Page 56 of Waiting for Love

She could not dance with a gentleman unless they had been introduced. Then, whether she wanted to or not, she must dance with him if he asked, unless her card was full or unless she was finished dancing for the evening. Or unless she had already danced with him twice. Two times per event was the limit. Unless it was a waltz. She must never dance more than one waltz with the same man at the same ball. But, of course, a true gentleman would never ask her to break the rules, and she would only be introduced to true gentlemen, so why did Mama keep reminding her of things she already knew?

There was no opportunity for spontaneity. No chance for fun. And no way for a man to know the real Olivia.

Benjamin knew her. But he was not considered a gentleman. And he’d kissed her, which was not a gentlemanly thing to have done, so that proved it. Still, she had encouraged him. What did that prove? That she was not a true lady?

“We are here!” Georgiana called, entering the dressing room with Arthur draped on her shoulder, fussing. For the first time ever, Georgiana looked baggy-eyed. “Arthur wants his Aunt Olly.”

Olivia shook away her guilty thoughts and stretched out her arms.

“No!” Mama and Mrs. Byrd cried at once.

“Take off the dress first, Olivia,” Mama scolded.

Vanessa hurried to undo the buttons and Tansy helped lift it over her head. They exchanged it for a loose dressing gown. Then Georgiana handed over Arthur. He was sucking on his hand and blinking his bright-blue eyes. Everything he did melted Olivia’s heart.

“Alice is waiting for us in the parlor,” Georgiana said.

Mama said, “Hmmm. Send her here. She can try on the yellow gown.”

With a whoosh of relief, and a smidgeon of pity for Alice, Olivia snuggled Arthur close and led the way out of the room.

*

Olivia settled into Mama’s rolled-arm chair nearest the fire, dismayed by Arthur’s continuing to fuss.

“I think he’s hungry.”

Georgiana said, “It seems so. Give him here.”

Olivia reluctantly rose and took the baby to Georgiana, seated on the davenport beside Vanessa. Georgiana opened the front of her gown and put the babe to her breast. Apparently, her mother, the duchess, had nursed all her own children and Georgiana saw no reason to do otherwise. Although it was sweet to see how quickly Arthur was comforted, it was nevertheless a strange thing for a lady to do, and certainly looked uncomfortable.

“Do you want Mama’s chair?”

“Oh, no. This is fine.”

Olivia paced rather than return to her seat. She had been exhausted in her dressing room, but now had too much energy to sit.

“Alice appeared excited, didn’t she?” Alice had raced toward the dressing room with the same alacrity Olivia had shown exiting it.

“Yes,” Vanessa said. “She did.”

Olivia saw the look the other two ladies exchanged. A bit self-satisfied.

“Oh!” She giggled. “You planned that, Vanessa.”

“No, your mother did. I was merely her co-conspirator.”

Olivia grinned. “Well, then, I’m glad to have been an unsuspecting pawn, I suppose.”

Alice was embarking on her second Season, sponsored once again by the duchess, but her father, the duchess’s brother, had insisted Alice did not need new clothes. He said that the duchess spent a fortune last year, and Alice could wear the same gowns again. Olivia could sympathize with the man’s pride, to a point, but he didn’t understand the ton. Alice would be severely handicapped without a few new dresses. He should think of a new wardrobe as an investment. That was what Jasper, teasing Olivia, had said he did.

Olivia heard her brothers’ voices in the hallway. A moment later, they came into the room. Reg went to Georgiana’s side and bent to kiss her. Jasper took two steps into the room and froze. His face went red.

Arthur was hidden under a shawl that covered Georgiana from shoulder to waist. Nevertheless, Arthur’s snuffling noises made it clear what was going on. Jasper spun on his heel, murmured an incoherent apology, and sped from the room. Reg shook his head, and the ladies laughed.

“I spent my whole life outnumbered by Taverston males,” Olivia said. “Now the ladies are in the majority and the tables have turned!”

“Don’t crow yet,” Reg countered. “We are soon to even the score.”