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Chapter Twelve
Florent watched with what felt like a jaundiced eye as Lady Constance and her companion approached Lord Merton. Was she to start flirting with the viscount too? Florent had understood the woman had chosen to forego marriage in order to travel the continent. And he had never received the impression that she was of loose morals. And yet, here she was flitting from man to man throughout the party, barely spending any time with other ladies. It gave him pause in thinking that she was so unique and special that he might endeavor to change her mind about marriage. He didn’t know what to think about anything anymore and certainly not the curious Lady Constance.
The one time Florent had entered Society and taken an interest in a woman, and it backfired badly. Bile churned in his belly before he called himself to task. He was being much too hard on the poor woman. Was that not the purpose of the Season? For men and women to pair up and make matches? Florent suspected that was the very reason why neither of his brothers had been willing to accept Lady Adelaide’s invitation for that week. They refused to be matchmade. Florent had thought he felt similarly but then had been so drawn to Lady Constance. Now, though, the thought of her curdled in his mind. He was so instinctively repelled by the newcomer, this Wagner fellow, that he was far less interested in Lady Constance if she were a particular friend of the man.
Of course, Lady Constance’s reaction to the interruption on the terrace had been less than enthusiastic, Florent reminded himself, striving for a balanced view of the matter. He ought to make an effort to remain as neutral as possible until all factors became clear. He prided himself on being fair and balanced in his judgment. Now was not the time to change that tendency, no matter the provocation.
Still, though, watching her pay attention to another gentleman did not sit right with him, so Florent determined to turn his own attention elsewhere. There were many appealing young women present that evening. Lady Adelaide had invited several of the neighbouring families to join the house party for the ball that night. It would be churlish of Florent not to dance with all the daughters present. These were his neighbours after all.
He had to suppress a grin over his own perverse thoughts as he bowed over the hand of the first young lady he came to. Perhaps he was just as flighty as Lady Constance.
“Miss Alwin, it’s a pleasure to see you and your family here this evening.”
His grin dimmed slightly when the girl simpered. He had known her all her life, and now she was simpering at him. This was why he dreaded Society, he thought as he tried to keep his smile in place. As he had said to himself, he had known her all her life. She wasn’t usually the simpering sort, as far as he could tell. It was possible she was nervous. This was probably one of her first Society events, and it was possible she wouldn’t get many more opportunities. And he couldn’t walk away now that he had just greeted her. He finished what he had started.
“I am almost certain the next dance is to be a minuet. Might I have the pleasure of you as my partner?”
Thankfully she had reduced the strength of her glee and merely nodded politely, he was relieved to observe. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad after all to partner with her.
The music filled the room and he swept her into the dance. No longer simpering, the young woman merely appeared delighted.
“Is this your first time at Everleigh?” he asked her after they had settled into the steps.
“It is,” she answered shyly.
“My sister’s, too,” he told her.
“Really? I would have thought with you being direct neighbours, that she would have been here regularly.”
“I was, of course, as a lad, playing with all the boys. But since there were no ladies living here at the time, none of my sisters ever set foot in Everleigh until now.”
Much to Florent’s amusement, the young woman almost preened under this knowledge. But then she seemed to call herself to task and brought the unattractive reaction under bounds.
“Is it ridiculous that this information adds to the excitement of the occasion?” she asked him with wide eyes.
“Not ridiculous, I don’t suppose. It makes your invitation all the more special knowing how rare it is, doesn’t it?”
The girl’s vigorous nodding almost dislodged her curls, and Florent almost found it endearing. But then his gaze encountered Lady Constance in the expert arms of Lord Merton, and it was all he could do not to trip over his own feet.
“How has your family been, Miss Alwin? Is everything well at home?”
“As well as usual,” she replied simply. “There has been an uproar in the house about tonight, of course. And some in the family will always find something to complain about, so not very much has changed.”
“Will you be going to Town for any of the Season, do you suppose?”
“It isn’t likely unless the cotton pays off better than was even expected,” she answered simply, and Florent’s heart went out to her. She was gentry and would thus be accepted into Society if she could get herself there, but without a sponsor, or a windfall as she had mentioned, her family wasn’t likely to be able to afford the expense. “Regina is prettier than me, so Mama says she’ll get the Season if there’s only one of us can go.”
Flor had to work hard not to allow his jaw to unhinge over her matter-of-fact statement. To her it seemed acceptable, but he couldn’t see how she could accept such an odd way of viewing things. Although, was it really so odd? He supposed the family had to weigh the costs and if they truly thought they could only go once, they would have to make the choice that made the most sense for their family. He just hated the thought that it was being decided on something so arbitrary as beauty. He couldn’t remember what that sister looked like, so obviously she had never struck him as a paragon of beauty. Not that he’d ever been paying particular attention, but he did have eyes in his head. Surely if she was a diamond of the first waters he would have noticed.
“What will you do?”
“I might become a teacher or a companion, maybe even a governess.”
Florent blinked. “Would you enjoy any of those occupations?”
“Probably,” she answered him with a smile. “In either case, enjoying it or not, I need to do something, don’t I? As the oldest of so many children, I need to make way for the others. And I cannot be an expense any longer than necessary.”
Florent could completely understand the sentiment as he had always experienced the same ones. But surely it was different for him as the brother and heir. Surely a gently bred young woman should be looked after by her family all her days.
