“Would you mind if we stayed a little longer? Miss Weston is engaged for the next two dances.”
“Of course,” he said.
Before Lydia could thank him, Mr. Abernathy greeted them. “Lord and Lady Evans, good evening.” He turned to Lydia. “Miss Weston, I believe this is my dance.”
“Good evening, Mr. Abernathy. Enjoy your dance,” Helena said.
Lydia walked to the dance floor with Mr. Abernathy for a country reel. He was a pleasant-looking gentleman with dark-brown hair and brown eyes. He was quite slender and only slightly taller than her, but she knew she didn’t have the luxury of being too picky. She needed another suitor if she didn’t want her father to accept the baron’s suit. She had to stop comparing every man to Lord Hutchinson and move forward with her life instead of wishing for something that could never happen.
Unfortunately, Mr. Abernathy was a clumsy dancer and stepped on her toes more than once when they came together. She could have overlooked his clumsiness…until he started speaking. He talked nonstop about his dogs and horses, without giving a chance to add a single word to the conversation. There was no way she could share her life with someone who had no interest in anything she might say. She’d have to keep looking for someone suitable who could at least carry on a decent conversation with her. Was that too much to ask?
When the dance ended, she curtseyed to him. “Thank you for the dance, Mr. Abernathy. If you’ll excuse me,” she added, walking swiftly away from him. She’d had enough of listening to him boast about things that didn’t interest her.
“How was the dance?” Helena asked when she returned to her friends.
“Besides him stepping on my toes and his constant prattling on about his dogs and horses, it was fine.”
Helena chuckled. “Let’s cross him off the list as a potential suitor.”
“Exactly.”
A moment later, Lydia’s next partner came to claim her for his dance. “Good evening, Lord Tremont.”
Lord Tremont was young, perhaps no older than two and twenty. She knew he wasn’t looking for a wife this Season, but he was an excellent dancer and she enjoyed talking with him. When the dance ended and he’d returned her to her friends, she said, “I agree with Lord Evans. I’m happy to depart now as I’ve had enough of my toes being crushed this evening.
“You seemed to enjoy your dance with Lord Tremont,” Helena said.
Lydia nodded. “He’s an excellent dancer, but he’s young and not looking for a wife.”
“Ladies, shall we go?” Evans asked, holding out his arms for them. The trio left the ballroom after saying their goodbyes to their hosts.
Once inside the carriage, Lydia wanted to question Lord Evans about what had happened between Lord Hutchinson and Miss Darvey, but she felt awkward bringing it up, especially since they knew she wasn’t destined to marry him now.
“My darling, I didn’t want to say anything in the ballroom, but what was that exchange about between Lord Hutchinson and Miss Darvey?” Helena asked.
Lydia could have kissed her friend, and she waited with bated breath to hear the details.
“Oh, that was interesting. Miss Darvey stepped in front of Hutchinson as we walked back into the ballroom and thought to corner him into dancing with her. When she placed her hand on his sleeve, I thought he would chastise her, but he merely glared at her.”
“That was quite forward of her,” Helena said. “I’m sure he didn’t like that.”
“He most certainly did not. When he refused to acknowledge her request for a dance, she wisely decided not to make a scene and stepped aside.”
“You do realize that’s not the end of her pursuit, don’t you?” Helena asked her husband. “I watched as she returned to her mother, and it was clear that she was quite upset.”
“I think Hutchinson made it very clear he didn’t wish to be in her company,” Evans said.
“I’ve known young women like Miss Darvey before, and trust me, my dear, she’s not done pursuing him yet. Her mother, Lady Knight, is known for her influence within thetonand will try to put her daughter in his path whenever possible.He must be very careful not to be alone with her, or he’ll find himself leg-shackled in a trice.”
Evans glanced over at Lydia. “Miss Weston, do you agree with my wife’s assessment about Miss Darvey?”
Lydia nodded. “I do, my lord. She was most persistent in her pursuit of Lord Hutchinson during the summer in Bath and I doubt she’s changed her mind about him. Now that he’s a marquis, she’s probably even more determined to win him over.”
“Poor Hutchinson. I don’t envy him this Season,” Evans said. “I hope this doesn’t scare him off attending other events.”
Lydia hoped so as well. Even though she couldn’t be with him, her heart swelled with joy at merely gazing upon him. There was no one else who could compare to him in her mind.
“Perhaps we can arrange an outing to the theatre or Vauxhall,” Helena said. “Lydia, dear, would you like that?”
