“Have you ever seen one?” she asked Lady Asterly eagerly. “A naked mole rat. I just read the most fascinating article inGardner’s Chroniclewhere Charles Darwin compared their social organization to that of ants or wasps, making them the only mammal known to man that relies on an–”
“Eusocial structure for the survival of their species,” Lady Asterly finished. “Yes, I found it most informative. But no, I’ve never seen one in person. I should like to.” She looked at Rosemary with renewed interest. “You are remarkably well versed in rodents, Miss Stanhope.”
“Don’t encourage her,” Sterling groaned.
“What on earth is a naked holy rat?” Lord Asterly asked.
“A nakedmolerat, dear. Nothing to concern yourself with. Why don’t we let His Grace and Miss Stanhope make their rounds? I am sure we are not the only ones who wish to express their congratulations.” Lady Asterly took her husband’s arm, but paused when she walked past Rosemary to say, “Do find me later. I should like to continue our conversation.”
“I’ve known Lord Asterly since I was a boy,” Sterling shared as they continued up the steps and through the front entryway into the foyer where guests took the opportunity to mingle and converse amidst themselves before continuing on to the grand ballroom. “He was a close friend of my father’s, and my mother and Lady Asterly were fond of each other.”
“They seemed delightful.” Rosemary’s anxiety had faded considerably courtesy of their brief interaction. Maybe some–all right, probably most–of the people surrounding them didn’t share anything in common with her. More than a few were probably still questioning why Sterling had proposed in the first place. But perhaps she’d been giving their opinion far too much credit.
For every Navessa, there was a Lady Asterly.
And an Evie and Joanna, besides.
The wallflowers, the dreamers, the bibliophiles–they were out there. In a sea of women trying to fit in, they were the ones who weren’t afraid to stick out. To be different. To bring books into ballrooms and speak their minds and be true to themselves, no matter what anyone else thought.
“I’m sure you say that about every person who knows what a naked mole rat is,” said Sterling, casting her an amused glance.
“They really are remarkable creatures,” she began in earnest. “Did you know they spend the entirety of their lives underground? As a result, they’re completely blind in addition to being deaf.”
“Poor devils,” he grimaced.
“Actually, a recent excavation of an abandoned colony revealed–”
“No,” he interrupted, “I’m afraid I have to cut you off there. I’ve reached my naked mole rat quota for the evening.”
“Should you ever like to learn more, you’re welcome to my copy ofGardener’s Chronicle,” she said seriously. “I have already underlined the most interesting and informative parts.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
After collecting Lady Ellinwood, they advanced into the ballroom where they were officially announced…and after that, the night became a bit of a blur as Rosemary found herself inundated with a swarming barrage of well-wishers who wanted a not-so-discreet look at the untitled and largely unknown wallflower who had managed to snag herself the greatest catch of the Season.
“…when will you be married?”
“…what will you wear?”
“…salmon is such a striking color on you.”
“…more of a pink, really.”
“…Iwouldn’t dare to wear it.”
“…very brave.”
After nodding and smiling until her jaw and neck ached, she managed to break free. Unfortunately, Sterling was nowhere to be found. He’d been swept away by a trio of lords before he’d even had the opportunity to ask her to waltz and she hadn’t seen him since. Her grandmother was similarly missing and Lady Asterly was dancing, leaving Rosemary to fend for herself.
If this was a normal ball and she was her normal, forgettable self, this was the point in the evening where she’d pull her out her book, find a comfortable chair, and commence reading until Lady Ellinwood decided it was time for them to return home. There was a line of chairs on the far side of the room. And they looked, she noted with a little pang of wistfulness,verycomfortable. But when a fox was being run to ground by a pack of hounds, it knew better than to hide in plain sight.
Shamelessly ducking behind a passing servant to hide from a fresh battalion of bright-eyed debutantes who wanted to know all the tricks to catching a duke, she waited until they’d rushed past to scurry out onto the nearest terrace.
With all the excitement going on inside the manor, there was hardly anyone outside of it. Save for a group of middle-aged gentlemen blowing cigar smoke into the cool, crisp autumn air, she was alone. A welcome reprieve after what she’d faced in the ballroom. What she would continue to face until the fervor of her engagement had died down. Even then, she and Sterling would always be the recipients of extra attention wherever they went. She had only to glimpse the crowd surrounding the Prince of Wales and his Scandinavian princess to see that.
Not to say that a duke and duchess wereroyalty.
But where thetonwas concerned, they were far too close for Rosemary’s comfort.
