Chapter Eleven
Beatrice kept an eyeout for Mr. Carson from a table close to the refreshments. This was a far larger ball than her sister’s. The fact they needed to provide beverages at two places around the edge of the dance floor indicated the difference. There would be no hearty meal as Amity had laid out, although Beatrice could see on her dance card there would be an intermission for some light refreshments served in another room.
Charlotte in pale peach satin and Beatrice in a gray-blue that reminded her of the American’s eyes, along with their mother, had arrived separately from Mr. Carson for the sole reason that Felicity Rare-Foure wanted to attend. That evening’s dance was at Sandrall Hall, a place she’d heard of since she was a young woman but had never been inside, and she’d decided to take her girls in their own carriage.
“It used to be consideredtheplace to dance,” their mother said, having already expressed her disappointment at a somewhat shabby appearance to the venue. “I suppose like many things, except for our confectionery, reputations sometimes outlast the truth. I hear we have dry bread to look forward to later, and this champagne is watery and warm.”
“So is the lemonade,” Charlotte said, but she seemed less bothered than their mother. She was intent on making sure her dance card became filled by the young gentlemen still arriving.
Beatrice cared about that, too, but she would feel better when Mr. Carson arrived and added his name to her card. Just in case every other partner turned out to be a dreadful bore.
Then she spotted him. He looked more animated, more handsome, more attractive than all the other people entering around him. And when he looked across the room, her heart sped up.Oh dear!
He saw her almost immediately, smiled broadly, and lifted a hand. However, instead of racing over, he made his way slowly, signing other ladies’ cards until he reached them.
“Greetings,” he said, bowing to each in turn, starting with their mother. “This is a larger gathering than I could have imagined. And so many single females in one place.”
“And to think,” Charlotte chimed in, “some come here every Saturday until the Season is over.”
“Excessive,” Beatrice snapped, feeling irritated. Then she recalled one thing. “You must hunt more carefully tonight, Mr. Carson. Many females here are not titled. I believe it is the only one on our list that has this many people from both upper and middle-class levels of society.”
“I do recall, Miss Rare-Foure, but I thank you for the warning. Tonight, I will have to simply enjoy myself dancing and meeting people, practicing my etiquette, and not worrying so much about finding a lady. Unless there is an easy way to determine such.”
“I would assume the introduction would do that,” she said, realizing neither her mood nor her tone had improved.
“There are floor managers here,” her mother pointed out, speaking to Mr. Carson. “I’ve seen two already. They have the white carnations in their lapels. If someone balks at your approaching them without prior introduction, although that seems to be the normal mode at Sandrall Hall, then you must ask one of those men to properly introduce you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Rare-Foure. I shall seek one out at once.”
He bowed to each of them and turned away before Beatrice could find her voice. He was already a couple feet away when she spoke.
“Mr. Carson, will you not dance with me and my sister?”
He halted, turned, and with his eyes not quite meeting hers, he said, “I didn’t want to take up space on your cards and stop either of you from finding more desirable partners.”
You are the most desirable partner to me. Luckily, that impossible thought remained hidden in her own brain.
“That’s very considerate of you,” Charlotte said. “And I do believe our cards are almost full.”
“True,” Beatrice murmured.
“Then I hope to see you at the intermission,” Mr. Carson said. After bowing again, he walked away.
She knew her mother was staring at her, and she pointedly looked elsewhere.
“He is a thoughtful young man,” Felicity Rare-Foure said evenly, and Beatrice kept her eyes trained on the final stragglers entering the room.
