Page 36 of An Offer for a Spinster
“Good. That’s good. You know, it wouldn’t be the worst thing if you were to join in the family business.”
“Wouldn’t? It would be the worst thing for me. I’m happy as I am, you know.”
Christopher snorted. “Oh, you can’t possibly be. Living in those confined apartments, no wife, not much money – it sounds dire.”
“To you, I suppose, it would be.”
Then they were descending the last flight of stairs, with the ladies waiting below, and Christopher was obliged to be quiet. Timothy noticed that Lord Rustford wasn’t even there. Apparently, he was so certain that his orders would be carriedout that he didn’t bother to check whether Timothy actually arrived to escort the ladies.
You’re in for a shock soon, Father,Timothy thought grimly.
Rebecca was resplendent in a pink satin gown, cut daringly low as the fashion called for these days. Amelia wore a more somber dark blue gown, flatteringly cut if not fashionably so, and Lady Rustford wore her favourite shimmering purple satin strung with pearls.
“There you are, Timothy,” she snapped. “It’s a lady’s prerogative to be late, not a gentleman’s.”
Timothy glanced at the clock, which read five minutes to seven. “I don’t believe I am late, Mother.”
She didn’t bother to respond, choosing instead to go sailing outside to where the carriage awaited. Rebecca hurried after her, but Amelia paused to slip her arm through Timothy’s.
“It’ll be alright, Timmy,” she said quietly. “Come along, let’s go.”
The soiree – held at Lady Georgiana Black’s home – was a fabulous event indeed. The heat and noise hit Timothy as soon as he stepped through the door, making his skin prickle under his borrowed clothing. It was clear at once that this was going to be acrushof an evening.
Lady Rustford disappeared at once, and Rebecca was swallowed up by a crowd of friends, leaving Amelia and Timothy alone.
“I hate these affairs,” Amelia sighed. “I can’t go around with the young people, on account of being aspinster, and the matrons don’t want me to sit with them, because I’m not married.”
“Then why do you go?”
She shot him a look. “Because my sister and my brother-in-law have decided that I must. I live on their generosity, Timmy.”
“Well, if I marry a rich woman, you can come and live with us.”
She chuckled. “I’m sure that your beautiful, rich heiress will not want your old aunt living with you.”
“She won’t just be beautiful and rich. She’ll be kind, too. And she’ll love you.”
“You’re a sweet boy, Timmy.”
“I’m a man, Aunt. And please, don’t call me Timmy here. I’m not sure I’d live it down. In fact, if we’re overheard…”
He trailed off when a familiar face and figure glided across the room, just ahead. Space was clearing in the middle of the ballroom in preparation for the first dance of the evening, and he clearly saw Katherine step across it, beside one of her brothers.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, so beautiful Timothy could not quite understand how others were going about their business, barely glancing at her. The whole room should have gone silent. Everyone should have been looking at her, awestruck.
Instead, the noise and chaos filled the room, as always, and nobody really looked at her.
Lady Katherine Willoughby was wearing a forest-green gown, the skirt flimsy and gauzy, the bodice tight and the neckline almost as daringly low as Rebecca’s. A myriad of embroidered silk flowers clustered around the neckline and waistline, and trailing vines and flowers curled down the skirts of the dress, almost like real plants.
And then she turned and saw him, and her face lit up.
Timothy was entirely sure that his heart had stopped. He sucked in a breath, suddenly realized that he had been holding it. Katherine said something to her brother – it was Alexander, Timothy could see now – and began to glide towards them.
He opened his mouth, intending to tell Amelia that Katherine was here and coming to speak with them, but whenhe glanced down at his aunt, she was already looking at him, a curious, thoughtful expression on her face.
There was no time to say anything, because then Katherine was there.
“Lady Amelia, Timothy, how good to see you!” she said, smiling. “It’s so busy here tonight. I’ve already been elbowed in the ribs twice, and I think somebody stood on the hem of my dress.”
