Page 21 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
“They are not your betters,” Lord Easterly told her. “I cannot say that I approve of your and my sister’s game, but as you are here, you might as well enjoy it, Miss Browne. It is a fancy-dress ball and people tend to be bold and withhold names on occasion. Use that to your advantage.”
Charlotte was about to say something else but a young man approached them. Lord Easterly inclined his head to the man. The young man gave Lord Easterly and Charlotte a bow. “I have come to intrude and ask for a dance,” the young man said boldly.
Lord Easterly’s smile told Charlotte that he found it amusing and not offensive that the man was cutting his time with Charlotte short. He bowed out of the situation with another smile to Charlotte. She gave the newcomer a hesitant look.
“Would you like to dance?” The young man’s nerve appeared to be wearing somewhat thin as even Charlotte could hear his voice tremble. Apparently approaching the much older nobleman had taken its toll on the boy.
Charlotte gave him a curtsey. “I would, but I must warn you that I am not the best dancer.”
“Neither am I,” he said with a chuckle as he held out his hand to her.
Charlotte relaxed a bit. “Then we are on level footing.”
Despite their words, Charlotte found the dance enjoyable. She was pleasantly surprised. She began to relax a bit despite herself. She was still not completely comfortable, but at least the young man was nice.
By the time the dance ended, she was quite winded. She really was not used to dancing much and some of the dances were a good bit livelier than the waltz, even if not as intimate. She was quite grateful for the latter.
To Charlotte’s absolute surprise there was another young gentleman waiting to escort her to dance as soon as she was refreshed from the last one. As exhilarating as it was, Charlotte found that she missed Lord Easterly’s company. She shrugged the feeling off. All of the men she danced with were above her station in life, but she intended to take Lord Easterly’s advice to heart and have fun.
*
Amanda tossed her head back and laughed while trailing her gloved fingers down her throat for the benefit of her enthralled audience. The best part of the season thus far was that she had finally found men who viewed her as the jewel she truly was. Lord Cecil Allerton, a rather wealthy officer, said, “You have not spoken of your companion this evening.”
“Companion?” Amanda stared at Lord Allerton in confusion before it dawned on her that he meant Charlotte. Charlotte had ridden with Amanda and her aunt to the fancy-dress party. “Oh, she is no one of any consequence.”
“I saw her dancing with Lord Easterly, another of the young man commented.
Lord Allerton folded his hands behind his back and nodded at the young man who had spoken. “I doubt your brother would dance with just anyone with everyone knowing he and the duchess may very well be betrothed soon.”
The idea of Charlotte at the ball had been one of amusement. This was not amusing. Ire rose in Amanda as she was forced to share her spotlight with the spectre of her friend. “Well, if you must know…” Amanda said with a wicked grin. “No. I must not gossip.”
A young merchant lad begged, “You can say whatever you want. We will not tell.”
Amanda bit her lip and decided on a new game. “I trust you, gentlemen. Very well, I shall tell you under the strictest of confidences that she is an orphan, an heiress from the north.”
“The north?” Lord Allerton asked with a look of curiosity.
Amanda nodded slowly. “That is all I shall say. It would not do for some unscrupulous rogue to get wind of it and attempt to woo her out of her fortune. I am the protector of the girl.”
“That is very noble of you,” Lord Allerton said with a smile.
Amanda smiled back. “I do try to be kind when I can.”
While the others chatted, Amanda noted that two of the young men had already wandered off and she smiled. The rumour would be spreading soon. It would be quite hilarious to see how Charlotte reacted to someone trying to woo her thinking she was an imaginary heiress.
After a time, Amanda grew tired of holding court. She retired and went to see what the young ladies were talking of in the fainting room. Amanda stretched out on the couch and breathed out a deep sigh.
“Did you hear about that heiress?” It was Lorna Tennison, Lord Tennison’s youngest daughter, who had debuted along with Amanda this season.
Amanda opened one eye. “Do tell.”
Lorna sat down and whispered, “They say she has a fortune that rivals a duchy and she holds lands so plentiful that you could never see them all.”
“That sounds a bit far-fetched,” Amanda said, sitting up.
Lorna giggled. “It does, but still, there must be a core of truth in there. I heard your brother danced with her. I bet the duchess did not like that.”
“I doubt the duchess is wounded so easily by a woman my brother barely knows.” Amanda shrugged off the very idea of it. If Graham caught wind of her fib, he might prove angry at ruining his chances with the Duchess of Windham. Truly, Amanda thought the woman quite smitten with her brother.
