With heat still in her cheeks, Susanna glanced at her friend, then looked out over the crowd. “And you?”
Ellen laughed and shook her head.
“I have seen Lord Winslow come to speak with you and dance with you on more than one occasion,” Susanna said, pointedly. “And Lord Kettering has been attentive, has he not?”
“Yes, I suppose they both have,” Ellen agreed, “but I think I should very much like to be in love just as you are with Lord Lancashire.”
“That may come with a continued acquaintance,” Susanna suggested, as Ellen shrugged. “You have had your own share of difficulty. You deserve to find a happiness all of your own.”
“I thank you.” Ellen smiled at her. “I am hopeful I shall.” Her head tipped to one side. “Might I ask if Lord Lancashire is going to declare his affection for you to all and sundry? Is there to be courtship?”
Susanna shook her head, making Ellen’s eyebrows lift in surprise. “Not as yet. He wanted very much to do so, but I told him we had to wait.” She spread out her hands. “We must find the truth about the letter from Lord Blackwood, which we now think was not from Lord Blackwood after all.”
Ellen’s surprise faded. “And if you announce your courtship or the like, then you fear that whoever wrote that letter might do something more – or something worse.”
“Precisely.”
“Then I should like to help you,” Ellen told her, as two gentlemen began to move purposefully towards them. “If youwould permit me?”
There was no time to answer, for the two gentlemen in question came to stand directly in front of them both, bowing low, and as Susanna turned to greet them, her heart leapt up wildly.
“Good evening, Lady Susanna, Lady Ellen.” Lord Lancashire’s eyes glinted gently as he smiled at her. “We have come in the hope that you will permit us both a dance this evening.”
Susanna wanted to rip the dance card from her wrist and thrust it in Lord Lancashire’s direction, such was her eagerness, but instead, she smiled, glanced at Ellen, and then took the ribbon carefully from her wrist. “Thank you, Lord Lancashire, Lord Kettering.” A glance towards Ellen told her that her friend’s color had also heightened just a fraction. Was she caught by Lord Kettering’s interest, even in a small way? “We should be delighted.”
“The waltz, I think!” Lord Lancashire declared, his eyes now holding a warmth to them that made Susanna’s face grow hot. “What say you to that, Lord Kettering?”
“I think it is an excellent notion,” came the reply, as Lord Kettering signed his name to Ellen’s dance card. “If you are both permitted to dance the waltz, that is.”
“We are,” Ellen spoke quickly, looking to Lord Kettering with a sharpness in her eyes, as if she wanted to ascertain why he wanted to take her waltz. There was something there, Susanna thought — a wariness in Ellen’s gaze that was not quite indifference, and a steadiness in Lord Kettering’s regard that spoke of more than mere politeness. He watched Ellen with a quiet attentiveness, as though cataloguing every small shift of her expression. “You are very kind, Lord Kettering.””
Susanna smiled softly as Lord Lancashire held her gaze for a long moment before lowering his head and writing hisname there. This had been planned by both himself and Lord Kettering, it seemed, and Susanna was very grateful. It was a way for them both to dance together without anyone taking particular note of it – but it would mean so much to her.
“And now, if I might take your card, Lady Susanna?” Lord Kettering handed Lord Lancashire his card, and Lord Lancashire did the same. “Another dance for the both of us… although perhaps not as significant as the waltz!”
With a smile, Susanna took back her dance card from Lord Lancashire’s fingers, the brief touch of his skin to hers making her tremble inwardly with hope and expectation. “I thank you.”
“Goodness, Lord Lancashire, are you already signing dance cards without coming to speak to us? I should confess myself to be a little put out!”
Startled by not only the loud interjection but also the boldness with which the lady spoke, Susanna took a small step backwards.
“Now, Theresa, there are more than enough dances for us all this evening,” said another young lady, one that Susanna did not know. “Good evening, Lord Kettering, good evening, Lord Lancashire.”
“Good evening, Lady Honora,” Lord Lancashire replied. “Might I introduce you to Lady Susanna, the daughter of the Duke of Somerset? And this is Lady Ellen, present with her aunt, Lady Kilthorn, for the Season.” As the Marquess looked back at Susanna, something shimmered in his eyes, something that caught her interest. “Lady Ellen, Lady Susanna, this is Lady Honora. Her father is the Earl of Birmingham.” He paused. “Her uncle is also the esteemed Lord Blackwood.”
Susanna’s eyebrows shot high, but shecurtsied quickly, giving herself a few moments to cover her surprise with a smile of welcome. “How very good to make your acquaintance, Lady Honora.”
“Oh, but Lord Blackwood is also our uncle,” Lady Theresa put in, ignoring Susanna entirely and looking straight at Lord Lancashire. “Did you not know? We are all related!”
Blinking quickly, Susanna looked to Lord Lancashire, seeing how the corners of his eyes rounded.
“I was unaware of that,” he said, slowly, as Susanna caught Ellen’s sharp gaze, wondering if her own curiosity was being piqued at this new development. “Lord Blackwood is an excellent gentleman, known to us all to be sincere and trustworthy. I hear he has the ear of the King!”
Lady Evelina spoke before her sister could. “That is quite true, Lord Lancashire. A fine attribute for any gentleman, I am sure you will agree.” She smiled delicately but cast a glance at her younger sister, a warning look which Susanna understood all too well. She was telling Lady Theresa to slow her remarks and her speech, for at the present moment, she was being rather forward. “We are honored to be related to him.”
“An excellent connection indeed,” Ellen murmured, casting a small smile in Lady Honora’s direction. “I am very pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“And now, the dance cards!” Lady Theresa exclaimed, handing her dance card to Lord Lancashire without his even asking her if she would like to dance. “I must say, I hope that you will favor me the very best of dances this evening, Lord Lancashire. There are so many wonderful dances, but my favorite is –”
