step toward Lady Devon with their family beside them, Anna’s palms grew damp and her breath was unsteady.
Lady Peregrine was holding court with several gentlemen, each taking turns asking questions and writing on her dance card.Pere’s attention darted toward Anna, and she raised her hand in a delicate wave of welcome.Anna smiled in return, knowing her friend would be pleased with the attention from potential suitors.After all, this was the whole reason for the come-out, wasn’t it?
Anna’s attention lingered on Pere for a moment before shifting to her closest brother, Henley.Dark wavy hair resisted any form of fashion and added to his refusal to conform to the ways of society.He was the rogue, the one ladies only whispered about but never dared to ask for an introduction.Edwin, however, was like a laughing angel, with light features and a perpetual smile.He was constantly dancing, flirting, engaging, and taking every debutante’s heart captive with one look.
Her attention shifted back to Henley.The expression on his face was constant disapproval and boredom, or perhaps he was simply more serious in nature.One would expect him to have a devil-may-care persona to match his dark beauty.He was the taller of the brothers, but what Henley had in height, Edwin made up for in glory.
Anna allowed her attention to fix on the object of her secret affection, thankful his attention was elsewhere, giving her the opportunity to study him.The golden brother, Edwin was fair with sea-green eyes and angelic curls that gave him an innocent yet delicious appearance.His blond hair was cut in the latest fashion, and his evening kit fit around every mold of his shoulder and musculature.Where Henley had made a name in scandal, Edwin had made a name in charm, and Anna doubted if any debutante, widow, or even married woman for that matter, hadn’t dared to dream of being singled out by his attentions.
She let out a small sigh of wistful hope, catching herself as she caught movement in her peripheral vision.Eyes flickering to the spot, she met the gaze of Henley.He gave her a nod, but his eyes were unreadable.Had he seen her intent pursuit of his brother?Was he merely acknowledging a known person?She’d been a familiar of the family for years, but even with all that time spent with Pere, her brothers were still quite enigmatic, especially Henley.
