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“It is nice to make your acquaintance Lady Napier. The Countess has spoken of poise and elegance and I can see that she has not misspoken. May I have the honour of a dance?”

The Colonel was tall, barrel-chested with a rugged, weathered charm about him. He had the mark of a second son about him, making his own way in the world. He might not be classed as handsome but there was a certain something about the way he carried himself. Elizabeth was not yet 23, still two weeks short of that birthday, and she was a young woman. She was very taken with the man before her.

Finally! A charming gentleman. Elizabeth was happy to offer her dance card. Being the Countess’ son, he had been an early introduction and had the choice the sets.

“Perhaps the Supper Set, it would allow me to escort you to the supper at the conclusion.”

Elizabeth kept her emotions under wraps, merely nodding in assent, but internally she was very pleased. As a second son, he was still in need of finding an heiress, but at least he would not embarrass his mother. He stepped back to allow others to request dances. Elizabeth was slightly surprised to have all the dances snapped up quickly. As she waited for the first set to be announced, she saw the Colonel, resplendent in his scarlet tunic, talking to another man. Based on the similarity of their features, this appeared to be his older brother, the heir to the Earldom.

The first four sets were to be endured, far too many men without manners, all making unsubtle enquiries as to her estate. One even had the gall to ask if it was in Trust. Her smile when the Colonel approached was genuine, the spectre of the Countess sure to moderate his manners. Deciding attack was the best form of defence, as they lined up Elizabeth asked him about his military experience.

It was an unusual topic for the dance floor, but the Baroness seemed genuinely interested, so Richard complied with the request. For both of them it was enjoyable. He had served on the Canadian border when a young officer and spent seven years in India. He was able to gently edge the conversation more to talking of the countries rather than the military campaigns. Both were surprised when the set was over.

“My goodness, how time flew by. You did not even get to tell me about your exploits in the Peninsula.”

“It is not normal supper table conversation but I will be happy to talk of the last six years. My own service is only the last three years upon my return from India, so I avoided the worst of the defeats in ’09 and ’10.”

He was escorting Lady Napier off the dance floor when they elegantly accosted by the man she had seen him talking to earlier in the evening.

“Richard, an introduction if you please.”

Elizabeth thought herself passed the stage of instant judgement but the over-confident request brought Mr. Darcy to mind. She was not 100% certain yet as to whether this was his cousin, but they had the same streak of self-importance.

“Lady Napier, will you allow me to introduce my older brother?”

Assent was normally automatic, especially with a Viscount, heir to an Earl. Elizabeth did not hold the pause for a full beat, just half a second, but it was there.

“Of course, Colonel.”

“Lady Napier, allow me to introduce Andrew, Viscount Stonehaven, heir to our father. Stonehaven, allow me to introduce Lady Napier, widow of the 7th Baron.”

They bowed and curtseyed.

“Will you allow me escort you to supper Lady Napier.”

Again, the arm was automatically out, even although she had been on the arm of his brother before the introduction.

“Thank you, but I had already happily accepted such an offer from your brother. Shall we go through.”

Elizabeth suspected that the Viscount was not a good card player, or not with his brother at least. He also did not take the hint and invited himself to join them during supper.

She became distracted, and guilty of not listening, as the two brothers seemed to be conducting a conversation on two levels, neither of which she understood. But what had been an enjoyable dance, and with the prospect of further interesting conversation over supper, had been thoroughly disrupted by the more consequential, but much less charming, brother.

She was disappointed yet at the same time glad when supper was over.

--

“Andrew! What on earth were you playing at?”

“Playing Richard?”

“There were no other women worthy of your attention other than the one I was dancing with and about to escort into supper?”

“Oh I see, someone had caught your eye at last. Should I go and tell mother?”

Richard Fitzwilliam had not seen this side of his brother in many years. But he then realised that he had not been in the company of his brother very often in more than a decade. Eight years in India, seven years of service and a six month journey in either direction, immediately followed by three further years in Spain meant there had been very few occasions to spend time together.

His brother was acting like they were fifteen years younger, when he very much ruled the roost back at Matlock. Richard had fought, and killed, far too many men in the intervening years to be impressed with such behaviour.