frowned deepened.
“But no one has ever been able to take the least liberties with her,” his friend added hastily, “on account of the dragon lady.”
Tertius raised an eyebrow in inquiry.
Delaney nodded across the room. “Miss Templeton. See the dark-haired lady with the pursed lips?”
“The one who looks as if she’s swallowed sour wine?”
“The very one. That’s Lady Gillian’s companion. She appeared soon after her first season, and she hasn’t let Lady Gillian out of her sight since then.”
Tertius felt a twinge of pity for the young lady if that disagreeable-looking lady was her watchdog. Miss Templeton looked like the typical spinster past her prime. “Let me guess, she’s probably a distant relation living out some cheerless existence on too little.”
“Yes, who knows where the Duchess of Burnham found her, but she never hesitates to tell anyone willing to listen how she is accustomed to better things. I believe she’s a third cousin to the late Duke.”
It crossed Tertius’s mind to wonder how Lady Gillian would behave once her bodyguard were removed.
“Lord Skylar!” a lady exclaimed. “When did you arrive back in town?”
“Lady Jersey.” Tertius bowed over her kid-encased hand. “The prodigal has returned, as you can see.”
“My, yes.” She stood at arm’s length, surveying him. “It has been years that you’ve been away.”
“A decade, to be precise.”
“A decade!” Her eyes opened wide. “You were a young man about town then, quite a rake as I recall. So, you have come from making your fortune in the Indies, I presume?”
He sketched another brief bow. “That was the purpose.”
“Dear Lord Caulfield was at his wits’ end, I recall.” She peered at him more closely. “I don’t know how that climate across the Atlantic agreed with you. You’re awfully brown and thin.”
He shrugged. “The sun is to blame for the one and a plaguey fever for the other.”
She patted his hand. “London will soon put you to rights.”
“One can but hope.”
“Well, I trust you will find some pleasant amusement here tonight. Still unmarried?”
He nodded. “A state shortly to be remedied.”
Lady Jersey, smiling delightedly, asked, “Is that what brought you here tonight? What think you of our pretty young ladies? There will surely be one to catch your eye.”
“One already has.”
“Oh, I’m all aflutter with curiosity. Tell me who it is, and I shall arrange an introduction.”
Things had certainly not changed at Almack’s. “In point of fact, my dear Lady Jersey, the introductions have already been effected. Our two families came to an understanding ere I set foot on British soil. It but remains for the betrothal to be announced.”
Her mouth formed a small circle of astonishment. “Oh, my. When is the good news to be made known?”
“Within the week, I’m certain. Apropos of it, I would crave your indulgence on something touching this engagement.”
“Oh, yes, tell me.” Her eyes lit up in anticipation that she would be privy to some inside information.
“Since the young lady and I are already promised to each other, I would like to ask your permission to dance the waltz with her.”
Her mouth formed another O as she blinked at him. “Oh, dear Lord Skylar, we do so frown on the waltz. There’s been a mania for it ever since the Czar danced it here earlier this month. We could hardly refuse him permission. But we don’t encourage it. I know it is danced all over the Continent, and at private dances in town, but we have always tried to maintain a certain standard of propriety at Almack’s. We’ve only just introduced the quadrille this season. We are the upholders of the highest decorum for the young ladies who are presented every season, you understand.”
“I understand,” he interjected smoothly when it was apparent she would continue in this vein. He smiled his most charming smile. “But seeing how my betrothal to Lady Gillian Edwards will shortly be announced, I can see no harm in indulging us in this one dance.”
“Lady Gillian?” Her eyes grew wide at this piece of information.
“Yes, though I know you can be trusted to be discreet about the betrothal until it is officially announced.”
“Oh, of course. You can trust absolutely to my silence.”
Knowing it would be all over town before another day had passed, he pressed his advantage. “So, my lady, will you favor me with this request?”
She pursed her lips and made a few sounds of debating with herself. Finally she drew herself up. “Very well, I suppose a waltz with Lady Gillian wouldn’t be improper under these circumstances. But only one, mind you. There will be talk. I must go and explain to the other patronesses why I have given you my leave.” She gave him a conspiratorial smile. “I shall even request that the orchestra play a waltz after this set.”
He bowed.
By this time, Lady Gillian was standing along the wall, surrounded by a gaggle of overly refined young dandies, from what Sky could judge. He ambled over, Delaney at his side congratulating him on his smooth handling of Lady Jersey.
When Sky arrived behind her flock of admirers, he stood a good half-head above them, so he could observe Lady Gillian easily.
“Oh, Pinky, you mustn’t be so naughty. You know he can’t help who his tailor is,” she remonstrated with the young man nearest her. The others chuckled.
One by one they fell silent as they noticed Sky’s presence. He didn’t look at any of them but approached Lady Gillian as a path opened up in front of him. He bowed over her hand. “My lady, would you honor me with this next waltz?”
Her mouth dropped open at his request before she snapped it shut. She removed her gloved hand from his in what struck him as a studied gesture. “I must decline as I have not as yet been given the nod from the patronesses to dance the waltz.”
“But I have.” Fixing his eye on the so-called Pinky, an effete-looking young man with too much pomade on his hair, Sky quelled him with a mere look as he opened his mouth to speak. Then he turned his attention back to Lady Gillian. With a deliberately imperious gesture, Sky held out his arm as the first strains of the waltz began. Silently she placed her gloved arm in his.
The two walked onto the dance floor, where Tertius took her in his arms and began to lead.
“However did you get permission from one of the patronesses? They are notoriously strict, you know.”
The two glided smoothly over the dance floor. “I
