had Mr. Westhaven suggested, as if the idea had not been pressed upon him at all, that he would be honored to lead Miss Borden into the opening set at the Partiton ball.
At least, he thought now, continuing to gaze about him and nodding genially to a pair of smiling dowagers, he had felt as if he had not been pressed into it. He would have to watch Bosley. And himself. He must not single out Miss Borden for any more attentions within the week.
Unless he decided that all his attentions for the rest of his life must center on her, of course. She was a deliciously pretty little infant. Though, of course, she had suggested quite strongly to him the evening before that she did not wish to be pressed into a marriage with him.
Besides, be thought, spotting Miss Carpenter across the room with Alice, the idea of making love to the girl, of actually bedding her, seemed almost obscene. She was just a child. A luscious child.
And what on earth was Allie doing here, he thought, without the merest hint to him the night before that such was her plan? He made his way across the room to her and noted her appearance as he did so. A simple high-waisted gown of deep blue satin, completely unadorned, its neckline low but not indiscreetly so, Web’s unostentatious diamonds at her throat, her dark hair smooth and shining, with only a few curls at the neck, no turban or feathers.
She was by far the most plainly dressed woman present. She made them all look like so many gaudy and fussy bandboxes.
“Good evening, Miss Carpenter,” he said, bowing to the girl. He took Alice’s hand in his and raised it to his lips. “What on earth are you doing here, Allie? Apart from outshining everyone else, that is.”
“What nonsense you speak,” she said, laughing. “Is this your courtly behavior, Piers, paying outrageous compliments and kissing hands? I am here chaperoning Amanda. Phoebe, I fear, is coming down with the measles.”
“How mortifying at her, ah, age,” he said. “So you are to find a place in a dusty comer with all the other faded creatures, are you, Allie, watching with sharp eyes to make sure that no young buck—or old one, for that matter—clasps your niece’s waist with too much enthusiasm or takes her beyond the terrace when the need for fresh air is upon her?”
“Something like that,” she said, glancing at Amanda, who was conversing with a group of young acquaintances. “I do regret the fact that I left my lorgnette at home, though. I fear I will not look nearly stern enough without it.”
He grinned at her. “The second set is a waltz,” he said. “You must dance it with me, Allie.”
“Absolutely not,” she said, horrified. “I have not come to dance, Piers. And the waltz! Never.”
His eyes danced with amusement. “Do you consider it very improper?” he asked. “Will you swoon quite away even to watch others dance it? It is quite fashionable and considered quite proper, I do assure you. And I know you know the steps. I have not forgotten you and Web dancing it in your drawing room.”
“That was only so that we might all laugh and agree how ridiculous it was,” she said indignantly. “You know it was, Piers.”
“Anyway,” he said, “you must dance it with me, Allie. Very few of the infantry are allowed to do it. They have to be approved first by society’s dragons. If you will not dance with me, I must be a wallflower, and I should never live down the ignominy.”
“How ridiculous!” she said, laughing despite herself. “Better to be a wallflower than a public spectacle, Piers. I should trip all over your feet.”
“Never in a thousand nights, ma’am,” he said. “Do you think I do not know how to lead? Come, Allie, your answer. I see that lady Margam and Miss Borden are here, and I must dance attendance on them. I am to lead Miss Borden into the opening set. She looks quite delectable, doesn’t she? More ringlets than last night, would you say? Is it possible?”
“She
At least, he thought now, continuing to gaze about him and nodding genially to a pair of smiling dowagers, he had felt as if he had not been pressed into it. He would have to watch Bosley. And himself. He must not single out Miss Borden for any more attentions within the week.
Unless he decided that all his attentions for the rest of his life must center on her, of course. She was a deliciously pretty little infant. Though, of course, she had suggested quite strongly to him the evening before that she did not wish to be pressed into a marriage with him.
Besides, be thought, spotting Miss Carpenter across the room with Alice, the idea of making love to the girl, of actually bedding her, seemed almost obscene. She was just a child. A luscious child.
And what on earth was Allie doing here, he thought, without the merest hint to him the night before that such was her plan? He made his way across the room to her and noted her appearance as he did so. A simple high-waisted gown of deep blue satin, completely unadorned, its neckline low but not indiscreetly so, Web’s unostentatious diamonds at her throat, her dark hair smooth and shining, with only a few curls at the neck, no turban or feathers.
She was by far the most plainly dressed woman present. She made them all look like so many gaudy and fussy bandboxes.
“Good evening, Miss Carpenter,” he said, bowing to the girl. He took Alice’s hand in his and raised it to his lips. “What on earth are you doing here, Allie? Apart from outshining everyone else, that is.”
“What nonsense you speak,” she said, laughing. “Is this your courtly behavior, Piers, paying outrageous compliments and kissing hands? I am here chaperoning Amanda. Phoebe, I fear, is coming down with the measles.”
“How mortifying at her, ah, age,” he said. “So you are to find a place in a dusty comer with all the other faded creatures, are you, Allie, watching with sharp eyes to make sure that no young buck—or old one, for that matter—clasps your niece’s waist with too much enthusiasm or takes her beyond the terrace when the need for fresh air is upon her?”
“Something like that,” she said, glancing at Amanda, who was conversing with a group of young acquaintances. “I do regret the fact that I left my lorgnette at home, though. I fear I will not look nearly stern enough without it.”
He grinned at her. “The second set is a waltz,” he said. “You must dance it with me, Allie.”
“Absolutely not,” she said, horrified. “I have not come to dance, Piers. And the waltz! Never.”
His eyes danced with amusement. “Do you consider it very improper?” he asked. “Will you swoon quite away even to watch others dance it? It is quite fashionable and considered quite proper, I do assure you. And I know you know the steps. I have not forgotten you and Web dancing it in your drawing room.”
“That was only so that we might all laugh and agree how ridiculous it was,” she said indignantly. “You know it was, Piers.”
“Anyway,” he said, “you must dance it with me, Allie. Very few of the infantry are allowed to do it. They have to be approved first by society’s dragons. If you will not dance with me, I must be a wallflower, and I should never live down the ignominy.”
“How ridiculous!” she said, laughing despite herself. “Better to be a wallflower than a public spectacle, Piers. I should trip all over your feet.”
“Never in a thousand nights, ma’am,” he said. “Do you think I do not know how to lead? Come, Allie, your answer. I see that lady Margam and Miss Borden are here, and I must dance attendance on them. I am to lead Miss Borden into the opening set. She looks quite delectable, doesn’t she? More ringlets than last night, would you say? Is it possible?”
“She
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