To Catch a Husband... by Sarah Mallory Page A

Wythenshawe.’ Lord Harworth stepped up to them and bowed. He gazed at Kitty, appreciation in his slightly protuberant grey eyes. ‘I hope, Miss Wythenshawe, that you have not forgotten you have promised to dance with me later this evening?’
    Kitty gave him a shy little smile. ‘No, indeed, my lord.’
    ‘Good,’ responded his lordship. ‘Capital. I shall look forward to it.’
    ‘Well, that is an exciting start,’ declared Lady Leaconham, as Lord Harworth moved off to greet more guests.
    ‘It is, ma’am,’ said Kitty, feeling rather overawed. ‘At least I shall have one dance partner tonight, and if Lord Leaconham should turn up and dance with me as well I shall think myself very content.’
    ‘Oh, I do not think we need to rely upon Garston tonight,’ declared her godmother, her voice rich with satisfaction. ‘I have already noticed several gentlemen looking at you with interest, my love. I shall introduce you to everyone I know, and with you looking so very pretty this evening I have no doubt that we shall soon find you any number of partners. And with luck a good many of them will be unmarried!’ She took Kitty’s arm and began to look around her. ‘Now, where shall we begin?’
     
    Between them, Lady Leaconham and Miss Harworth introduced Kitty to so many people—turbaned matrons, bewhiskered lords and eager young gentlemen—that there was no possibility of her remembering all their names, but she should not complain, for when the musicians finally began to play she had the satisfaction of walking out on to the dance floor to join the very first set. Her initial anxiety soon disappeared as she realised she was familiar with all the steps and she uttered up a silent prayer to the squire for employing such an excellent dancing master. After that first dance, she found there were a number of gentlemen eager to partner her and she began to enjoy herself. Rather to his mother’s surprise, Lord Leaconham arrived in time to stand up with Kitty for a minuet and even came back later to escort the two ladies to the supper room, where he remained to entertain them until it was time to return to the dancing.
     
    It was towards the end of the evening when Lord Harworth came to claim his dance with Kitty. He appeared to be in the very best of spirits, although she suspected that the high colour in his cheeks was partly the result of the rather potent punch being served at supper. After aparticularly lively country dance he pulled her hand on to his arm.
    ‘Well done, Miss Wythenshawe. My sister informs me this is your very first ball, but to see you dance one would never know it.’
    ‘Thank you, my lord,’ Kitty replied. ‘I did not expect to enjoy myself half so much. Everyone has been most kind, especially you, sir, and your sister.’
    ‘Phshaw!’ Lord Harworth puffed out his chest. ‘Think nothing of it, Miss Wythenshawe. Now, where shall I take you, who is your next dance partner?’
    ‘Why, sir, I do not think I have one, so perhaps you could escort me back to Lady Leaconham…’
    ‘What, no partner?’ cried my lord. ‘But these will be the last dances of the night. We cannot have you sitting out! I promised m’sister we would keep you amused tonight, so we must see what we can do…’
    Lord Harworth raised his head and began to look about him.
    Kitty disclaimed and declared herself perfectly ready to join her godmother, but her escort merely patted her hand as he raised his voice to address someone.
    ‘Blackwood—just the man! You are not dancing?’
    The press of people had prevented Kitty from spotting Daniel Blackwood, but she saw him now as he stepped towards them, unsmiling, towering over her, a dark and brooding figure in the colourful crowd.
    He said briefly, ‘No, my lord. I do not dance.’
    ‘Nonsense, man, you trod a very pretty measure with Ann earlier this evening, I saw you! I have here a delightful partner for you.’
    Kitty went cold.
    ‘Believe me, my lord,’ she