“Oh, it’s my pleasure!” Lady Lydia said. “I just love balls, and when Lord Harlston asked me to come as his guest, I was ever so delighted. I would have come with Father anyway, of course—he’s outside paying his compliments to the Earl of Milton—but to come on the arm of a gentleman is so much more exciting than to come with my father.”
And she gazed up at Henry rather adoringly.
Henry smiled at her indulgently. “I’m very pleased we could come together as well,” he said.
“Are the two of you courting, then?” Lady Valeria asked brightly.
“Well, let’s just say it’s something that’s being considered,” Henry said. “Lord Lancashire and I have yet to discuss the details of the arrangement. But as the ball was tonight, we decided that one outing together wouldn’t go amiss.”
Thomas smiled, feeling himself relax. He should have known that Henry’s flirtation with Lady Valeria wouldn’t pose a problem for him. His friend had never been able to focus on one lady for more than a few days at a time. Of course he had already turned his attention to someone else.
And Lady Lydia was lovely. It would be enjoyable, he thought, if the two of them were engaged in courtship at the same time. They could take the ladies on outings together. Maybe Duncan would find someone, too…
But he was getting ahead of himself, he knew. Tonight, it made more sense to keep his attention on Lady Valeria, and to make certain that she finally had a good experience at a social event.
When all the guests had found their way into Earlington Manor, through the foyer and into the ballroom, Thomas took Lady Valeria by the arm and led her in as well. The musicians were already playing, and the dancing had begun, so he took her into his arms and joined the dancers out on the floor.
“That man is watching us!” Lady Valeria said. “Lord Stratford.”
Thomas rotated them in a circle so that he could see what she had seen without turning his head to look. Sure enough, Lord Stratford was standing by the wall and watching them as they danced, and Thomas saw him lean over and whisper something to his wife.
Lady Valeria had become rather tense in his arms. He looked down at her. “Are you all right?”
“I think they must be talking about me,” she said quietly.
“Oh,” Thomas said. “Truly, Lady Valeria, I don’t think so. I think it is much more likely that they’re talking aboutme. Wondering how I managed to enter into a courtship with a lady of such status and good looks. You could have had a lot of gentlemen, you know.”
“I don’t think Lord Milton would agree with that,” she said.
“Most people are not like Lord Milton,” Thomas told her. “He was heartless and cruel.”
“You don’t think it’s heartless and cruel to judge someone based on their title?” Lady Valeria asked. “I can’t imagine that Lord Stratford is much better than Lord Milton.”
“At least he confines his opinions to whispers shared with his wife in the corners of rooms, rather than shouting them out for everyone to hear,” Thomas pointed out.
To his surprise and great pleasure, Lady Valeria laughed.
“That’s true,” she said. “I suppose being whispered about is immensely preferable to being spoken loudly about.”
“Almost no one would have such terrible manners as to do what Lord Milton did, no matter what they might think,” Thomas said. “That’s what was so shocking about it, really. He was able to set all common sense and courtesy aside to attack you the way he did. For someone who seems so interested in reputation, you would have thought he might take more care with his own. But some people just assume that they are completely above reproach.”
“Yes, I suppose they do,” Lady Valeria said. “Well, I’m just glad he isn’t here tonight. I didn’t fancy the thought of spending time in his company again.”
“I don’t think that’s something you need to worry about,” Thomas assured her. “I can’t imagine anyone inviting him around any time soon. He’s disgraced himself thoroughly.”
The musical number transitioned into another. Thomas loosened his hold on Lady Valeria slightly, wondering whether she might like to take a break from dancing, but she just stepped closer to him, tightened her hold on him, and smiled up at him.
He returned her smile and swept her into a wide circuit around the room. There was no reason to stay where they were, under the critical gaze of Lord Stratford.
Lady Earlington appeared in the doorway and caught Thomas’s eye. He took Lady Valeria by the arm and escorted her over to her aunt.
Lady Earlington was beaming at them. “Are you having a good time?” she asked. “I think the guests are enjoying the ball.”
“It’s lovely, Aunt Alberta,” Lady Valeria said. “Thank you so much for putting this together for us. I can’t believe so many people came.”
“Of course they did,” Lady Earlington said. “It’s always a big event when a courtship is announced.”
“Even when it’s me?” Lady Valeria said.
