James lifted an eyebrow. “Wewere invited, were we not?”
“I suppose.”
James gave him a pleading look. “Don’t force me to go it alone, Tristan.”
It seemed a pointless endeavor for Tristan to attend when most of the marriageable women were of thehaute ton, just out of reach, but there was something to be said for attending with a friend. Tristan swallowed the rest of his drink and placed his cup on the small occasional table with a faint clink. He nodded slowly. “Very well. I shall attend Lady Petunia’s ball. But if all the women are snobbish, I’m leaving to try my luck with the debutantes.”
“All fair,” James agreed, his golden hair flopping forward as he nodded. “If that is the case, I’ll go with you.”
“You’re taking your mother’s plea seriously.”
“I must.” He stared at his glass a moment, the empty cup making his blue eyes large and round. “My father had a few bad seasons.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
James shrugged. “It’s nothing a rich wife won’t fix.”
Coming from his mouth, it sounded vulgar, but Tristan couldn’t deny feeling much the same way. Now, if one of the women he danced with came with a good sense of humor, a decent dowry, and a love of both London and horses, she would be perfect.
It shouldn’t be too difficult a feat, surely.
Chapter Two
Caroline Whitby sucked in a deep breath as her maid tightened her stays to a nearly unreasonable degree. She let out a whoosh of air and stepped toward the dressing table, carefully lowering herself on the cushioned seat.
She could breathe, but only just. “Has my brother returned yet?”
Lottie glanced at her in the mirror before pulling Caroline’s hair back and running a brush through it. “Not that I’ve heard, miss.”
“He’ll make us late again. The man is insufferable. We’ve not seen him in five years, and still he cannot remain at home for longer than an hour.”
“Surely he understands the significance of the evening.”
Caroline’s eyelids drifted closed. Lottie tugged at her hair, forcing it into what was bound to be a flattering chignon. This was the night everything would change for Caroline. She had been courted by Mr. Dennison for the better part of six weeks, and he’d hinted plainly enough that tonight would be the evening he’d ask for her hand in marriage. WithFather off in the West Indies but her brother en route to England, Mr. Dennison had waited for James to return home. They planned to meet that evening at the ball so he could ask James’s permission to marry Caroline.
When she was finally an engaged woman, she would be able to breathe again. Tonight’s tight stays were a small sacrifice in order to look her very best.
“Have I hurt you, miss?” Lottie asked, pulling back slightly.
Good heavens. Caroline must have made a noise. “Not at all. I was only thinking of tonight.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Anxious is more apt,” Caroline said.
Lottie nodded, continuing to pin her dark hair in place. “Mr. Dennison’s house is in the North, isn’t it?”
“Yorkshire.”
“That’s a fair stretch.”
“He also has a fortune, Lottie. We will never need to wonder where we’ll find the funds to purchase a new gown. It sounds gloriously relaxing.”
“Indeed, miss.” She completed Caroline’s hair and helped her into her gown before lifting the selected pearl necklace and matching earrings. “You’ll cause a few men in Town to be saddened this evening.”
“Whatever for?”
“Hearing you’ve been taken off the marriage mart.”
