Chapter Four
THE NEXT EVENING, JANEwas still arranging Anna’s hair when there was a loud rap of the front door knocker.Joe, their man-of-all-work, would answer it.Moments later, she heard a rumble of masculine voices; presumably his lordship’s footman had come to the door to inform them of the carriage’s arrival.
Jane snatched up her reticule.“Anna, come downstairs as soon as you’re ready.I’ll tell the footman to wait.”She hurried down the staircase, only to halt halfway down the last flight, pinned by the arrested look on Dalton’s face as he stood in the hallway below staring up at her.
Her face heated, and she knew a pink blush colored her cheeks.
“Good evening, Miss Brody.I trust we are not too early.May I compliment you?You are looking quite spectacular.That shade of pink suits you very well.Does it not, Elizabeth?”He half turned, revealing his slight sister in his shadow.
“Oh, indeed, Miss Brody.Ashes of roses is certainly your color.”
This evening Jane had allowed Anna to dress her hair in an elaborate upswept Grecian knot from which it curled down to dance around her neck.She wore an evening dress cut from the material of one of her mother’s gowns.“Thank you.My sister will not be much longer.Our apologies for delaying you.”
The library door opened, and Reverend Brody stepped into the hall.He appeared a little confused by the sight of two extra and unknown people in his house.
Jane introduced her father to the Marquess and his sister.
The reverend tapped his cheek in thought.“Dalton, you say?I believe I knew your mother when she was Miss Amelia Lansdown.She was a friend of my wife’s from their first Season in London.Lovely woman.Had eyes for no one but your father.Married him at the end of the Season.It took me a little longer to convince my Constance to have me, as her family hoped for a better match than a younger son and clergyman.”
“That does indeed sound like our mother,” Dalton answered.
Jane’s father considered the pair in front of him.“A pity your mother passed away so young.My Constance missed her fearfully.”He tipped his head toward Lady Elizabeth.“You look a lot like her.”
“You are very kind, Reverend Brody,” Elizabeth said.“Sadly, I never knew my mother, as she died soon after I was born.But my brother remembers her well.”
“Of course, of course,” the reverend said.
A small silence followed, relieved by Anna’s appearance at the top of the staircase.She was dressed in debutant white, with her hair simply arranged with a silver ribbon threaded through her blonde waves.
At last.Jane was thankful for the interruption.
“Ah, Anna, you look splendid,” said the reverend.“Have a wonderful time.”
“Oh, I shall, Papa,” she responded, clearly excited to be attending her first ball.
After gathering the ladies and wishing Reverend Brody a good evening, the Marquess led them to his carriage, where a footman stood by the open door.
Dalton handed each lady into the carriage, and Jane seated herself on the comfortable leather squabs facing the rear.He then stepped inside and seated himself beside his sister, directly in front of Jane.
Dalton stretched out his long legs and bumped Jane’s.Although she tucked her feet close in, his limbs still came to rest close to her own.The heat radiating from his stockinged calves warmed her own as he lounged at his ease.
An occasional waft of the scented soap he had used tickled her nose.She liked the pleasant aroma.The light of a lantern illuminated the interior of the carriage from time to time, briefly revealing his face with his dark eyes concentrated on her.It was discomfiting and bewildering to be the focus of this man’s attention.Was he intentionally trying to make her aware of him?
They traveled through the darkened streets for a few minutes before the carriage halted, and light flared inside as the coachman opened the door and let down the stairs for their exit.
After leaving their cloaks with a footman, they proceeded toward the brightly lit ballroom.The noise of a hundred voices talking at once assaulted their hearing.Mrs.Courtice, as president of the charity group, greeted them at the door.“Such a pleasure to see you again, my lord.I hope your presence here is an indication of your intended greater involvement in our cause?”
