Page 73 of The Lyon Whisperer
He shrugged. “That is not my concern.” He slowed. “It appears the troops have rallied.”
She chirped with delight at the sight of Lady Harriet and Margaret, dragging a smile from him.
“Good evening, Chase, Amelia.” His aunt smiled warmly and extended her hand to Chase.
He bowed over it. “Aunt, a pleasure as always. Where is Uncle Harry?”
“In the card room. Where else?”
Amelia smiled at the three ladies in turn. “Good evening, Lady Culver. I am pleased you remembered my friends, Lady Oglethorpe, and Mrs. Sheridan.”
“Actually, dear, Mrs. Sheridan is well known to me as I have long frequented her book shop.”
“Oh? That is precisely where we met.” Unable to contain her curiosity, she broached the subject which had been of prime importance to her since Chase mentioned it. “I understand you and my mother were friends.”
“Indeed, we were,” Aunt Francine replied, a look of nostalgia crossing her face.
“I would very much like to hear of your memories of her.”
“Of course. Mind you, it has been a fair amount of time. We were little more than girls when we knew each other.”
Chase decided to make good his escape. “Beg pardon, ladies. A pleasure to see you, but now I leave my wife in your capable hands.”
“We shall see to it no harm comes to her,” Lady Harriet announced, a twinkle in her gray eyes.
“Never fear,” Margaret seconded. “And here come reinforcements. I believe that’s Lady Georgina heading this way now.”
“Oh?” Lady Harriet held up the lorgnette she wore around her neck. “Yes, I see her, looking delightfully harried as usual. However did you spot her?”
“The candlelight from the chandeliers reflected off of her spectacles.”
Chase bent to murmur in Amelia’s ear. “I shall return later to claim a dance. Enjoy your time with your friends.”
“I intend to, and I’m looking forward to becoming better acquainted with your aunt, as well. Lady Georgina,” she exclaimed a moment later. “I was so hoping you would come.”
Chase chuckled to himself. His wife was behaving as if this were her party and those around her, her guests.
With that, he ducked into the crowd.
Mr. Hunt depositeda winded Amelia with her friends, thanking her for the dance and a most enjoyable conversation.
He eyed Lady Georgina who gave every indication she was unaware of the man’s presence. She smiled and waved into the crowd as if she’d spotted a close acquaintance and was calling him or her over.
Amelia would have bought her friend’s act had she not seen it more than a few times tonight.
Mr. Hunt gave up trying to gain Georgina’s attention. With a bow and a word of thanks, he excused himself.
Margaret fixed her with a fond smile. “You appear to be enjoying yourself, Amelia, dear. Since the tide of so-called well-wishers abated, I do not believe you have missed a single dance.”
“As it should be,” Lady Harriet intoned. She gazed at Georgina, one year Amelia’s junior, clearly bemused. “I can’t understand why you don’t do the same, dear. Every time a man comes ’round with the intent of inviting you onto the dance floor, you manage to slip his net like a fish in water.”
Georgina shrugged and pushed her spectacles up her nose. “I do not enjoy dancing.”
“Whyever not?” Lady Culver demanded. “Youth is wasted on the young.”
Lady Harriet and Margaret nodded in agreement.
Amelia thought she understood Georgina’s reasons, however.
