Kenilworth grinned. “We can help with that as well. Most of the balls and other things we’ll attend are given by friends or close acquaintances.”
“Thank you.” Although Leo didn’t fully understand why the family had decided to promote his suit, he was grateful. “Getting her to see me as a suitor is much more difficult than I’d anticipated.”
Kenilworth raised a brow. “You didn’t help yourself by telling her you didn’t wish to meet young ladies.”
“I made it even worse this morning.” Leo could have kicked himself. “I told her that didn’t include her, and she said that of course it didn’t. She knew I wasn’t looking for a wife.”
“The road hasn’t been easy for any of us.” Kenilworth grimaced. “You’ll work out a way to encourage her to come around.”
Leo hoped the man was right. Currently, he had no idea how to manage it.
“Theo, that is beautiful!” Mary exclaimed. “I am so glad waistlines are beginning to fall. I was becoming tired of the high waists.”
“I was as well.” Theo smiled at her new gown in the mirror. “I am also happy that Grace doesn’t insist that I wear white or light pink. Those colors make me appear sallow.”
“Lady Stern had to talk Lady Pettigrew out of dressing Sarah in those colors for that very reason.”
Sarah had light blond hair and blue eyes, yet her skin tone was much the same as Theo’s. “She told me about that. I am very sorry for the young ladies whose mothers refuse to relent.”
“The girls are excited to see you in your first ball gown.” Mary smiled. “Remember when we wanted to see Grace, Charlotte, Louisa, and Dotty in their gowns.”
“All of our sisters.” Theo and Mary were the last two. “At least I have partners for two dances.”
“Chandos and who else?” Mary asked.
“Lord Marrow. He asked Sarah first.” Theo smiled. “We, Chandos and I, think they will make a good match.”
“I am sure there will be gentlemen lining up to ask Grace or Matt or one of our other brothers or sisters to be presented to you.”
Theo hugged herself, then stopped before she wrinkled her gown. “I do hope so. I had not been excited about the Season before. This has changed everything.”
“My lady.” Payne strode into the room carrying a velvet pouch. “Her ladyship said you are to wear these this evening.” The maid smiled. “They are yours.”
She spilled the jewelry out onto the toilet table. There was a strand of pearls and matching earrings. “Oh, they are lovely.”
It had become a tradition in the family that when one of them attended their first ball of the Season they received pearls. A tradition Theo had forgotten. “Put them on me, please.”
She fastened the earrings while her maid hooked the necklace. What was so special about the gift was that they were for a young matron. Not the sets of smaller pearls girls received. She glanced into the mirror again. “They are perfect.”
Mary gave her a quizzical look. “Why is Chandos attending?”
“I suppose Charlie asked him to look out for me.” It had to be that since he had not been in Town until recently.
Grace tapped on the open door. “You look as beautiful as I knew you would.” She gazed at Theo’s image in the mirror for a moment and smiled. “We should be going. Matt is starting to pace.”
Theo exchanged a grin with Mary. He always wanted to arrive early and return home after supper. “I am ready.”
Payne draped a silk paisley shawl around Theo’s shoulders and handed her the reticule and fan they had chosen for this gown.
Mary accompanied them down the stairs. “Have fun.”
“I will.” Theo returned her sister’s smile. “I will tell you all about it in the morning.”
“I will look forward to it.”
She and Grace each took one of Matt’s arms. He helped them into the Town coach before climbing in himself and giving the order to depart.
“You have been told the rules,” he said. “But I’ll repeat them. No dancing with anyone who has not been introduced to you by me or one of the family. If you have to go to the ladies’ room, take someone with you. No leaving the ballroom with a gentleman. We will depart after supper.”
