The viscount bowed to them each in turn, asked if they would do him the honor of dancing, and dutifully filled in a single line on each of their cards before he nodded and wandered away.
“How can we even tell which one of us he was interested in?” Charlotte asked.
The Duke of Pelham grinned. “You can’t, not yet. He probably has no idea himself. My duchess invited mostly debutantes and first-year gentlemen, so no cagey rogues will be roaming my ballroom. However, none of these guests know one another unless their families are aligned in some way. After a few balls and dinner dances, you will come to have a list of favorites safely tucked in your head as will these gentlemen.”
“Like favorite sweets at our shop,” Beatrice murmured.
“Precisely,” the duke said. “I will continue to introduce you.”
And he did. Every few minutes he came by with a new man, Lord Longden, Lord Burtley, and Lord Abendee, and then, as host, he had to take them around and introduce them to other female guests.
“This seems so strange,” Beatrice said, having met more single men than she had over the course of her entire lifetime.
“And wonderful,” Charlotte said. “I suppose it is the luck of the Season whether you find a mate in this crop of gentlemen or at a ball that has the previous year’s harvest, maybe even some of those rogues our brother-in-law was talking about.”
“Maybe,” Beatrice wasn’t really listening to her sister’s words, something about agriculture. Studying her card, she hoped she could do all the dances without making a fool of herself.
When Amity showed up, she knew the first dance would begin soon.
“Where have you been?” Beatrice asked, belatedly realizing her tone had sounded a little sharp. “Sorry,” she amended. “I guess I’m a little nervous.”
“Don’t be. You look beautiful,” Amity said. “You both do, and your dancing has improved greatly. Don’t forget, any missteps will be blamed upon the man.”
“While it hardly seems fair,” Beatrice said, “I confess I’m glad that’s the case.”
“In answer, I was introducing your Mr. Carson to eligible young ladies,” Amity reminded her. “That was the primary aim of this endeavor, wasn’t it? Also, I knew if Henry brought young men over to meet you and mentioned how you were his sisters-in-law, it would elevate you in the eyes of the nobility. It will serve you far better than if people start associating the three of us. This way, you can have your own identities and maybe even a little allure.”
The three of them chuckled. However, Beatrice thought the real reason Amity had kept her distance was because she’d had a harsh introduction to high society, due to the simple error of calling the duke by the address of “my lord” instead of “Your Grace.” It probably wouldn’t have mattered to anyone if a spiteful earl’s daughter who wanted the duke for herself hadn’t decided to make a public scolding. What’s more, it had happened right there in that very ballroom.
“In any case, no matter how terribly we may blunder,” Charlotte said, “I intend to have a good evening. Besides, you said that day of your humiliation was also the day your husband knew he was in love with you.”
Amity’s cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink as the violinist drew his bow sharply across his instrument, signaling the start of the Grand March. The duke came an instant later to claim his blushing bride.
“Come along, my love, we have a dance to host.” He held out his right hand, and Amity placed hers atop his, then he led her away.
As they walked to the middle of the polished floor, the other guests clapped, and those who were going to dance took up their places behind the Duke and Duchess of Pelham for the Grand March.
Mr. Carson reappeared and took Beatrice’s hand, but she hesitated until a tall man with large sideburns showed up to claim Charlotte. They proceeded onto the dance floor as theRadetzky Marchbegan, and everyone promenaded down the middle and then split off side to side. Beatrice ended up strolling back along the length of the room on the opposite side to Charlotte.
“So far, so good, Miss Rare-Foure,” Mr. Carson said.
“Indeed. My dance card is full, I believe. Did you manage to stake your claim to many titled ladies?”
“As to that, with your elder sister’s assistance, I did. I shall be out here on the parquet treading on ladies’ feet all night.”
So, this would be their only dance.Why should that bother her?Undoubtedly, it was simply the familiarity of being with him versus every other strange man in the room, knowing he wasn’t considering her for marital purposes and, thus, not passing judgment on any of her failings.
“I hope you find what you’re looking for,” she said.
“My sole thought at this moment is dancing with you, Miss Rare-Foure, and getting through the wretched quadrille.”
That made Beatrice laugh, relaxing her, and she was ever so grateful the American had dragged her into this.
***
GREER FELT LIKE THEproverbial fox in a hen house. So many pretty ladies, and so many who were actually “my lady” ladies. He was minding his manners and his feet. He hadn’t tripped himself or anyone else, or even bruised any dainty toes.
Strangely, he didn’t enjoy dancing with any of these young women the way he had with Beatrice over the past couple of weeks. He supposed it was because these ladies behaved so formally. When he bowed and took a woman’s hand, it wasn’t really the time for frank discussion, jokes, or laughter. As it turned out, there was no time for any of that at all during the dance or after when he returned them to their table. Everything was curt and scripted.
