“Where is she?” Georgette whispered in his ear.
“She’s running late. Agency business.”
“Honestly, that child,” Georgette said before she took hold of Douglas’s hand. “Let’s hope she arrives within the next few minutes or she’s going to ruin the spectacular surprise you planned.”
“A surprise you haven’t told me much about,” Douglas muttered.
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you.”
As Douglas sent Georgette a fond smile, Lloyd walked acrossthe ballroom floor and stopped in front of the assembled orchestra, drawing everyone’s attention as he waved his hands and sent the guests his signature charming smile.
“Treasured guests,” Lloyd began, “it’s my honor to welcome you tonight to the Livingston house to celebrate the renewal of vows between Douglas and Georgette Howland. As you’ve undoubtedly read in the papers, they...”
Whatever else Lloyd said, Arthur didn’t hear because Eunice took that moment to sweep into the ballroom on Phillip’s arm, looking quite like a fairy-tale princess in a gown that Phillip had certainly outdone himself on.
Made of ivory silk with an overlay of lace, it flowed over her figure, the thousands of glass beads Phillip had attached to the gown sparkling underneath the light cast from the chandeliers. Her hair had been drawn to the top of her head and secured with a tiara that more than one young lady was gazing at in envy. A necklace dripping with diamonds encircled her neck and brought attention to charms more than one gentleman was eyeing with far too much interest.
He was in motion a second later, not stopping until he reached her side.
A trace of male satisfaction flowed over him when she gave him a bit of a perusal.
“You’re looking quite dashing tonight, Arthur,” she said as he took her gloved hand and brought her fingers to his lips.
After placing a kiss on them, which had her cheeks turning pink, he smiled. “And you’re looking exquisite.”
“Thank you.” She nodded to Phillip. “Phillip was worried my hair was rushed, but I told him it was fine.”
“She was covered in mud an hour ago,” Phillip muttered, blowing out a breath. “We’re lucky she’s still not dripping wet from the bath I forced her to take.”
“I wasn’t covered in mud, just smeared with a touch of it, compliments of the large dog Mrs. Collins has little control of, which jumped out of the carriage before we reached her home. I wasforced to chase after the beast because Mrs. Collins dissolved into tears the moment she thought her dog would be lost forever. But speaking of Mrs. Collins”—Eunice’s lips curved—“I might have to reconsider my refusal to mingle in society because I just had a delightful chat with Mrs. Vanderbilt right outside this room. Turns out, she was mistaken about the name of the man she thought was up to dastardly business. It wasn’t Samuel Medley, whom Mrs. Collins’s daughter is engaged to, it was Samuel Morphine, so case solved, and with very little effort on the agency’s part. Well, except that I was forced to rescue Mrs. Collins’s dog, which did make me later than I expected.”
“But you’re here now.”
“Indeed I am, but I seem to have missed Lloyd’s speech about my parents.” She looked past Arthur and frowned. “I wasn’t aware the ladies from the agency were coming tonight, but there’s Daphne, Gabriella, and, oh dear, she’s looking peaked. There’s Judith, Elsy, and I can’t tell who else is here because guests are blocking my way, but ... are some of the ladies dressed as the help?”
“They wanted to preserve their anonymity because of the agency.”
Eunice frowned. “Why didn’t I know everyone was going to be in attendance?”
“Because I told them not to tell you.”
“Why?”
“You’ll see” was all he said before Lloyd’s voice boomed around the ballroom.
“Ah, and there she is. Finally.” Lloyd sent Eunice a wave before he beamed his smile around the ballroom again. “As I mentioned, I’d asked Georgette and Douglas to open the ball with the first waltz, but they’ve decided to step aside and give that privilege to my grandson Arthur.” Lloyd gestured Arthur forward, who took hold of Eunice’s arm and tugged her into motion, ignoring that she seemed to be dragging her feet. He walked with her across the ballroom floor, stopping when he reached the middle and turned to his guests.
“While we’re gathered here to celebrate Douglas and Georgette Howland, we’re also here to introduce to all of you for the very first time Douglas and Georgette’s daughter, Miss Eunice Howland, who was mentioned, but not by name, in the newspaper article penned by the extraordinary Daphne Beekman Henderson. Miss Howland has recently created the Howland Philanthropic Foundation, which I know everyone has already heard rumors about. I decided tonight would be the perfect night to introduce her to society, because I know many of you are going to want to contribute to the Howland Foundation since it already has plans for many improvements to our city.”
Polite applause sounded through the room, and Eunice, after sending him an arch of a brow, quite as if to say she had no idea why he’d make such a production out of introducing her, dipped into a perfect curtsy and sent the crowd a wave right as the first notes of a waltz rang out.
Arthur presented her with a bow. “Miss Howland, would you do me the honor of opening up the ball?”
“You probably should have asked me if I know how to waltz.”
He stilled. “I didn’t even think about that.”
She grinned and sent him the slightest hint of wink. “Clearly, but not to fret, I had dance instructors in my youth. With that said, though, I’m bound to be rusty, so I apologize in advance for what I’m certain is going to be a crushing of a few of your toes.”
