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The grand ball was truly a sight to behold. The polished walnut balustrade of the entrance hall was decorated with carvings of cherubs adorned in leafy attire, strategically placed. Marble pillars towered over the ballroom and mantels filled with what must be priceless statues lined the walls. Miss Anne Albright speculated at the time and care and, of course, the coin that hosting such an event must cost.
Her father was a viscount and a respectable gentleman, though she still felt like a country bumpkin as she gazed up at yet another manor which put her own home in a class beneath it. With every event Anne attended in London, she felt more and more an imposter amongst the grand persons in attendance. She feared at any moment someone may notice that she didn’t belong, and she would turn into a pumpkin. The notion was entirely ridiculous.
As the eldest daughter of the Viscount Aldbrick, Anne was not accustomed to such finery, but neither was she common. She had traveled to London with the newly made Duchess of Bramblewood, Emily Burgess, and was currently staying with her. Anne had visited with Emily several times in the past. The pair of young ladies were great friends; at least they had been before Emily’s marriage to the duke.
Anne swallowed and attempted to banish these maudlin thoughts. She and Emily had been friends since they were barely old enough to toddle. The pair of young ladies had attended finishing school together, so Anne knew that she shouldn’t feel awkward, but she still did. Emily’s mother was her chaperone this season, and she liked Emily’s mother well enough, but Lady Kentleworth was nothermother.
Anne had been most excited when Emily had invited her to Town for a visit and for the opening of Bramblewood’s London home. Anne and Emily had gone on several whirlwind shopping trips for the house, while Alexander, Emily’s new husband, the young duke, fulfilled his parliamentary duties.
Alexander’s father had not been much for Town, and even less for Parliament, especially after the death of Alexander’s mother. The large house in Mayfair had been left empty, or let out to other nobles for years. Now, Alexander and his young bride were in residence for the season. Anne was privileged to join them, along with her younger sister Eliza and several servants from Bramblewood.
Lady Kentleworth agreed to chaperone the Albright sisters, spending most of her time with them at her daughter’s new London house rather than her own Mayfair residence where Lord Kentleworth resided. The duke’s grand edifice was an empty hall in desperate need of a woman’s touch. Anne felt comfortable making suggestions to Emily about the decorations. Together the women had spent weeks preparing the house.
Alexander’s father, the late duke had a terrible reputation and Alexander was only now starting to redeem his family’s name. As the new duchess, Emily wanted to make a good impression at the first major event she hosted. She was nervous, but Anne had calmed her like the good friend she was, and the ball went off without a hitch. It was a great success and theTonhad nothing but good things to say about the new Duchess of Bramblewood.
Anne remembered the Bramblewood ballroom filled with important people dressed in royal finery and attempted to recapture the feeling of that first wondrous evening, but the pleasant sensation slipped away. That night, she had been with her best friend. Emily had wanted Anne by her side, and she rarely left it except to dance a few dances with the young duke, and Emily’s brother, Edmund Ingram. The thought of Edmund brought a smile to Anne’s lips.
Now, she scanned Lord Northrup’s ballroom searching for him. Edmund was as much a friend to the duke as Anne was to Emily. When they were younger the four of them had been nearly inseparable.
That first evening, Edmund and his father, the Viscount Kentleworth, had been solicitous, bringing all manner of gentry to Emily and Anne for introductions. Even though important people surrounded her, Anne felt steady with her friends at her side.
Then, Edmund asked her to dance. She was a bit surprised. He was not the best of dancers, but he was so earnest it was impossible to refuse him. They had danced one of the simpler sets, and at the end of it, he had whirled her out onto the vast balcony, overlooking the garden. Although small, the city garden gave a feeling of the country to the opulent London house.
It was a place for lovers, but Edmund only held her gloved hand for a moment, before exclaiming about the heat in the ballroom with the crush of people. He turned and looked out at the view.
“Yes,” Anne agreed, somewhat embarrassed by the romantic turn of her thoughts. It was hot in the ballroom and the outside air was quite welcome. There was the ghost of a breeze. “Your sister is a grand success,” she said.
He nodded. “Yes, Em is made for this,” he said, “and I am glad for it, but if I have to kowtow to one more of Father’s cronies, I may cast up my accounts.”
“You wouldn’t,” Anne said, with a giggle.
“No. I wouldn’t. I shall be a dutiful son and a good brother and stand fast.” He looked at Anne for a moment, his bright green eyes sparkling, and her heart did a strange flip flop.
“Thank you for the dance,” Edmund said at last. “I thought it would look odd if the brother of the new duchess failed to dance at all, and I knew you wouldn’t mind my ineptitude.”
Anne grinned at him remembering when they were younger and the many hours they spent practicing dancing. Edmund had trod on her toes repeatedly, and on one occasion stepped on the hem of her dress, tearing it unmercifully. Tonight was a marked improvement.
“Actually, you did rather well.” Anne said with a smile that was only for Edmund.
Edmund laughed. “You are a sport, putting up with my treading on your toes and not even calling me out for it. Shall we find some refreshment?” He took her arm to lead her back into the ballroom. Anne wondered when her wayward friend had become a gentleman.
The two of them had spent most of the evening talking and it was almost like old times. After the guests had gone home, the four friends celebrated their success in the drawing room with wine while the servants cleared away the remainder of the food. Alexander had commandeered a plate of meat and cheese and they ate ravenously.
“I couldn’t eat a bite at dinner,” Emily admitted. “I was too nervous.”
Anne nodded, thinking she had felt the same. Now, with all pretense stripped away, they were just four friends sharing a good time, until Alexander leaned in to whisper something in Emily’s ear. She blushed, turning her face up to his. They did not kiss, but the heat was palpable. Anne felt suddenly uncomfortable.
“It is late; we should retire,” Anne suggested, and Emily agreed, her eyes shining with love for her new husband.
Edmund snatched a last bite of roast pork and Alexander called a footman to clear away the rest. Emily and Alexander retired for the night, but Edmund and Anne stood awkwardly on the landing. The silence seemed to grow and stretch between them. Then, Edmund had cleared his throat and mumbled, “Goodnight,” turning away.
Anne had not seen Edmund since that night although she knew he was still in Town.
Every event she searched for him only to find he was once again absent. She took a deep breath and attempted to cultivate her normal devil-may-care attitude. She would enjoy herself. She would.
The Lord and Lady Northrup knew how to host an event. The ballroom was full to bursting and Anne knew she should appreciate the grand spectacle. Only it was so much easier to relax in the country amongst familiar faces, and there was one familiar face that was lacking in the crowd. She felt his absence keenly and could not help scanning the guests once again in search of Edmund’s teasing smile. She could not help but feel melancholy when she confirmed his absence.
“Whatever am I doing?” She muttered to herself in disgust. She was pining after him.
