Page 78 of It's All About the Duke
Marlena turned to her cousin and smiled. She definitely seemed to have the same look of awe about the Great Hall that Marlena was feeling. Still, she laughed softly and said, “Justine, you always feel eighteen. I’ve never known you to act, talk, or look as if you were a widow ready to take your place sitting around the dance floor watching all the other beautiful ladies dance and enjoy themselves.”
“Thunderbolts and lightning. I hope I never shall, but tell me, since you have never been to a ball, how do you know about the wall of widows?”
“The tutor who Mr. Olingworth employed for me told me everything about balls. She was quite thorough, I believe. She was very good at teaching me to dance, which is why I really needed no further lessons though you insisted. She explained what I should expect, whom I should speak to first, how to sip my first glass of champagne, and that I should never have more than two glasses. I should never have two dances with the same gentleman in one evening and no more than two rides in the park with the same gentleman until I was sure I wanted to marry him.”
Justine harrumphed. “Only two glasses of champagne? That wouldn’t do for me. But I suppose she’s right since you aren’t used to it yet and have no idea how it will affect you.”
“A headache,” she said.
“For some,” Justine added. “Thankfully not me. Now my toes are beginning to feel the cold. Let’s go inside.”
If Marlena thought the outside of the Great Hall wasa masterpiece of inviting warmth, the ballroom far exceeded her expectations. Light from what seemed to be hundreds of chandeliers and thousands of candles lit the room with a bright golden glow. It took her a few moments to realize it was tall mirrors that made the room seem as if it had so many crystals hanging from the ceiling and so many tulle-and flower-draped Corinthian columns outlining the dance floor. She had never seen so many statues of Greek gods and goddesses in one place. There were more urns of beautiful fragrant flowers than she could count.
Already many people filled the dance floor enjoying the melodious tune. The swirl of ladies dressed in jewel-colored gowns mingled with gentlemen clothed in black and white made for a scene no tutor could have prepared her for. The precision with which they all took each step made her wonder if she was indeed as ready for the dancing as she’d always thought.
The duke came easily to her mind. She let her eyesight land on each gentleman on the dance floor and then to those she could see standing around the room. There were a few she couldn’t see but Rath wasn’t among those she could. A sudden streak of disappointment struck her. She’d never asked Rath if planned to attend the first ball of the Season. It had always been her assumption he would.
“Tell me, dear girl. Do you feel like a princess? As you look out over the gentlemen, do see any you think might be your prince?”
“I really can’t say, Justine. I have no idea which of them might already be spoken for or even married.”
“Let’s remedy that right now, shall we? I see Lord Henry walking this way.” Justine breathed in deeply.
“Lord Henry?” Marlena said and let her gaze follow Justine’s.
“Yes. He’s the most handsome of all the eligible bachelors. He’s one gentleman you can depend on to treat you properly and not step on your toes or your sensibilities. He would be a match made in heaven for any young lady. Lord Henry,” Justine called to him as he passed.
Justine was right. The man had the fine-looking classical features of the paintings she’d seen of Michelangelo’sDavidin one of Mr. Olingworth’s books of art. Lord Henry’s hair was cut in the same style, complete with the same thick waves. But Lord Henry was also the man Lady Vera had to pound with her parasol. Obviously Justine didn’t know about that and Marlena wasn’t going to be the one to tell her.
“Lord Henry, do you mind if I stop you or are you in a terrible hurry?”
“Not at all, Mrs. Abernathy.” He reached to kiss her hand as his eyes shifted to Marlena.
“So kind of you. I’d like to present my cousin, Miss Marlena Fast.”
They greeted each other and Marlena had to admit the man was filled with charm and perfect manners, commenting on her beauty as well as asking how she was enjoying her first ball. When he heard she’d just arrived he said he’d be honored to guide her through her first dance. Marlena hesitated. She’d hoped, wanted to have her first dance with Rath, but she hadn’t seen him and wasn’t sure he was attending the ball.
“She’d love to,” Justine said after Marlena failed to answer promptly. “Come for her when the next set starts.”
“Yes,” Marlena added. “Thank you, Lord Henry.”
He excused himself and Marlena turned to Justine. “I’m perfectly capable of accepting or declining my own dances.”
“Then you should have spoken up quicker. Thunderbolts and lightning, Marlena, what young lady wouldn’t want her first dance to be with Lord Henry. Ah, there’sLady Bellehaven coming inside. Let’s go talk to her. Her nephew will be here tonight. She says he’s a handsome fellow and he’s looking to make a match. I’ll ask her if he’s here yet.”
Marlena looked around the room again. She didn’t see Rath or Eugenia and Veronica, but she saw someone else she wanted to speak to. “Do you mind if I join you in a few minutes, Justine? I see Lady Vera and would like to say hello to her first.”
“Yes, do. I’ll go with you.”
Marlena hoped Justine didn’t plan to hover over her the entire evening and make all her decisions for her. “No, best you find out about Lady Bellehaven’s handsome nephew for me, don’t you think?”
“Oh, yes. Let me do that and then I’ll join you and Lady Vera.”
Justine walked away and Marlena scanned the ballroom again as she walked over to Lady Vera, who seemed to be searching for something in her beaded reticule.
“Lady Vera, I hope I’m not interrupting.”
The lady glanced up at her and Marlena knew immediately it wasn’t Lady Vera. Her eyes were different. Softer. Her features a little more pleasant than Lady Vera’s when she smiled.
