“I’ll need a partner.”
“Maybe a footman can help out.”
“Beatrice!” their mother exclaimed. “Charlotte is not going to dance with a footman. Besides, he wouldn’t know the dances either.”
“True. Then Amity shall have to share her duke. I’m sure she won’t mind.”
***
AS IT TURNED OUT, AMITYdidn’t mind, but the duke looked surprised the following evening when Charlotte turned up with Beatrice. Mr. Carson arrived at the front door nearly at the same time, and they strolled in together about an hour after dinner.
She and Mr. Carson had agreed they didn’t want to be such a burden they had to be provided dinner each time they showed up for a lesson. No matter that Amity had said it was no trouble, they’d insisted on lessons alone.
“Three of you now,” the duke remarked.
Beatrice couldn’t tell if he was feeling put upon. But Amity hugged them both happily, then let Mr. Carson bow over her hand.
They went directly upstairs to the ballroom, and once more, Nanny Beryl was sent for.
“So we’re launching you, as well, Miss Charlotte,” the duke intoned.
“Launching!” Charlotte said, then laughed. “What a delightful word!” She spun in a circle, as excited as child with a new toy. “Yes, I shall be by my sister’s side and perhaps I’ll catch a husband of my own.”
Beatrice had the briefest flash of worry. Charlotte had an effortless charm about her, not to mention bowed lips with a sweet smile and a couple of other assets that constantly drew men’s notice.
“We don’t have to be right beside each other at every minute,” she said without thinking.
Charlotte, looking puzzled, cocked her head.
“I mean,” Beatrice corrected, “you shall want to shine on your own and enjoy yourself with many dashing young men. If we stand talking together, thick as thieves, we might seem unapproachable.”
Her younger sister’s frown vanished. “Honestly, I’m far more interested in dancing and mingling, not to mention seeing all the spectacle, than in finding a husband, although I intend to help you find one. But you may be right about our not standing together all the time.” She considered a moment, then smiled. “We shall arrive and depart together, and during the middle time, we shall make the rounds, circle our prey from two fronts, and compare notes at night’s end.”
The American gave a startled bark of laughter. “Sounds most expeditious.”
“Agreed,” said the duke. “The young gentlemen will have no defenses against the Rare-Foure sisters. I should warn you, there may be a few unfavorable whispers from the other ladies.”
“Why?” asked Amity, as her husband’s ancient nanny arrived and went directly to the piano.
“It’s considered polite to have only one girl from a family debuting in a year, unless they’re twins. I’m not really sure the reasons, perhaps respect for an elder sister or the strains of financial burden in some cases. I don’t know which of the sisters is looked at unfavorably because of two coming out, but I suspect the younger is thought impatient.”
Charlotte shrugged, undaunted, already tapping her toe as the waltz began.
“Oh well,” Beatrice said. “We are not truly debutantes anyway, and frankly, we don’t care what thetonthinks about our private arrangement.”
“If someone so much as looks sideways at Bea, she’ll tell them where to go,” Charlotte said before changing into her dancing slippers.
Amity shook her head. “I hope not.”
“No,” Mr. Carson said, “that won’t do.” And he looked Beatrice directly in the eye with his clear bluish-gray ones. “Even I know we must be courteous and not insult fellow party guests the way you do in the shop. These particular members of the nobility aren’t going to be demanding service or free samples.”
The duke laughed, and Amity joined in. They laughed too long, as far as Beatrice was concerned.Her behavior wasn’t so terrible, was it?
When he caught his breath, the duke asked Mr. Carson, “You’ve witnessed that, have you?”
“Witnessed it?” he repeated. “I’ve experienced it! Miss Rare-Foure even threw toffee at me.”
The duke started to laugh again.
