Page 37 of Courting Miss Lancaster
“It is the most elegant choice,” the Dowager countered.
“But, as this ball is in honor of Athena, I think the wisest choice would be the dance that she most enjoys. If she and Adam are both miserable,” Harry continued, “you would not be setting a very promising tone for her ball.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” the Dowager replied. She sounded promisingly reflective.
Athena let her gaze slide between the Dowager and Harry. Had Harry convinced her to change her plans? Was Athena to be spared “ordeal by minuet”?
“What would you suggest instead?” the Dowager asked.
“While Adam generally selects a minuet when he stands up with his wife, I believe he would not object to a quadrille, if Persephone and I made up the remainder of the set,” Harry said. Athena felt herself smile—she liked the quadrille. And to have Harry in the set with her would put her mind at ease. “I have seen Athena dance the quadrille, and I do believe she would appear very much to advantage should that be your choice.”
“I would agree,” Persephone added to the discussion. Athena hadn’t even noticed her there.
Athena knew it was the Dowager’s opinion that counted most. The minuet would be endurable, but the idea of simply enduring her come-out ball was beyond depressing. Athena had dreamed of a ball of her own since she was very young. She wished it to be magical, to be wonderfully delightful. The quadrille would be a vast improvement.
“The minuet would have been best,” the Dowager said.
Athena hoped it was the start of a concession. She held Harry’s arm a little more tightly.
“I believe a quadrille would do fine,” the Dowager finished. “Persephone and I could certainly rearrange the order of dances.”
“We certainly could,” Persephone replied.
Athena released the tense breath she’d been all but holding. “Bless you, Harry,” she whispered, leaning against his arm a little. He had just rescued a portion of her dreams. Now, if only he could find a wonderful sort of gentleman to introduce her to—one who would sweep her off her feet. But he didn’t have a very promising record.
Chapter Fifteen
VW
Harry knew his time wasup. Falstone House was filling with the most exalted members of society: the wealthy, the influential, the socially superior, and, to his detriment, the eligible. Not being an actual member of the family, Harry had watched from a distance the constant introductions undertaken in the receiving line. Though he would have liked to, Harry could find no glaring objections to the gentlemen Athena was meeting.
Mr. Rigby was among the attendees. Like the faithful “suitor sorter” that he was, Harry had told Adam of the rumors he’d heard regarding Mr. Rigby’s pending financial doom. Adam was investigating, but nothing had been determined yet. So, Rigby was permitted to remain amongst the throng of admirers vying for Athena’s attention.
Harry managed to smile at the guests accumulating in vast quantities, all the while resigning himself to polishing his I’m-entirely-happy-about-this face. He would need it during the remainder of the Little Season and would have to fight to hold on to the mask once Athena selected her future husband. Perhaps he ought to consider a tour of the East Indies. Precisely how he would fund such an expedition, Harry couldn’t say.
“Any word on the possibility of a royal appearance?” Lord Devereaux asked in an undertone.
Harry smiled, despite the weight settling in his chest. Even the new Viscount Devereaux—only recently out of deepest mourning over the passing of his father—had come to Athena’sball and not, Harry was certain, for dancing nor for the exalted company. Lord Devereaux was gaining the respect of his Peers in Lords, young though he was and newly ascended to his title, but the young viscount was not overly active in society. His wife was never seen. The mysterious lady, it seemed, preferred the country to the absolute exclusion of London.
“The royal response was vague, at best,” Harry replied. “Whether or not the prince intends to grace the gathering is, as yet, unknown.”
“And whether or not the Infamous Duke will welcome our prince is also, I would imagine, unknown.”
“That is the reason for the unprecedented crush you find yourself in the midst of.” Harry motioned around the ever-more-crowded ballroom.
“I would imagine His Grace’s sister-in-law had something to do with the evening’s success.” Lord Devereaux’s eyes drifted back to the receiving line, only then breaking up to mark the official beginning of the evening’s festivities. “She seems to be a lovely young lady, well-mannered and genteel.”
“She is,” Harry readily agreed; Devereaux was married, after all.
“She strikes me as being a little uncomfortable in such a large gathering,” Devereaux added.
“She will find her footing once she has had the opportunity to grow accustomed to Town ways and expectations.” Harry watched Athena as she entered the ballroom on Adam’s arm. She was most certainly uncomfortable, though the smile she wore would have fooled all but the most observant.
“Let us hope, then,” Lord Devereaux said, something like regret mingled with frustration in his tone, “that she is willing to try. Not all ladies will make the effort.”
A rather cryptic declaration,Harry thought, especially as it was uttered as Lord Devereaux walked away. It seemed Harry’swas not to be the only story that lacked a happy ending.
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Persephone motion minutely. It was time to open the ball and, as the quadrille had been quite universally agreed upon amongst the interested parties, he was being called into service.
