“It makes no difference.” His lips had tightened. “Several others were introduced to you. They will want to make an opportunity to dance with you at the next ball or take you riding.”
“That will be helpful for the flower girls.” Someone should profit from Theo receiving flowers.
Grace chuckled lightly. “Then there will be the verses written for you.”
Theo had read several of the ones written to her sisters. They were rarely good. She sighed. “Yes. Those.”
“Who did you enjoy dancing with most?” Matt asked.
“Chandos.” She did not even have to think about it. “He is by far a better dancer than any of the others. He is also entertaining. Lord Holland was interesting to speak with, but he kept stepping on my toes. The others danced competently but had more trouble carrying on a conversation. Well, not Lord Marrow or Lord Rochford, but they are not interested in me as anything other than a friend.”
“No doubt, you will receive invitations to dance at the next ball.” Grace glanced at Matt as the coach came to a stop. “I am going to kiss the children good night.”
“I’ll be up to join you.” Matt took her hand and kissed it.
That was what Theo wanted. She yawned. The rest of her thoughts could wait until morning. “I am going to bed.”
Matt helped Grace out then Theo, and they entered the house. As Theo ascended the stairs, she recalled that her other sisters, with the exception of Augusta, had met after the entertainments in their parlor and discussed the evening. Theo could barely keep her eyes open. Perhaps it got easier during the course of the Season.
The second she put her head on her pillow, Morpheus took her. Her dreams were a strange mix of shopping, riding, and dancing. The only thread was that Chandos was always there. When she awakened, Theo decided nothing was to be gained by paying attention to her dream. After all, Chandos was around her a great deal. That was probably all it meant.
She descended the stairs to find him already waiting for her. “Good morning.”
“Good morn to you. Shall we see if Miss Pettigrew and Marrow have managed to rise early today?”
Theo almost laughed. She was fairly certain that both of them had left shortly after her family had. “Yes. We shall tease them if they have not.”
Fortunately for the couple, they were ready to depart when she and Chandos arrived at Sarah’s house.
“I must say”—Lord Marrow turned to his gelding—“it is a novel experience to have attended a ball and be awake enough to ride the next morning.”
Sarah started to laugh. “What did you do before? Stay up all night?”
“Yes.” He gave her a wry look. “I would just be going home.”
“That would be fun to see!” she exclaimed. “How many gentlemen do you think we will see?”
Theo wondered about that as well. “I suppose we shall find out on our way to the Park.”
There were not only gentlemen, but town coaches obviously returning from the evening’s entertainments. A few of them waved and greeted their little group.
Lady Cowper’s carriage stopped, and she glanced at them. “Ah, the energy of youth. I do not know how you manage to look so fresh on so little sleep.”
Chandos approached her vehicle. “We were all in our respective houses, and I dare say, asleep before one.”
“That explains it. Go on and enjoy your morning.” She knocked on the roof of her coach. “Drive on. These people have too much energy for me.”
They waited until her vehicle had turned the corner and started to laugh.
Theo shook her head. “I can honestly say that I do not believe I will ever stay up all night.”
“Not even for your come out ball?” Sarah asked.
“Not even then. I enjoy my sleep too much. I will ask Grace to have it end after supper.”
Chandos’s eyes were sparkling with laughter. “I have no doubt you’ll start a fashion.”
“That would be interesting. However, I hardly think that is possible. The only thing it will do is enable people to more easily attend another ball.”
