Verity looked away before Hope could wink surreptitiously at her again. Honestly! Her sister was practically planning their nuptials already!
“I’m afraid,” Verity said to the gentleman, “my own contribution to the dance will be inferior.”
“Nonsense!” said Hope. “You are just nervous. Daniel and I shall take our places next to you and you may follow our steps when you falter. There are plenty of unmarried gentlemen here tonight, so I may be forgiven for stealing my own husband for a dance instead of lending him to the unmarried ladies.”
Dr. Westbridge shrugged. “It is not for me to push Miss Lockhart toward an activity that alarms her. Perhaps,” he said, addressing Verity, “when we next meet at a ball, you will feel more inclined.”
“Oh, I…” Verity faltered. He was being very reasonable. She was not used to being accommodated so readily. His company would not be loathsome. And he seemed the sort of man who might forgive her stepping on his toes. If she could get through a dance with him, it might give her courage for the next. One step at a time.
She lowered her lashes. “Thank you, sir. I would be honored to have my first dance with you, if you are certain it will not be a disappointment.”
His eyes widened. “Your ‘first’ dance? No one else has asked you yet? How can that be? To be sure, I shall have to check the eyesight of every man in this room.”
Verity felt the color rush into her cheeks. With the help of her borrowed lady’s maid, shehadmade an effort to look her best. Her hair had been curled and the top half twisted into a loose knot at the back of her neck. The rest of her white-blonde locks cascaded down her back. Hope’s butterfly brooch added a touch of class. And yet, Verity had never considered herself a beauty. Certainly not in the traditional sense. Her looks hadnever really mattered. Certainly not to frogs and grasshoppers and beetles. Hearing a gentleman decry the fact that he was alone in admiring her came as something of a surprise.
“You are very kind,” she murmured. “But I assure you, I do not thrive on the attentions of men. The absence thereof consequently does not disturb me.”
“I think you’ll find, Miss Lockhart,” said Dr. Westbridge, “that the current situation will not last. Expect to quite wear your shoes out tonight, for your dance card shall soon fill up.” Before Verity could protest, he held out his hand and asked, “Shall we? I see the dancers are lining up.”
Verity placed her gloved fingers onto his palm. She looked to Hope to make sure she was coming too, as promised.
Daniel Sinclair took his wife’s hand lightly, as if for the first time. Hope fanned herself with the other hand like a flattered young maiden, gave a deep curtsey, and followed him to the center of the room. Verity and Arthur Westbridge took their positions beside them.
“Well, here we are at last.” Dr. Westbridge grinned. “We have made it to the dance floor without tripping over our feet. I think this is a most encouraging development, wouldn’t you say, Miss Lockhart?”
Verity stifled a giggle. “And we continue to stand without falling over,” she added, joining in the game.
“Hurrah! It bodes well for us. Do you think the other couples dare to feel such confidence as ours?”
Verity laughed aloud. She quickly threw open her fan to hide her embarrassment at doing so. She caught Hope’s eye and saw her nod almost imperceptibly.
Approval. Never before had Verity’s impropriety received approval. Yet she knew what Hope was thinking—that her little sister had relaxed in the company of this gentleman. And that was a very good sign indeed.
It was true. Dr. Westbridge was an easy sort of fellow. He might not have been as handsome as Mr. Cole, but she would rather give up looks than kindness when it came to a potential match. Besides, he wasn’t unappealing. His features might have been uninspiring on the whole, but his mouth was full and gentle and his eyes sparkled with good humor.
Verity lowered her fan as the chamber ensemble started to play their first notes. She began to count the rhythm, imagining her first step. It would be some time before it was their turn. Her nerves began to twitch once more.
But Dr. Westbridge had not abandoned her to her building apprehension. He had nodded to his neighbors to the left and right of him and then returned his focus squarely to Verity. A moment later, he squinted at her bosom and remarked, “Is that a butterfly?”
Verity reached for the brooch instinctively. “Er, yes. It was a gift from my sister.”
“It is a very curious design. The artist has chosen to bend the antennae toward the wing. Perhaps the fully extended filament was too fragile.”
“Yes!” Verity cried. “I noticed that too. And the wings have no pattern at all. Even the very plain wood whites have fine speckles. Perhaps the artist did not study his model closely enough or lacked the skill to emulate its design.”
Dr. Westbridge’s head drew back and his mouth opened. “Why, Miss Lockhart, you are very knowledgeable on the topic! Thatisrefreshing. I had quite expected you to change the subject or comment on the bejeweled eyes instead. It is rare to meet a young woman who shares my interest in the natural sciences. My compliments to your tutor.”
It took Verity several seconds to find her tongue again. She had expected Dr. Westbridge would have a detailed understanding of human anatomy, certainly, as well as adedicated interest in the sciences. But the fact that this extended to the study of nature was a startling discovery. Moreover, he did not denounce her own desire to discuss such matters.
Could this be a sign?
Don’t jump to conclusions, Verity. He believes you to have studied in a formal manner, not with your skirts hitched up to your knees.Still, he had received her answer with excitement. There had not been the usual frown or condescending air. Verity tentatively ventured deeper into the previously forbidden discourse. “I confess my tutor to have been myself, much to my mother’s dismay. As you can imagine, the study of insects is not the usual fare for young ladies. She would be mortified that I have mentioned it at all.”
“How delightful!” Dr. Westbridge clapped his hands together, then, just as quickly, held up his palms. “My apologies. I did not mean that your mother’s disapproval was delightful. I was merely celebrating the exception that you are, Miss Lockhart. Insects, no less! That is my particular fascination also. In fact, I am a member in good standing with the Entomological Society here in Munro.”
Nowthatwas a sign Verity could not ignore. There was just one more test to pass before Dr. Westbridge had her full approval.
“An acquaintance of mine recently obtained a mounted butterfly for display from the Entomological Society,” she said. “AMaculinea arion.Or ‘large blue,’ as it is commonly called. Do you know it?”
