the dancing, the sooner they will leave.’
‘We must dance?’ What fresh hell was this?
‘Of course. It is our ball. If we do not dance, they will not.’
‘Oh.’ She had been so convinced that she would embarrass herself with the preparations for the party, or disgrace herself in the receiving line, that she had forgotten there would be other opportunities for error.
He took her hand in his and put his other hand to her waist. ‘I know it goes against your nature,’ he said. ‘But let me lead.’
She remembered not to jump as he touched her, for it would be even more embarrassing to demonstrate again that she was not familiar with the feel of his hands on her body. He seemed unperturbed as he led her out on to the floor. ‘You have nothing to fear, you know. Even if you stumble, no one will dare comment. I certainly shall not.’
She nodded, to reassure herself.
‘Have you waltzed before?’
She could only manage a frantic glance up into his face.
‘It does not matter. The music is lovely, and the step is easy to learn. Relax and enjoy it. One two three, one two three. See. It is not a difficult.’
He was right. It was simple enough, when one had so commanding a partner. In this, at least, she could trust him to lead her right, and so she yielded. And he turned her around the dance floor, smiling as though he enjoyed it.
She tried to match his expression. Perhaps that was the trick of it. She had but to act like she was having a pleasant evening, and people would trouble her no further.
‘You are a very good dancer,’ he remarked. ‘Although not much of a conversationalist. I cannot keep you quiet when we are alone together. Why will you not speak now?’
‘All these people …’ she whispered helplessly.
‘Our guests,’ he answered.
‘Your guests, perhaps, but they are strangers to me.’
‘You met them all in the receiving line just now. And yet they frighten you?’
She managed the barest nod.
He laughed, but squeezed her hand. ‘You are quite fearless in your dealings with me. Perhaps it will help you to remember that I am the most important person here.’
‘And the most modest.’ She could not help herself.
He laughed again, ignoring the gibe. ‘At any rate, they all must yield to me. And since I intend to yield to you, you have nothing to be afraid of.’
‘You yield to me?’
‘If you wish, we will cancel the evening’s entertainment, and I will send the guests home immediately.’
‘For the last time: no. It would be even more embarrassing to do that than to stand in front of them as I do now, looking like a goose.’
He nodded. ‘At least you are speaking to me again. Even if you are lying. Your obedient silence just now was most disconcerting. And you do not look like a goose. Do not concern yourself.’
‘We are the centre of attention.’
He glanced around. ‘So we are. But it cannot be very interesting for them, to stare at us and do nothing. Soon they will find other diversions. See? The floor is beginning to fill with couples. And others are returning to the buffet. Crisis averted. They no longer care about us. As long as the music is good and the wine holds out, they will entertain themselves and we are free to enjoy ourselves for the rest of the evening in peace.’
It was true. The worst was over. She could pretend that she was a guest at her own party, if she wished, and allow the servants to handle the details.
And as he spun her around the room, she relaxed at the sight of smiling faces and happy people.
And there was Clarissa, staring at her with death in her eyes.
He turned her away, so that she could no longer see, and they were on the other side of the room by the time the music stopped. When they parted, he brought her hand to his lips, and she could feel the look of pleasure on her face when he’d kissed the knuckles. And then he turned to part from her.
‘You are leaving me alone?’ She could not hide the panic in her voice.
He nodded. ‘Our job as host and hostess is to entertain the guests, not each other. There is nothing to be afraid of, I assure you. Continue to smile, nod and say “thank you for coming”. Much of your work is done.’ He smiled again. ‘And I swear, once you have done this thing for me, I am yours to command.’
She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, prepared to meet the horde that had infested her home.
He nodded. ‘Very good. If you need me, I will be in the card room, hiding with the other married men. Madam, the room is yours.’
She fought the feeling of disorientation as she watched him go, as if she was being spun by the elements, with no safe place to stand. But she admired the way her husband moved easily through the crowd, stopping to chat as he made his way to the door. Smiling and nodding. Listening more than he spoke. He was an excellent example to her.
What had she to fear from her guests? It was not as it had been, during her come-out, when all the women were in competition, and the men were prizes. The race was over. And, without trying, she had won first place.
She thought how miserable she had been at those balls, and how awkward, and how good it had felt to find a friendly face or hear a hostess’s word of welcome or encouragement.
And then she scanned the crowd. There was the daughter of an earl, barely sixteen, excited by her first invitation, but terrified that it was not going well.
Penny made her way to the girl’s side. ‘Are you enjoying your evening?’
The conversation was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. The girl was in awe of her. The conversation was peppered with so many ‘your Grace’s’ and curtsies, that Penny had to resist the urge to assure the girl that it was not necessary. She was a nobody who had stumbled into a title.
She smiled to herself. The less said on that subject, the better. She had the ear of the most important man in the room. She could do as she pleased. And it pleased her that people like the girl in front of her should be happy. They talked a bit, before she gently encouraged the girl to a group of young people near to her age, and made a few simple introductions. When she left, the girl was on her way to the dance floor with a young man who seemed quite smitten.
After her initial success, Penny threw herself into the role of hostess as though she were playing a chess game, with her guests as the pieces. Penelope Winthorpe had been an excellent player, and loved the sense of control she got when moving her army around the board. This was no different. Tonight she could move actual knights, and the ladies accompanying them, urging weaker pieces to the positions that most benefited them. While her husband was able to engage people more closely, she enjoyed the gambits she could arrange in a detached fashion. It made for a harmonious whole.
Perhaps
