Rosalyn nodded. After dinner, the men would go up to the billiards room while the women retired to the drawing room for perhaps an hour. She glanced across the table, checking that the man was not still staring, but when she looked again, he was talking to the brown-haired lady. It was a relief.
The dinner progressed, and Rosalyn was relieved when, at last, the footmen came forward to tidy away the dishes. She stood when the duke stood, and they took their place at the back of the long line that would make its way upstairs.
“Rosalyn!” Georgina called as they found her in the entranceway. “How was the dinner?”
“Was the duke tolerable company?” Isabel asked at almost the same time, brow furrowing.
Rosalyn looked away. She was not sure how to answer that question. If they had asked her before the dinner, she would have said he was unpleasant company. But before she could answer them, her mind wandered back to that moment when he had almost smiled. She swallowed.
“It was a pleasant dinner,” she said carefully. “And I think nobody here will be hungry tonight.”
“No! I could not eat another thing!” Georgina agreed. “Though the trifle was delicious.” She smiled shyly.
“It was!” Isabel agreed. “You must have liked it. You like cherries,” she reminded Rosalyn.
Rosalyn just smiled. She had felt too nauseous to eat any of the trifle, cherries or not—not just because of the food, but because of the strange man staring.
“Ladies!” The imperious voice of the duchess interrupted their conversation. “If you will proceed ahead?” she called, her voice firm and impossible to disobey.
Rosalyn glanced at her sisters, who looked equally uncomfortable, but the ladies were all moving towards the stairs, stepping aside for one another in the same order of precedencewith which they had entered the dining room. Rosalyn stayed beside her sisters—in the absence of the duke, she was not going to sit far away from them.
“It is such a fine evening,” Georgina gushed as she sank down onto an upholstered chair in the drawing room. “It is a terrific start to Christmas.”
“It is a very fine house party, thus far,” Isabel agreed.
Rosalyn, seated a little set back from them, was not sure what to say. The duchess had her frosty gaze on her, but then the woman’s eyes slid away to focus on a dark-haired young lady who stood beside her. Rosalyn swallowed hard. The young lady seemed so poised and genteel.
I don’t belong here,she thought sadly. All the worries that she felt started to press close. She was a countrified girl from an obscure family. She had never been much in London—just one Season. All the other people there had certainly attended dozens of parties like this one and would know all the rules. They probably spent all the spring months in London every year and were aware of all the latest fashions.
“May I join you?” A voice asked from nearby. Rosalyn looked up. It was the brown-haired lady, the one who had been seated next to the man across the table. Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Of course,” she answered, feeling bewildered. “I do not believe I have had the pleasure of an introduction?”
“Oh, yes. That is remiss of me,” the brown-haired woman said, a smile brightening her neat, slender features. “I am Philippa, daughter of the Earl of Blakeley.”
“I am pleased to meet you,” Rosalyn replied. She had stood up to make the introductions, and she dropped a curtsey. “I am Miss Rosalyn Rothwell, and I would be honoured to introduce my sisters, Miss Georgina Rothwell and Miss Isabel Rothwell,” she added. Georgina and Isabel stood up, hearing her makingthe introduction. “Sisters? May I have the honour of introducing you to Lady Philippa?”
Both of her sisters curtseyed, and Lady Philippa likewise dropped a low curtsey. She smiled at Rosalyn.
“I am delighted to make your acquaintance,” she said at once.
“Thank you,” Rosalyn replied, smiling at her. She gestured her to a chair beside Isabel. “Please, join us.”
“Thank you,” Lady Philippa replied and sat down. She was facing Rosalyn, and Rosalyn looked down at the table, reaching for the teapot that had been set there. She felt just a little disconcerted. Even though Lady Philippa was smiling at her in a friendly, artless way, there was something hesitant and quiet about her that made it difficult to feel comfortable near her.
“It is a fine evening, is it not?” she asked Lady Philippa, feeling the need to make conversation. Georgina and Isabel were chattering among themselves, and Lady Philippa seemed a little left out.
“Very fine,” Lady Philippa replied. “I was pleased to be invited.”
“The duchess has put a great deal of effort into this party, I think,” Rosalyn said carefully.
“It seems so,” Lady Philippa agreed. “She is fortunate to have an appreciative guest,” she added with a hesitant smile at Rosalyn.
Rosalyn smiled back. “Thank you,” she said.
“It is no less than the truth. It is always pleasant to have one’s efforts appreciated, not so?”
“Mm,” Rosalyn agreed. “Yes, that is so.”
