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Chloe wished she had someone to make such witticisms too. She looked round, only to find Lady Shrewsbury had gone to speak to Maeve, and the Duke was welcoming the other guests. Chloe’s eyes naturally searched for another important person.
Is he here yet?
She hadn’t seen Lord Felton amongst the crowd. She was certain he would stand out to her, for he always did, but there was no sign of him.
He must come! He said he would. After it, it is for the Duke and Duchess to be announced too in their new positions.
One of her hands flattened the green skirt of her gown as disappointment curdled in her stomach. If he chose not to come, Chloe would regret her choice of gown. She had only worn it with him in mind.
“They are all Chloe’s designs, of course. I mean, Miss Green’s.” Rosaline corrected herself, using Chloe’s formal address as she gestured to her. “But yes, I help as a seamstress. I must confess how lucky I feel to be here tonight, my lord.”
“You do?” the Earl said with an amused smile.
“Of course.” Rosaline nodded eagerly. “Never have I been to such an event before. I do not think I have ever witnessed such beauty, such . . . grandeur!”
“In my experience, Miss Baker, it is the people that make these events special, rather than the grandeur.” He stepped toward her, as if to offer a conspiratorial whisper, though Chloe could hear what he said. “As much as it pains me to say it, not all of these events are as fun as they should be.”
“Oh, I hope this one turns out to be one of the fun ones,” Rosaline said.
“Have no fear, Rosaline.” Chloe reentered the conversation. “As Lord Gloucester here has said, these events are made wondrous by the people in attendance, and I have no doubt the Duke and Duchess have invited many fine friends here tonight.”
Chloe noticed her words had barely been listened to. Though Rosaline nodded, her eyes had not left Lord Gloucester’s face.
“Ahem.” Chloe cleared her throat. At once, Lord Gloucester and Rosaline snapped their heads in her direction. “Lord Gloucester, I know Rosaline here was eager to dance tonight, in order to enjoy the event to its fullest.” Chloe was well aware her words were not subtle, especially when Rosaline widened her eyes, but Chloe didn’t mind.
We might as well make something happen!
“Well, I’d be keen to be your first dance partner tonight, Miss Baker, if you would do me the honor?” Lord Gloucester extended his hand toward Rosaline.
Abruptly, those wide eyes vanished, and Rosaline placed her hand in Lord Gloucester’s. The two walked off toward the dance floor, with Chloe watching from behind them.
Well, at least someone will have their dream dance partner tonight.
The thought made Chloe tear her eyes away from the couple. She looked back and forth in the room again, desperate for a sight of Lord Felton, but he was nowhere to be seen. She didn’t spot him dancing, where he would no doubt bump into some of the other couple. Neither could she see him by the drink tables.
“Chloe! Chloe?” Maeve called to her. Seconds later, Chloe felt her hand taken by her friend. “Come, there are some more people I must introduce you to.”
“My goodness, this evening already feels like a blur,” Chloe whispered to her friend. “I must confess, it is thrilling, yet also confusing. Say even one or two of these ladies ever come to my shop someday to ask for a design, how am I ever supposed to remember their names in this sea of people?” She gestured to all the faces around her. Some ladies were easy to confuse with each other, for they were dressed similarly in pale cream gowns and had white feathers thrust into their hair. “How many ladies have come tonight wishing to be dressed as cockatoos, do you think?” Her words made Maeve laugh heartily beside her.
“You cannot say that!” Maeve whispered. “How am I supposed to keep a straight face when I talk to those ladies now?”
“You are well practiced, I am sure.” Chloe shrugged it off. She was pleased to see that Maeve didn’t take her to meet more ladies straight away.
“Here. It sounds as if you need a breather from all these introductions.” Maeve urged Chloe to stop at the side of the room, where she topped off their glasses of champagne. “Drink some of this, it will help to calm your nerves.”
Chloe took a big gulp and looked down at her hand upon the glass. The nerves that had made her hand tremble had long since stopped, and her body had been overtaken by a pleasant lightness, thanks to the champagne.
“Is it not going well?” Maeve asked excitedly. “There is not a lady here who has not asked after the designer of the gowns. I see your friends are having a good time as well.” She pointed toward the seamstresses through the crowd.
Chloe followed Maeve’s gesture, looking back and forth with eagerness. She could see Elizabeth and Marianne standing together with a group of ladies. In turn, each lady held out a hand to touch the plush skirts or admire the soft silks of the seamstresses’ sleeves. Elizabeth and Marianne were quite the center of attention, and Chloe thought the smiles upon their faces would be difficult to capture even by the finest of court painters.
“Rosaline, in particular, seems to be enjoying the evening,” Maeve added, pointing to the floor.
Chloe turned her eyes on the dance floor, smiling when she caught sight of Rosaline and Lord Gloucester dancing together. Rosaline’s excitement was palpable, even at this distance, for she bobbed happily as she danced, repeating the steps that Chloe had taught her rather hurriedly ahead of the event. Lord Gloucester’s eyes did not wander away from his dance partner.
He seems . . . quite captivated! What must it be like to have a gentleman look at you in that way?
This time, Chloe stopped herself from searching for Lord Felton. She looked down at her glass as she took another sip of champagne instead.
