Page 14 of Enticed By an Earl
Kitty blushed furiously and lowered her face. Was Lord Deveraux truly flirting with her or was he merely teasing her because he could see through her disguise?
“I have been present at a great many balls,” she answered truthfully. “I do not know why you have not noticed me before.”
Yes, she did.
“I shall not make that error twice,” Lord Deveraux said. “I find you to be charming and clever. And somehow familiar.”
Kitty sucked in a breath, certain her subterfuge was over.
But the dance ended before Lord Deveraux could ask further questions or expose her for who and what she was. Although the two of them lingered in their spots for longer than was ordinary, Lord Deveraux eventually had to offer his arm to escort Kitty back to the side of the room.
“I am loath to leave you here without your chaperone,” he said once they were off to the side. “Do you see her anywhere?”
“I—” Kitty did not know what to say. She’d told Lord Deveraux already that she did not have a chaperone, which she knew was unheard of. That was likely why the man did not believe her.
“Deveraux, dearest,” the Marchioness of Russell approached before Kitty could say more, leading a younger woman with a ridiculous arrangement of brown curls piled on her head with her. “Lady Catherine here would like to partner you for the next dance.”
Kitty held her breath and took a step back, lowering her head as the marchioness came close enough to look at her.
“Good evening, Lady Catherine,” Lord Deveraux greeted the new young woman graciously. Kitty hoped the slightly stiff note in her champion’s voice was reluctance, but she could not truly begrudge the other lady a chance to dance with the most eligible bachelor in the room.
“Good evening, Lord Deveraux,” Lady Catherine said with a deep curtsy and a beaming smile.
“Would you introduce me to your friend?” Lady Russell asked, smiling at Kitty.
Kitty’s heart beat so hard she was surprised it did not pop straight out of her bodice. Surely, if the marchioness looked at her too closely, she would see all.
“Mother, this is the charming Miss Kitty Dryden,” Lord Deveraux introduced her.
“Charmed,” Lady Russell said, smiling…and squinting slightly.
The opening strains of the next dance sounded, and with a quick apology and a final smile for Kitty, Lord Deveraux offered his arm to Lady Catherine, and the two of them departed for the forming dance lines.
That left Kitty alone with Lady Russell and a sharp wave of panic.
Lady Russell continued to smile and squint at her as she asked, “Are you Lady Postum’s niece?”
“I—” Panic gripped Kitty. She had not settled on a story or any sort of explanation about who she was or how she had been invited to the ball. Now she saw the error of her ways as her mind drew an utter blank in the face of the question. Perhaps she was not truly Miss Kitty Dryden after all. Perhaps she, he, was merely an impostor attempting the impossible.
She was rescued in the most unlikely of ways.
“She is my charge.” Of all people, Lady Everly arrived in the conversation, taking up a position by Kitty’s side, like a mother hen protecting her chicks.
It was not just Lady Everly. Georgiana and Alice were with her. They quickly circled ’round, grinning at Kitty in excitement.
“Miss Dryden is your charge?” Lady Russell asked.
Kitty said a prayer of thanks for the marchioness restating her name so that Lady Everly would know and avoid mistakes.
“Yes, she is,” Lady Everly said, sending Kitty a delighted, wicked smile. “She has just arrived from the country.”
“How lovely,” Lady Russell said with a genuine smile. “And who are your people, Miss Dryden?”
Another bolt of panic hit Kitty, but once again, she was saved from having to explain by the busyness of the ball.
“Lady Russell, could I have a word with you?” a middle-aged woman with a younger woman just behind her interrupted them. “Only, I was hoping my Millicent could secure a dance with Lord Deveraux.”
Lady Russell turned her attention to the other woman,and as soon as she did, Lady Everly, Georgiana, and Alice whisked Kitty off to the side of the room.
