Lord Langley had fetched her card and put his name down for supper, just as he’d said he would. Georgiana found a great amount of relief and satisfaction in that, as she had begun to fear that the lord might spot the flaxen-haired Lady Annabelle and forget all about his suggestion.
She scolded herself for being a ninny, and for spending as much time as she had already, silently insulting Lady Annabelle who had done no crime against her.
As they made their way into the crowded ballroom, they were fairly rushed at. A line began to form, as one gentleman after the next waited to be introduced and put his name down.
Georgiana was near-overwhelmed and glad their nameswerewritten down as she was sure she would not remember half of them. And also, exceedingly grateful that her card had filled. In the darkest hours of the night before, she had allowed herself to imagine what it would be if nobody asked. After all, who was she? Just another girl, in from the countryside. There would be other ladies there who would outshine her, they would be beautiful and have the further allurement of being the daughters of dukes and marquesses and earls and viscounts. She saw herself sitting at the edges of the ballroom, attempting to ignore the pitying glances of bystanders. Or worse, ignoring the disappointed looks from Lady Mendleton’s friends regarding the failure of their latest project.
As it was, the duchess was nearby and looked on approvingly. Lady Heathway was across the room and seemed satisfied enough, though Georgiana was not certain she was ever entirely satisfied with anything. Lady Redfield caught her eye and smiled encouragingly, while Lady Featherstone and Lady Easton nodded in unison.
A younger lady near Georgiana’s age approached and said, “Lady Mendleton.” She was petite and very fair, the sort Georgiana thought resembled drawings of forest fairies. The lady held her card out ever so lightly from her gown, as if at the ready should someone wish to grab hold of it.
“Lady Annabelle,” Lady Mendleton said with real enthusiasm. “How well you look! How is your dear mother?”
Of course it was Lady Annabelle, and shewasa divine little creature.
“My mother is very well,” Lady Annabelle said to Lady Mendleton, “and already in the card room, I think.” She lowered her eyes and then glanced up under her lashes. “Lord Langley.”
Georgiana noticed the lady had edged her card in his direction. She supposed Lord Langley noticed too. He took it and said, “Lady Annabelle.”
As Lord Langley glanced at her card, Lady Annabelle adopted a particularly coquettish tone. “Now you see the awful truth, Lord Langley—Lord George has taken my first. He swore he would take my firstandsupper too if he could be allowed. Naturally I scolded him and my supper remains free. The silly creature would go on about my eyes, though I am sure I do not know what he means by it.”
Lord Langley put his name down and said, “Hopefully he means something complimentary by it.”
Georgiana worked to suppress a giggle as she was quite convinced that Lady Annabelle had hoped Lord Langley would demand to know and attempt to top whatever compliment Lord George had invented.
Lady Mendleton appeared a bit flustered and said, “I have often heard my son mention your eyes, dear Lady Annabelle.”
Lady Annabelle seemed somewhat mollified by this gambit, though Lord Langley only raised a brow at the idea.
As Lady Annabelle took her card back, she said softly, “Oh, I see, the second.”
“Well now,” Lady Mendleton said, “you are already taken for the first and Jasper is escorting Miss Wilcox to supper because she is my guest, really more than my guest, I am her sponsor and will act as mother to her while she is here, we have a society you see, and naturally, well, it is her first ball…in any case, Lady Annabelle, allow me to introduce you to Miss Georgiana Wilcox. I expect you will be great friends!”
The two ladies curtsied to one another, but despite Lady Annabelle’s smile, Georgiana could almost feel the enmity coming from her. She was beginning to think it was not only Lady Mendleton who wished for a match, it seemed likely Lady Annabelle did too. There could not have been a heavier hint dropped that Lord Langley ought to take her into supper. She could not blame the lady, he was so very dashing.
As for Lord Langley, she could not guess what his feelings might be, though he did not seem particularly overcome by Lady Annabelle.
Georgiana was very satisfied to note it, though it was certainly none of her affair.
Georgiana had thoughtthat a ball in London would be remarkably different from the assemblies at home. It was true that the surroundings were far richer, down to the carefully chalked mahogany floor and the superiority of the orchestra. The ladies’ finery was a deal more costly and there were some who she was certain wore her father’s yearly income on their dresses. However, when it came to dancing with a gentleman, it was much the same as it ever was.
Some gentlemen struggled to make conversation, some made too much conversation, some were confident, some only pretended they were. Some spoke of topics that might interest her and some spoke of a particular topic that interestedthem.
Lord Blackwood, the duchess’ son, had just bought a horse and it seemed that no subject was to be more interesting than that creature. Lady Easton’s nephew, Lord Bertridge, was friendly but on the stiff side and Georgiana thought he very much resembled his aunt in that regard.
Lord Gresham was exceedingly agreeable, but in his effort to find common ground he’d informed her that he was Lady Heathway’s nephew. He did not seem at all like her, but Georgiana found herself guarded, lest she say anything that might be repeated to the lady and frowned upon.
Lord Asturt was recently come to Town, having spent some years in Ireland. He was polite enough, but his accent was strange and held hints of the continent. It mattered little what she thought, though, as he was far more interested in Lord Langley than her. He seemed to take a deal of pride in noting that he had referred Lord Langley’s new valet to him and wished to know how the fellow got on. Georgiana was quite at a loss as to how she was to know how a valet got on.
Mr. Vance was rather a delight. He was exceedingly jolly and the son of a baron. Georgiana wondered if that was why he was so jolly—just like herself, he did not carry over-high expectations on his shoulders. She did think that he, or someone like him, would be suited to her. They were of the same rank and he seemed to admire country life. It was only a shame that there was no particular spark between them that hinted of more than friendship.
It was all very amusing. That was, until she danced with Lord Langley. While none of the previous gentlemen had at all discomposed her, Lord Langley did. She felt herself flustered, which was the silliest thing in the world.
Georgiana Wilcox did not fluster. She rather disdained ladies who did.
His hand was firm in guiding her and he had some sort of hard to define presence. A manly presence that made the other gentlemen seem younger. There was nothing at all unusual about their conversation, it centered on commonplaces such as the lord inquiring how she was enjoying her stay in Town. Yet, when he looked at her, that was when she became flustered.
She began to see that she must be more careful around him. She wondered how she did not see it before. What else had all that silent condemnation of Lady Annabelle been about?
