Sebastian’s eye was drawn to the magnificent sapphire necklace and he wondered about her late husband. He must have left her well provided for. As if guessing his thoughts, she smiled and her hand went to the sapphire necklace, letting the perfect stones fall between her fingers as they played in the light of the candelabra.
‘Thank you, Lord Somerton. Oh, Mr. Lynch, I didn’t see you there.’
‘Lady Kendall. Your servant, ma’am,’ Freddy said.
Lady Kendall spared him a quick smile and a cursory acknowledgement of his presence before turning back to Sebastian as the band struck up the next dance.
‘A waltz, Lord Somerton? My card is quite free.’
Sebastian opened his mouth to protest but she had already taken his arm, and he had no choice but to lead her out onto the floor. Despite his protests to Fanny, he could dance, quite well. The pain was not so much physical as emotional. Dancing always brought back memories of the ball in Lisbon, where he had met Inez.
For once, Inez was forgotten as the familiar rhythm took them both around the dance floor. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Freddy had led his sister out, moving with a grace and elegance that surpassed any of the other men.
Lady Kendall glanced at the Lynch siblings, and a small frown puckered her eyebrows.
‘Quite why Anthony put up with Freddy LynchI never understood. It was almost as if the odious creature had some hold over him.’
‘They were cousins,’ Sebastian said without conviction.
‘If there is any family resemblance, I am afraid it eludes me. I did ask him once but he changed the subject.’ Lady Kendall smiled up at Sebastian. ‘On a more pleasing subject, Lord Somerton,your sister is a picture tonight. You must be very proud of her.’
Lady Kendall indicated Connie on the arm of the pimply young man. He hadn’t seen much of his sister over the past week but he had been aware, from the accounts that were crossing his desk, that a veritable army of dressmakers, hat makers, shoemakers and glove-makers had been kept very busy. If the green dress was any indication of her new wardrobe, their efforts had been well worth it. She looked as if she had been born to the life.
He brought his attention back to Lady Kendall, who continued, ‘You have quite a treasure there. I shall look forward to presenting her in London and I will not take no for an answer, Lord Somerton. A pearl such as your sister cannot be left to moulder in the country. I take it she has a dowry?’
‘Really, Lady Kendall—’ Sebastian began to protest, but Georgiana Kendall laughed.
‘It was a foolish question. I am sure you will see your sister properly provided for. I think an earl at least for Constance.’
‘God help the earl who has to put up with my sister. But in all seriousness, Lady Kendall, I will never force Constance to wed against her will,’ Sebastian said.
‘What romantic notions you have, my lord,’ Georgiana Kendall said. ‘Very well, we shall have to find an earl for her to fall in love with.’
The dance ended, and before she had left the floor, Lady Kendall had been claimed by another.
‘I thought you said you didn’t dance!’ A gloved hand insinuated itself around Sebastian’s elbow and he looked down at Fanny. ‘I must insist on the first dance after supper, Cousin Sebastian.’
Masking his annoyance, Sebastian filled in Fanny’s card. Glancing up, he saw Isabel slipping out of the doors to the terrace. He excused himself from Fanny’s cloying attentions and followed her.
She stood leaning her gloved hands on the parapet wall,looking out over the gardens, lit for the festivities with brightly coloured lanterns. He came up softly behind her.
‘It’s cold out here,’ he said.
She started and looked around. ‘Oh, Sebastian. I didn’t hear you.’
‘What were you thinking about?’
She shook her head. ‘I do not like large gatherings of people.’
‘I must agree with you,’ Sebastian said. ‘I will be glad when this evening is over.’
She turned to face him, the light from the windows catching an impish smile on her face.
‘You dance very well for a man with a French musket ball in his leg.’
Sebastian returned a rueful smile. ‘So Pierce says. He has been giving me tuition.’ He paused. ‘I would like to dance with you.’
‘Oh, I think I have scandalised the matrons enough for one night just by my presence. Perhaps Lady Kendall will oblige you again.’ She paused and looked up at him, her eyes, unreadable in the dark, scanning his face. ‘I’m curious, Sebastian, what do you think of Georgiana Kendall?’
