“Oh, no. You stay right where you are, Miss Betsy. You never know when the perfect man will appear.”
“But not today, I doubt.”
“Nonetheless, you are to remain here.”
“But I need to relieve myself.”
The Duchess could not deny that. “Very well then but make it snappy and hurry back.”
“Yes, mother,” she said with a world-weariness way beyond her age.
But, just as she was about to leave the room, her good friend, Tussie Crandall, came in with her brother, Tolliver. Betsy and Tussie shrieked when they saw each other, as it had been ever so long since they had been together, and they headed to the French doors that were open to the outside, and they locked arms and left together.
That left Tolliver standing alone and at loose ends. He looked around, and seeing all the available young ladies were engaged, went to the tea table and was served tea and a plate of sandwiches.
The Duchess did not approve of Betsy and Tussie being outside, especially when there was a free gentleman standing around looking for company. She raised her fan to Flossy who leaned in for instruction.
“Fetch Betsy. Tell her she should be inside to greet the guests.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Just as Flossy trundled off, two young officers presented themselves in their off-duty uniforms. Only recently had a regiment of Dragoons established themselves near Grayson Manor.
They looked around the room, saw her Grace, and immediately went to present themselves.
“Captain Earnest Dunstable, at your service, Your Grace.”
“Lieutenant Leonard Wallace, Ma’am.”
Judith beamed. News of several handsome Dragoons attending her At Home would probably circulate around the community and make her afternoons even more attractive.
It certainly attracted attention now. Charlotte left the piano, abandoning Richard to stare at the sheets of music. She went directly to her mother and said, “Mother dear, have you seen my shawl. I suddenly felt a draft.” She pretended to just now notice the officers and turned to them as if surprised. “Oh, hello, I am Charlotte Grayson. Did you just arrive?”
The officers smiled, each one taking her hand and kissing it.
“We have,” the Captain said. “And how delightful it is to be here.”
Charlotte smiled shyly and answered. “You are most welcome. Might I interest you in some tea?” she asked the Captain.
The Lieutenant, seeing that Charlotte was occupied with his friend, nodded and turned away to begin scouting elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Flossy returned with a grumpy looking Betsy, followed by Tussie. But as soon as the Lieutenant saw Betsy, he crossed over to her and introduced himself.
At first, Betsy seemed surprised to see him, but then she frowned slightly and, after greeting the officer, took Tussie by the hand and left the room with her. The poor Lieutenant looked confounded by the snub.
That left only two sisters and six gentlemen. And while the men might not be thrilled with this situation, it did not disturb her Grace. More competition for her daughters was to be celebrated.
It was clear the two officers were the center of her daughters’ attention, but she knew nothing about these two gentlemen, although she jotted down their names in her notebook for further examination at a later time.
However, with her daughters’ attention only on the officers, the other gentlemen began to look restless, and she saw Sir Benjamin preparing to leave.
Judith did not mind him leaving, as she had already ruled him out as a suitor, but then the Hanson twins looked like they were contemplating departing as well. And as Tom had shown an interest in Ann, she could not afford to have him abandon the party this early.
Contrary to her usual habit of sitting and watching, the Duchess stood, clutching Isabell in her arms, and went over to engage the Hanson twins in conversation.
“Gentlemen,” she began, “you know we can offer you some spirited refreshment stronger than just tea.”
“Oh?” Tom exclaimed. “And how spirited might that be?”
