“You had your chance while I was single, my lady,” he quipped. “I promised to steal you away on more than one occasion, but now I have vowed my loyalty and fidelity to Lady Purity.”
Lady Fenwick beamed at them while Lord Fenwick chuckled.
“Looks as though you had to fight for her. Good show, Foxford. You must have won since she’s with you.” He nodded to his wife. “I knew they would make a match, didn’t I?” he repeated before they took a few steps toward her parents and joined that illustrious circle.
To her amazement, more established couples of rank and good standing came over to congratulate them before going to speak with her parents. It dawned on her they were offering public support to counteract the dreadful gossip column.
“You were correct,” she told Foxford during their first dance, relaxing into the familiar movements of a quadrille. “Coming out into society was the best decision and will go a long way to putting the unpleasantness behind us.”
“Unpleasantness,” he murmured. “A good word for it. But then I imagine you could make the worst disaster sound like nothing more than spilled tea. Rather a useful skill, especially in a crisis.”
She smiled at him. Now that the dancing had started, giving guests something to do besides whisper about her and the Fox, she was enjoying herself.
“Let us hope we don’t have to test my skill tonight, my lord. I, for one, do not wish for any further crisis.”
“Agreed.”
When Lord and Lady Varley appeared by the third dance, Purity hoped her skills of smoothing things over were not about to become necessary. Lord Varley still sported a mark on his face and managed to glare menacingly at Foxford, who naturally returned the look and followed the man’s movements across the room with a sharp gaze.
Lady Varley, on the other hand, seemed entirely oblivious to any underpinnings of discontent and took to the dance floor with another gentleman.
Since Purity could not remain by Foxford’s side all night, nor promise him every dance, she felt a knot of concern tie itself tightly inside. When called away to dance, she fixed him with a hard stare.
“Please, my lord, do notdoanything.”
“I have no idea what you mean. If I find a willing lass, I shall dance. Otherwise, I will await your return here.”
“Very well.”
The next hour crept by in the same way. She danced again with Foxford and with a few other gentlemen, but the entire time, she was on tenterhooks.
Finally, they were called in for a buffet supper, which was adequate to stop any pangs of hunger or thirst, and then the rest of the night was before them.
Purity, along with her mother, excused themselves to the retiring room set aside for the ladies. Spacious, well lit, they could attend to their needs, fix their hair, address any stray threads, tears, or pulled hems that trailed with a danger of tripping them.
Purity’s was the latter issue from one of her dance partners standing upon her hem before supper.
“Are you happy?” her mother asked, when they were seated on soft tufted stools before a mirror, blotting any shine off their faces with handkerchiefs from their reticules.
“I am,” she said, staring back at Lady Diamond’s reflection.
“You sound surprised, dear daughter.”
Purity shrugged. “I suppose I am still getting used to the idea of being engaged. I must admit, once the dancing started and I realized I could dance for the fun of it, without having to consider each man as a potential husband, I saw the benefit to a fiancé.”
Her mother smiled. “That is as good a reason as any. Do you wish to tell me about your intended’s black-and-blue face?”
“Not really,” Purity said.
The countess shook her head. “At least you didn’t lie and try to tell me he’s a clumsy walloping sort.”
“Never, Mother. It’s obvious he got into a brawl. It was over my honor and that awfulTimescolumn, so I cannot be too hard on him.”
Just then, the bell sounded for the next dance. Her mother rose. “The Sauteuse is next. I must find your father. We never miss this dance. Will you be all right?”
“Yes, I’ll be out in a minute. I’m going to put a few stitches in my hem, and I’ll join you directly.”
Her mother dashed off, called by fond memories of other balls when the same music spurred her and the earl’s love. Or at least, that’s what Purity imagined as she reached for the tray before her with all the accessories necessary to mend her dress. She could ask an attending maid, but it would be just as quick to do it herself.
