Julia gave the countess a small smile and curtsied to her hostess. “With a limited number of invitations sent out for this delightful event, I am sure you already know where I received mine from.”
The countess gave a firm nod and winked at her as Julia walked away, allowing the guests behind her to greet the older woman.
“She winked at you, Julia,” Willa said breathlessly.
“Perhaps the countess knows something we do not,” she said rather distractedly as her gaze swept over the lovely décor.
The first floor had two oversized drawing rooms divided by folding doors. However, the doors were now open, creating a generous space. Two white marble fireplaces were ablaze and three crystal chandeliers cast the room in brilliant light. Mirrors adorned the walls, and bouquets of hothouse flowers were placed in Grecian style floor vases, the exotic colors as beautiful as the rich fabrics of the women’s expensive gowns.
The first drawing room had been transformed into a music room, a pianoforte and harp arranged by a small dais where two silver floor stands alight with dozens of candles awaited the night’s performance. Julia counted the chairs that had been set out for the audience—there were sixty-eight.
“A rather small gathering,” Julia observed.
“You mean intimate,” Willa said.
“There are Lord and Lady Bellingham. The Duke of Keller and his betrothed. Is that not the Earl of Wesley?”
“You’re doing it again, Julia.”
“What?”
“Avoiding the subject at hand.”
“No. I am simply pointing out who is here. And you did not answer my question.”
“Yes,” Willa said. “That is the Earl of Wesley.”
“He is a rather handsome specimen, is he not?”
“Men are not specimens.”
“Jean Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet would disagree, I think.”
Willa gave her one of those what-nonsense-are-you-talking smirks. “And who is this Jean fellow?”
“A French naturalist who claimed organisms had to change with their environments in order to survive.”
“Did he consider men specimens?”
“Not directly, but one can assume humans are living organisms like any other creature.”
Willa sighed. “So, what would you consider theton?”
Julia gazed about again, watching the men and women interact. It was as if everyone within the peerage were characters in a play, all in costumes and all upon a great stage. “Most definitely creatures.”
Willa could not hold in her unladylike giggle, which caught the attention of Lord Ashton and several older women standing nearby.
“Lady Julia,” one of the women said. “Where is your father?”
Julia gave the older woman the respect and attention she deserved. “He had important business tonight, Lady Hamilton. But I will be sure to let him know you asked after him.”
Lady Hamilton’s expression softened, and then she looked at Willa. “Lady Willa, how is your mother?”
She curtsied. “She is very well, Lady Hamilton. Thank you.”
“Let her know I will call on her sometime next week.”
“She would be delighted.”
