The Montagues’ ballwas to be a large one, but unlike the other large events they had attended, Cassandra and Lady Marksworth did not sit overlong in their carriage. As far as Cassandra could tell, it was not because there were less carriages lined up, but because the footmen were many and moved with military precision. She supposed Lady Montague would not tolerate anything less than perfection.
They were helped down in good time and entered the house. Ahead of her, Cassandra could see the great Lady Montague herself. She was a regal-looking woman, wearing an intimidatingly high silk turban sprouting ostrich feathers. The headdress helped her appear seven feet tall; her expression was one of condescension, as if to say, “How fortunate you must feel to have been granted leave to enter my house.”
Lady Marksworth handed over her invitation. The butler intoned, “Lady Marksworth and Miss Knightsbridge.”
There was a sudden hush around Cassandra that she could not account for at all. Lady Montague looked down her rather long and thin nose. She curtly nodded and then turned away.
Cassandra heard her aunt say, “Goodness, Harriet, you might smile.”
As they passed the lady into the hall, Cassandra noted that Lady Montague pressed her lips into a hard, thin line upon hearing the comment. In fact, she appeared rather incensed. How extraordinary that the two ladies should maintain such a long-standing frostiness to do with poor Miss Jumble all those years ago.
*
Cassandra had gother card, and then been very happy to hand it over to Lord Burke for the first. Though he was such a genial gentleman, she got the impression that he might be somewhat under the weather. He looked more serious than was his usual mien.
Cassandra’s dance card filled up quickly, though she could not help but notice the glances she received from some of the other ladies. Why did they stare so? She surreptitiously checked her dress to ensure there was no stain or tear, but it looked well. Could it be jealousy? She did not see why it should be so, she was by no means the beauty of the evening and there were certainly enough gentlemen to go round.
Though she had been surprised at the looks she received, she was even more surprised to see Lord Hampton make his way to her so determinedly, and then take the dance before supper. He had filled in his name quickly and then departed with all haste.
She might even say the lord had looked embarrassed to see her again. She supposed she felt the same—she had thought it lucky that they had hit on the welcome subject of dogs at the Sedways’ dinner, but now she began to wonder what other topic might take its place. Certainly, they could not return to talking of dogs—she was rather afraid everything that could be said on the subject had been said.
On the other hand, she felt strangely pleased that he would take her into supper. Or, if not pleased, then something she could not exactly identify. Some hint of nerves, she supposed.
The opening of the ball had not passed as Cassandra expected. She had looked forward to Lord Burke’s amusing tales of his cook, but he told none. She had initially suspected he was under the weather and now she was certain that was the case. He was very subdued and not joking at all. She thought it a recommendation of his character that, feeling as poorly as he must, he was so entirely solicitous of her. He inquired how she did, and then nodded gravely when she said she did quite well.
After the first, she was led round the ballroom floor by a variety of gentlemen she had not encountered before. She did not know if these new gentlemen were all friends, and therefore in the habit of landing on the same subjects, but down to a man they were all remarkably interested in Surrey. Was she indeed from that county? What sort of society did she keep there? How did Miss Knightsbridge spend her time there? Was she fond of horses? What did she think of the shooting in Surrey?
She had answered all of their questions, careful to leave out any penchant for riding Juno like the wind on an early morning ride or standing by her father while he taught her how to handle a fowling piece.
She had nearly lost her patience with Mr. Mumsford.
“I only wonder, Miss Knightsbridge, how you find the general company in Surrey?”
Good Lord. He had already asked if she had many acquaintances there and if the gentlemen to be found in that neighborhood were amusing.
“The company is pleasant,” Cassandra said.
“I suppose the shooting is very good?”
And here they were back to shooting, a topic touched on twice already.
In the end, she felt all of the gentlemen had read the same book on making casual conversation at a ball, and it was not a very interesting book.
Her dance with Lord Hampton had felt as if they went back in time. He was just as grave and silent as he had been at the Bergrams’ ball. This time, however, she did not press him to speak. She had been speaking all night and had not the least inclination to discuss Surrey one more time.
Lord Hampton led her into supper amongst looks all around. Cassandra supposed that was to be expected—all eyes were perennially trained on the gentlemen of the pact.
After a long silence, the lord said, “Forgive me, I have not even asked the most civil of questions. How do you do this evening, Miss Knightsbridge?”
“Very well, my lord,” she said, relieved he had chosen to say anything at all. “I presume you have fared well since the Sedways’ dinner?”
“Well enough,” Hampton said. “I wonder, how do you find London these days?”
How did she find London? Howwasshe to find London? It was as it ever was, she supposed.
“Town is of course different from home, though it is welcome in its own way,” she said. It was a nonsensical answer to a rather nonsensical question.
“Home, yes, Surrey,” Lord Hampton said quietly.
