Page 30 of Courting Miss Lancaster
“Sir Hubert is no longer in London,” Adam said.
“He has left Town?” Surprise summoned the words from Athena before she realized she’d spoken out loud. Athena did not make a habit of speaking openly with Adam. He was far too intimidating. “Why would he do that?”
“He didn’t, um...say,” Harry answered. Athena was certain she saw a look pass between Harry and Adam, and a twitch tugged at both gentlemen’s mouths, indicating they both found Harry’s comment amusing. “It seems he was in a very great hurry.”
“Did you drive him from London?” Persephone asked, her tone wary.
“He felt compelled to go,” Adam replied. The carriage was too dim for Athena to make out his expression with any clarity. But his tone was dismissive, as if it hardly mattered.
“Oh, Adam!” With no more prelude than that, Persephone essentially launched herself at Adam, her arms thrown around his neck.
Athena stared for one lingering moment, too shocked to look away. But a smile slowly spread across her face. It was precisely the sort of scene she had imagined in her dreams. Except, of course,shewas the deep-in-love bride, and Adam wasnotthe groom. To ride in a carriage in the embrace of her husband!
“Her gown will be hopelessly wrinkled,” Harry observed, quietly laughing.
“I don’t think she minds,” Athena answered, still smiling.
Athena closed her eyes, uncharacteristically tired. She had grown accustomed to the late hours of the social whirl over the past few weeks. She’d never been tiredbeforean evening began. Athenarubbed at her temples in an attempt to ease her headache. She closed her eyes, feeling every movement of the carriage.
“Athena,” Harry’s voice was even quieter than before, “you do not look at all well.”
The tiniest laugh slipped from Athena. She opened her eyes and managed to smile at Harry. “That is a horrible thing to say to a lady on her way to the most important ball of the Season.”
Harry smiled back, and Athena felt better, if only marginally.She was achy and even felt the start of a chill creeping over her. But Harry’s smile warmed her. It always did. And she was enormously grateful for his friendship. He, alone, had sensed her worries at Persephone’s wedding. He had sought her out during both her stays at Falstone Castle, befriending her. And he had offered support and guidance during her debut. What would she do without Harry?
“Here we are,” Harry announced a few moments later.
Persephone had managed to repair the minor damage her overly enthusiastic display of gratitude had done to her appearance. Adam handed Persephone down from the carriage and pulled her arm through his, keeping his other hand affectionately atop hers where it rested on his coat sleeve. Harry assumed the duty of accompanying Athena.
“There are a lot of people here,” Athena sighed, glancing around the entryway of the Duke of Hartley’s home. There was hardly an inch to spare amongst the crowd.
“That is generally what is meant by acrush,my dear,” Harry whispered into her ear. He had called her that once before. Athena knew that many gentlemen usedmy dearrather indiscriminately. Perhaps it was simply habit, though she wasn’t certain she’d heard him call anyone else by that particular endearment. “I have no doubt your ball next week will be accounted as much a success as this. Especially as speculation continues to build regarding the prince’s likelihood of attending.”
Athena smiled. She had seen the satisfaction in Adam’s eyes as he and Persephone had discussed the “Royal Dilemma,” as they called it.
Remaining on one’s feet when every part of one’s body protests the needed effort was an accomplishment to be applauded. Except Athena found the polite applause issued by the gathered assembly at the end of each set excruciatinglypainful.
Athena walked with Harry back to the seat beside Persephone after enduring a country dance far too rousing for the state of her head. As they approached, a gentleman clad in the black and white that Brummel had made so de rigueur quite smoothly impeded their progress.
“Good evening, Mr. Windover,” he greeted Harry.
“Mr. Rigby,” Harry returned, both gentlemen offering a correct, if brief, bow.
“Would you be so good, Windover, as to introduce me to your lovely partner?” Mr. Rigby requested.
Athena’s usual feeling of fluttery anticipation did not surface, due no doubt to the all-encompassing effort required to simply remain standing and smile with any degree of believability. Rather than wondering if she were about to be introduced to the man of her dreams, Athena simply wished the introduction complete and over with so she might seek refuge in some quieter corner of the ballroom.
“Miss Lancaster, may I present Mr. Rigby of Norfolk. Mr. Rigby, allow me to make known to you Miss Lancaster, sister of Her Grace, the Duchess of Kielder.”
Athena curtsied and felt herself wobble ever so slightly, her muscles growing less cooperative as the evening wore on. Despite her earlier words to Harry, Athena was beginning to suspect she was, in fact, becoming ill.
“Might I request the honor of your next available set, Miss Lancaster?” Mr. Rigby asked.
“I had hoped to sit out the next set,” Athena admitted. “I fear I am rather fatigued at the moment.”
Mr. Rigby smiled good-naturedly. “Then allow me to keep you company, or perhaps I might fetch you a glass of lemonade, or champagne if you prefer.”
“I will track down an elusive glass of lemonade,” Harryoffered. “Miss Lancaster’s seat is just over here,” he gestured to her seat within a few feet of where they stood, “beside her sister and brother-in-law.”
