Page 25 of A Brilliant Match
He made his way over to Miss Milton, who was looking plainer by the minute until she spotted him and her face broke out into a smile. Miles hoped she would find someone who would make her smile more often. She seemed to deserve it, even if his own heart was not stirred to take on the role.
“Mr. Shaw, you remembered,” she said with a guilty start, then flushed.
“I did,” he said, bowing over her hand. He lifted his head and smiled, causing her features to lift. He would have to tone down his charm if he didn’t want to give her the wrong idea.
“Shall we?” he asked. She nodded and placed her hand on his arm.
The current set was winding down, and Miles turned to watch Lady Dorothea curtsying in front of Lord Hastings. Before he had any time to regret he hadn’t waited to ask her for the next set, Weatherby was bowing in front of her. How the deuce didheknow her? He soon guessed at the answer. Miss Stanley tugged the arm of her partner up to Lady Dorothea and Weatherby, grabbing Lady Dorothea’s arm in an intimate way.Ah.It was through the means of the vivacious Miss Stanley that Weatherby had been presented to Lady Dorothea. Miles hoped not all of her dances had been taken for the evening.
The music began and Miles led Miss Milton onto the dance floor, marshaling his efforts to treat her in a way that was worthy of her. He would not allow his attention to wander to Lady Dorothea, although she was wearing a gown the color of a peach. The underbelly of a peach, he corrected himself, then wanted to laugh at the precision. Her smooth complexion glowed, and her eyes sparkled in the candlelight.
“What activities do you enjoy in your spare time?” he asked Miss Milton, conscious of his duty. He expected a banal answer, for what lady did anything but sew or learn Italian?
The dance separated them, but when it brought them together again, she answered him.
“I enjoy grafting plants together to cultivate new species. I am currently working on an apple that retains its sweetness into maturity without losing its crispness.”
The dance pulled them apart again, and he could not help but let his surprise show. He would have to introduce her to Rock’s friend, Pollard, who was particularly interested in the agricultural aspect of his estate. They must surely find something to talk about.
“How did you come to be interested in such a thing?” This must be the most unusual conversation he’d ever had with a young lady.
“Well, you must have noticed that I am not particularly valued by my mother or sister.” She flushed slightly, and after a hesitation, he nodded.
Once again, the dance separated them, but as soon as they were rejoined, she said, “My father is interested in these sorts of things, so I would trail behind him and the gardener. I suppose it was inevitable that I would find the same sort of interests as he did.”
In a complacent tone, she added, “Plants are not mean.”
It was definitely the most unusual conversation he had ever had with a young lady.
“No, they are not mean,” he said. Another member of thetonmight mock her for her eccentricity, but he could not. There was not enough authenticity in London society.
That was what kept drawing him back to Lady Dorothea—besides her portion, of course. She was undeniably authentic, for all she attempted to show a mask to the world. He just feared that if she married the wrong man, the mask she wore would become impossible to remove.
* * *
Dorothea finishedher dance with Mr. Weatherby—another introduction courtesy of Maryann, even if he did also know Mr. Shaw. She appreciated the introductions, of course. To date, it was her most lively Society event since arriving in London. That said, she did not always enjoy her conversations with Maryann. It seemed that she had no thought beyond what sort of attention the gentlemen were paying them—and Dorothea soon understood she meant what sort of attention they paidMaryann. Even for Dorothea, who was accustomed to being the less-pretty older sister of Sophia, being thrust in the shade grew wearisome.
She had noticed Mr. Shaw’s arrival but tried not to. He danced with Bernice while she was paired with Mr. Weatherby, and despite herself, it touched her that he had remembered his promise to her. It spoke well of him to remember a promise to a woman he was not interested in. Or…perhaps he might be interested in her, but such a thing was difficult to fathom. It was not that Bernice was not attractive. She was. It was just that she did not seem to pair well with Mr. Shaw.
Behind her, Dorothea recognized the unmistakable voice of Abigail Milton.
“Mr. Shaw’s friend spoke of his being on the hunt for a wife, then he immediately went over to ask Bernice to dance. Is that not the most outrageous thing you’ve ever heard of?Bernice!”
Not wishing to be discovered eavesdropping, Dorothea held herself still and was privy to the waspish giggles that erupted over this announcement. Abigail was surrounded by a circle of young ladies she appeared to have some influence over. Perhaps she was like Maryann in that way, although undeniably more unkind.
Then the weight of what she had just said settled upon Dorothea. So Mr. Shawwasconsidering Bernice for his wife? That couldn’t be. They were nothing alike. She felt a strong inclination to try to go and talk some sense into him. But that would be ridiculous, besides being highly inappropriate.
The Miltons were wealthy, and Bernice likely had more than a substantial dowry. In fact, Dorothea herself had a respectable portion, but it was not what one might call brilliant. Besides her desire to sit at the head of Society, this was one of the reasons she sought a good match. Her own dowry would not save any gentleman from being a pauper. It was fortunate that Mr. Shaw had assured her he was not searching for a wealthy wife, for she did not think she misread his intentions in her regard.
She quite thought she should be happy for Bernice and Mr. Shaw, yet the idea of the two marrying each other was impossible to imagine. Mr. Shaw was a force of nature with his charming ways, and Bernice was too retiring. Dorothea could not convince herself it was a case of opposites attracting one another, for they weretooopposite.
The musicians had taken a pause, and she looked around the room, hoping for a glimpse of Lord Throckmorton. To date, he was the most promising catch of the season, and she had thought about him more than once since he’d left her house in Maryann’s wake. He was almost as handsome as Mr. Shaw and much more eligible. It was not that she had been given any reason to hope for interest on his part, for he had shown her none apart from that one assessing gaze he’d sent her at the beginning.
She supposed it was for the best. Lady Dorothea Throckmorton would bemuchtoo much for anyone to say without fumbling.
She was pulled out of her reverie by Lady Berkley’s goddaughter appearing in front of her.
“Good evening, Lady Dorothea. I hope you do not mind my greeting you, although we were only briefly introduced by my godmother. I am Anne Kensington,” she added with the hint of a smile when she saw Dorothea’s slightly blank look.
