Page 10 of An Offer for a Spinster
“He’s arriving with his aunt. Do make him welcome, won’t you? He doesn’t much enjoy balls.”
“I’ll do my best. No promises, though.”
William shot her a tight, brave smile, and departed.
So it begins,she thought, feeling the odd, giddy desire to laugh again.
The ball began and rolled on with very little help from the Willoughby siblings. Katherine caught glimpses of her brothers here and there – a flash of Alexander’s burgundy coat as he chatted to a group of chaperones and their youthful quarries, or Henry bringing drinks for some young lady and gentleman. William was everywhere, the perfect host, and the ideal new duke.
Katherine was proud of him, frankly.
For herself, a ball like this was all duty. People who had to be greeted, pleasantries that had to be exchanged, and so forth. Her dance card was quickly filled, with only a few spaces remaining, and her feet were already aching. She’d received countless compliments on her looks, although some compliments were laced with disapproval – as if it were disloyal to look so pretty after the death of one’s father. The dowager Duchess, after all, was still in black.
Katherine mostly tried to avoid her mother’s eye. The Duchess sat in the corner, draped in black silk and pearls like a woman twenty years older.
“I know it’s not at all the thing to speak to a person without being introduced,” came a low, male voice in her ear, “but I’vebeen trying to get introduced to Lady Katherine Willoughby all night, and no luck.”
Flinching, Katherine turned to see who was speaking to her.
A tall, handsome gentleman stood there, with broad shoulders and a broad smile. He had a mop of rich black curls, and wore a new suit in the latest fashion, an unusual shade of burnt orange.
“I… I believe you have the advantage of me,” Katherine managed. He wasn’t looming over her, at least.
“Of course, do forgive me. I could fetch the Duchess, if you like, to make a proper introduction.”
“No, no, that won’t be necessary. I won’t tell if you don’t.”
He smiled at that. “My name is Lord Geoffrey Barrington, Earl of Barwood. I’ve spent most of my life in the Americas, I’ve only been back these past few months. I was a business acquaintance of your late father’s. Please, accept my condolences.”
The name seemed vaguely familiar. Had the Duke mentioned him before? Most likely.
“It’s a great pleasure,” Katherine responded, dropping a neat curtsey.
She wasn’t entirely sure it would be anything of the sort. A friend of her father’s was not likely to be a particularlypleasantman.
Not that Lord Barwood seemed unpleasant. He talked lightly, exchanging the usual comments and remarks a person made at balls, where it was too loud to hear one’s partner properly.
“I take it you are dancing, Lady Katherine?” he queried, after a moment or two of this.
“Of course. I am opening the ball with my brother, William.”
“Could I be so bold as to request a dance?”
Katherine hesitated, checking her dance card. “I have some spaces, yes.”
“How wonderful. I’ve heard that you are a talented dancer.”
She chuckled. “Every woman here can listdancingas an accomplishment.”
“I think you can also add an impressive list of admirers to your accomplishments, too,” Lord Barwood added, gaze sliding over her shoulder. “That gentleman over there is staring at you.”
She glanced behind her and saw immediately who Lord Barwood meant.
A wiry-looking young man with disheveled blond curls and green eyes behind circular spectacles was hovering at a distance. He flushed when he realized he’d been spotted and came edging forward.
“Do forgive me, Lady Katherine,” he murmured. “Only, William asked me to come and check on you, as he’s scarcely caught a glimpse of you all night.”
“Ah,” Katherine said, with dawning understanding. “Lord Barwood, this is Mr. Timothy Rutherford. He’s an old friend of my brother’s. I haven’t seen you in a long time, Mr. Rutherford.”
