“I have never heard anything so ridiculous,” Kitty said.
“But you are likely to hear the ridiculous very soon,” Penny said, laughing. “I will go and find my husband, we are to dance together though I am sure we will be scolded over it. We do not much care, it is a silly rule.”
Kitty watched her friend depart, surprised that she would dance with Lord Cabot. She was certain Lady Bergram would note it, and note any single lady who sat out when Lord Cabot should have stepped in. After all, Frederick could not dance with them all. But, as Penny said, she and her lord did not much care about a censure.
It seemed rather wonderful to be a united force such as that. It spoke of secrets and decisions between them and the world’s opinion held at arm’s length.
“Miss Dell,” Lord Grayson said, holding out his hand. Kitty allowed herself to be led,andshe allowed herself to give credit to the lord where he had earned it. There was a confidence to him that could only be pleasing. Whatever off-putting thing he might say, he would not fumble in his steps.
They joined the three other couples that would form their square and to Kitty’s surprise, Sir John was to her right. He’d stood up with Miss Blessy, a lady Kitty had been briefly introduced to as one who also came for her first season.
The music began and Lord Grayson led her through the pantalon. His movements were graceful and Kitty thought he was the sort of dancer who might easily rescue a lady who’d momentarily forgotten the steps. That she might do so was one of the ideas that had kept her up at night while the preparations for London had marched forward. She’d had a dancing master for years, but though she’d practiced, her mind was so often on other things.
“How do you find London so far, Miss Dell?” Lord Grayson asked, as they returned to their side and passed round each other.
Kitty was very much relieved that he had not led with her moonbeam eyes or her grace of Athena. It seemed he was determined to have a conversation in the sensible realm and she welcomed it.
“I find the town invigorating, Lord Grayson,” she answered. “Especially the people in it. I have recently had the great good fortune to be introduced to Mrs. Herschel.”
“Mrs. Herschel? I do not believe I know the lady,” Lord Grayson said.
Kitty pressed her lips together. Of course he would not even have heard of the great scientist.
“Mrs. Caroline Herschel is an astronomer and has discovered a number of comets,” she said.
“Comets. Those stars that fly through the night. Charming.”
Kitty nodded, not bothering to expound on what was known of comets, though Sir Isaac Newton had come to more particular conclusions than stars flying through the sky.
“Though, how does one have interest in such things when there are stars brighter than any in the night sky right here on earth?” Lord Grayson said gallantly.
Kitty suppressed a sigh. They were back to the florid phrasings.
They had completed the pantalon and returned to their place as the opposite couples took the floor.
Kitty watched Sir John lead Miss Blessy and she blushed ever so slightly for them. Miss Blessy was short and plump and had a look of vague confusion, as if she were not over-familiar with where the dance was going. Sir John was upright and stiff, looking as if he led his partner through some sad occasion, though he at least seemed to have better command of the steps.
Next to her, Lord Grayson said softly, “One really ought to employ a dancing master before engaging oneself at a ball.”
Kitty turned her head sharply. “Do you insult a lady, my lord?” she whispered.
“Certainly not,” Lord Grayson said, louder. “The fault is always to be laid at the gentleman’s door.”
Kitty fumed. Perhaps Sir John had not the smoothness or skill of a Lord Grayson, but that did not mean there was anything positively wrong with him. Or his dancing. Though it be a bit stiff. She supposedSir Johnwas not under the illusion that comets were stars flying through the night.
“My sympathy goes out to Miss Blessy,” Lord Grayson said quietly.
“Sir John Kullehamnd is a member of the Royal Society,” Kitty whispered heatedly.
“Then I suppose they do not do much dancing there,” Lord Grayson said.
“I suppose they do not,” Kitty said, having heard quite enough from Lord Grayson. “They are far too busy making discoveries to benefit mankind.”
“And yet,” Lord Grayson persisted, “mankind dearly loves to dance.”
Kitty had reached the very end of her patience. Lord Grayson might be dashing and a splendid dancer, but that was all. It was the height of conceit that this fool thought himself above a member of the Royal Society just because he had memorized some steps.
“Mankind,” Kitty said, “was informed in 1543 that the sun does not revolve around the earth. Perhaps a gentleman might infer from that information that the world does not revolve aroundhim.”
