As she had anticipated, her days had become busier than when she was in Ranhold House—she went for rides on Rotten Row in the morning before she had a light breakfast. There were errands to run after and then luncheon. After luncheon, there were a variety of affairs to attend before dinner and the endless number of balls that started late in the night and continued well into sunrise.
“Society certainly requires a lot of stamina,” she told her younger sister in her first week. “They never run out of things to do and if you failed to show, then they will assume the worst of you and the gossip will be all over London before you know it.”
“How perfectly horrid!” her sister exclaimed in shock. “Now, I am beginning to prefer the company of my books and the pianoforte. At least, they will not talk behind my back for some imagined slight.”
As much as she found some affairs quite insufferable, Claire found herself enjoying the deluge of activities that filled her days. So much so that she had been distracted from her earlier reason for coming to London in the first place.
She had well and truly become a debutante and learned to embrace her life as one.
“My dear, it seems that you are falling asleep on your breakfast,” Lady Suzanna teased her one morning as she hovered over the eggs and sausage in a daze. The Compton ball had lasted well into the wee hours of the morning and both ladies had enjoyed themselves immensely so that they had been loath to leave.
When they finally reached the townhouse, the sky was beginning to lighten at the first stirrings of sunrise.
Claire had scarcely slept a wink when they had to proceed to Hyde Park for a brief ride, meeting with other lords and ladies they had met with just hours before.
“I feel as though I am trapped in some sort of spell,” she told the duke’s sister. “Sometimes, I fear that it is all too much, but then I fear missing out on some particular happening on another.”
“Well, you certainly do not need to attendallof them,” Lady Suzanna mentioned. “And you need not know everything. You will find that the right words will have a lot of people spilling all you need to know.”
“I would love to possess such a skill,” Claire laughed. “Sometimes, I feel like a total dunce if I am not aware of some piece of news or another.”
“I, on the other hand, like to pretend that such news does not particularly entertain me,” Lady Suzanna laughed. “It is strange how many will volunteer the information in an attempt to convince you otherwise.”
Claire smothered a yawn. “But in all honesty, Iamtired.”
“Then rest, if you must,” the duke’s sister told her firmly. “There are not many activities for this afternoon, although we do need to attend the Ridley ball.”
Claire nodded. She remembered the elegant invitation that arrived in the townhouse mere days after her Presentation. Lord and Lady Ridley were quite well-known in their fashionable set and to snub their ball would be seen as an offense, especially since they had already affirmed they would be in attendance.
After breakfast, she retired to her rooms and slept for the rest of the morning. When she woke up for luncheon, she was feeling infinitely better and told Lady Suzanna so.
“Do not wear yourself out, dear heart,” the duke’s sister advised her. “These events never end. There is almost always one thing or another that you can attend. Do not allow them to trick you into thinking you need to be atallof them.”
Claire smiled helplessly. “But I feel that it is quite an honor to be invited to so many of them.”
“It is not you they are truly inviting, if I may say so myself,” Lady Suzanna raised an eyebrow.
“You mean—”
“Yes, they are hoping for a glimpse of the elusive bachelor that is my brother,” she sighed. “Ever since he came into his inheritance, he has caught the eye of every mama and debutante willing to cast their nets on him. He has avoided them well enough for the past several Seasons but not for want of trying on their part.”
Claire shuddered. “It all seems so dreadfully mercenary.”
“That is the truth of the Season, dear.” Lady Suzanna set her cup down and looked pointedly at Claire. “Have you lost heart?”
She shook her head. “It is not that I have lost heart…merely, that I felt I have somehow lost myself in the midst of it all.”
“It is very easy to feel that way,” the duke’s sister agreed.
“Then, how do you manage it so well?” she asked.
Lady Suzanna smiled. “Why, I simply remind myself of who I am and what I want. Far too often, young ladies allow themselves to be so dictated by Society that they eventually find that they are throwing themselves into unhappy unions.” She reached out and patted Claire’s hand. “Do not allow their desires to poison your heart, Claire. One day, you will find the man who will make you feel like you have never felt before and you will realize why you waited this long.”
“Those are pretty wise words,” Claire bit her lip. “But why does Society insist on these games?”
“Maybe because it is all they have ever learned to play? I am not quite certain.” Lady Suzanna took a delicate bite of her scone. “Now, rest up because we need to make preparations for the Ridley ball.”
* * *
