Page 26 of A Rogue to Forget

Chapter Eight

If not for the fact that Evan and Miles were also in attendance, at yet another social function, Henry would have left. He’d wanted to stop by and see Hannah, however, he’d been detained until late at a business meeting.

“Is she the lucky woman to be on your arm for the rest of the Season?” Miles asked, his gaze moving across the room to where Una stood next to his mother.

“I hope not,” Henry replied, giving his friend a stern look. “Do not goad me about this. I am not in the mood. Why do mothers make it their sole purpose to marry off their sons and daughters?”

Miles’s lips curved. “Because they wish to have grandchildren.” The man tensed upon seeing someone. “I too have been avoiding my mother’s latest attempt at a match for me.”

Following his friend’s line of sight, two women walked through the room arm-in-arm, behind them the Duke of Spencer, Miles’s father.

The women, one Lady Johnstone, the other a feminine version of Miles, although with softer features and was quite fetching had to be his sister, Penelope.

“Is this your sister’s first Season?” Henry asked.

To his amusement, Miles’s eyes narrowed. “I am afraid so. Already the vultures swarm.”

“She is lovely,” Henry said. “Why are you surprised.”

“Because she is much too young and has informed my parents that she will not accept any suitors for at least another pair of seasons.”

Unable to keep from it, Henry laughed. “Good for her.”

“Indeed,” Miles replied, not taking his eyes away from his sister, who was approached by a young man.

“I wish to dance.” Felicity neared. “Have you seen Evan?”

“In the study with your father,” Miles replied. “In a game of cards. May I have the pleasure?”

The pair walked off and soon Miles led Felicity around the room, the music enveloping them as Henry watched. To his consternation, his mother caught his eye and looked to Una.

Duty called and he crossed the salon and guided the delighted Una to the dancefloor.

“I wondered how long before you claimed your spots on my dance card,” Una stated.

He’d not signed her card but had a good idea who had done it for him. With Una in his arms, they danced the waltz and, admittedly, he enjoyed it. Although he did not find himself attracted to Una, he did like to dance.

Whatever would it be like to dance with Hannah? He considered that once her mourning ended, he would be sure to invite her to a social event.

“Ouch!” Una yelped when he stomped on her foot. “We are not keeping up with the others,” she added.

“Sorry.” They fell into step and, at once, Una’s hand inched around his shoulder so that they were closer than socially appropriate. The woman was relentless.

When the song ended, he guided Una toward where his mother had been, but she was no longer there. He searched the ballroom for where to deposit the woman. Una hung on his arm and smiled up at him. “I am parched. Would you be a dear and take us to find refreshment?”

“Where is your mother?”

“She did not come. I came with a chaperone. She is sitting either in the garden or in the solarium. Should we look?”

Henry nodded. “Of course.”

Whoever the woman was, she was not in the solarium. After a turnabout the room, Henry made for the doorway. There had been plenty of couples caught in such places and forced into marriage and he did not intend to be one of them.

Admittedly, the fresh air of the garden was welcome. However, after looking to the area where benches had been set up for companions, Una announced that her chaperone was not there.

“Perhaps she went for a walk. The ninny can be quite thoughtless.”

They walked a short distance away when Una stumbled forward. Henry caught her, and she met his gaze. “Thank you.”