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“I’m certain you’ll have plenty of opportunity for kisses,” Doc said with confidence. “You’ll turn every head tonight.”
Tina gave Bianca a considering look. “One in particular, I imagine.”
* * *
Bianca feltlike a princess when the butler called out her name and presented her to the party. It had been over a year since the last time she’d been surrounded by this many people. Over a year since the last time she wore a gown this fine. Over a year since the last time she’d had the opportunity to dance.
But there was a gauntlet to run first. The St. Trevelyon family stood in a receiving line to greet their arriving guests.
Tina, Joy, and Goose had all independently secured permission to bring friends and had even shared those friends’ names with their hostess. But a name scrawled on paper was a far cry from reality.
Bianca dipped her very best curtsey for the viscount and viscountess, then did the same for their daughter, Miss Fulvia St. Trevelyon, and her cousin, Miss Fenella St. Trevelyon, both of whom looked radiant. The women barely inclined their heads in response.
Viscount St. Trevelyon gazed at Bianca with eyes cold enough to shatter ice, but no one stopped her from continuing on and entering the party. Before she knew it, the receiving line was over, and Bianca was standing in an enormous ballroom, buzzing with so many aristocrats it felt like she’d stumbled into a swarming hive.
She followed her friends to the refreshment table, where they selected cakes and biscuits and teased Miss Drowsy to stay away from the punch bowl.
“No napping on the dance floor until after supper is served!”
A quarter hour passed companionably. Miss Fenella St. Trevelyon left the receiving line and disappeared for several minutes, but the river of incoming guests never abated. It was like being at Vauxhall Gardens during a balloon launch.
Despite the distractions of loud music and bustling servants and the fancy crowd, Bianca’s eyes were drawn repeatedly to the familiar tousled red hair of a rakish gentleman far away on the opposite side of the room.
The Earl of Eagleton’s back was to Bianca, and what a backside it was. Such wide shoulders, such a perfectly trimmed tail coat, such toned legs in their formal breeches and spotless boots.
Harry was deep in conversation with a thin, long-legged beauty with white skin and an aura of barely contained energy.
“Lady Regina Haywood,” Tina murmured into Bianca’s ear.
“Is she… ”
“The Duke of Lennox’s sister? Yes. The cruelest person in all the ton? Also yes.”
Bianca doubted anyone could be crueler than Lady Quinseley, whom she was relieved to see was not in attendance. The countess tended to stay at home, preferring to host her own soirées, with a smaller, more elite crowd. It was just as well. Bianca had no wish to cross paths with her—or anyone else described by others as cruel.
“Despite what you may have heard,” Tina said conspiratorially, “wallflowers need not spend all night standing awkwardly against the wainscoting of actual walls. See those chairs meant for spinsters and companions?” She gestured.
Bianca nodded.
“More comfortable than they look,” Joy put in with a smile. “Are you coming?”
Bianca glanced over her shoulder to give one last look at Harry before the handsome earl faded out of her direct line of sight.
His back was still to her, but the young woman he was speaking to stiffened as though she could sense Bianca’s interest in her conversation partner from across the entire ballroom.
Bianca couldn’t help her interest. She wanted to touch Harry’s wide shoulders, kiss his firm mouth. He’d made clear the lines between them, so Bianca knew they would never have anything more than flirtation—no matter what she’d wished upon a star. Nonetheless, she couldn’t help but want more. Couldn’t stop herself from wantinghim. Couldn’t—
Lady Regina gave her a look of such unconstrained loathing that Bianca gasped aloud at its venom.
“Good God.” Peavy whistled beneath her breath. “Did you see the glare Lady Regina just sent Bianca?”
Rosie nodded. “I thought Bianca would be smited on the spot.”
“‘Smote’,” Doc corrected her.
“Smote,” Rosie amended. “Pile of ashes. No trace remaining.”
“If Lady Regina approaches you,” Tina said to Bianca, “there’s only one wise thing to do.”
