Phillip smiled widely, then looked around at each of the ladies.
“It is.” Lady Harrogate replied. “And have you both been dancing?”
Her gaze swept over Phillip quickly before being pulled away. Clearly, she knew of his reputation and was not particularly inclined to speak with him.
Lord Anderton chortled.
“Certainly, I have, but I am afraid that I am not as sought after as Lord Brookmire.”
He shot Phillip a glance and a grin, but Phillip merely shrugged, not taking the opportunity which Lord Anderton was giving him. He did not want to make himself too obvious.
“And have you been enjoying watching the dancing?” he asked Lady Essington, again keeping his attention from Lady Allanthorpe. The lady stated that yes, she had thus far had the most enjoyable evening but was mostly concerned with her daughter, who, while being courted by a gentleman of particular note, was not yet betrothed. Lady Harrogate murmured something about her own daughter, and Phillip listened as carefully as he could, smiling first at Lady Essington and thereafter turning his attention to Lady Allanthorpe again.
“And you, Lady Allanthorpe, have you been enjoying the evening?”
The lady’s expression was somewhat surprising. Given his reputation, he had expected her to either look away from him entirely, or to give him only the briefest of glances, as Lady Harrogate had done. The fact that she looked at him so directly was a little unexpected – as was her brief smile.
“I do find such social occasions to be most pleasing, although that is usually dependent on the company.”
Her eyebrow lifted just a little, a tiny smile at one corner of her mouth. Clearing his throat, Phillip, somewhat abashed, put both hands behind his back. Evidently, it was all too obvious that Lady Allanthorpe knew precisely who he was and the details of his reputation.
“I am certain that you have excellent company in Lady Harrogate and Lady Essington.” She laughed softly and Phillip did not miss the broad, delighted smile which crossed Lord Anderton’s face. Why such a smile should be, he was not certain. Did the gentleman know that Phillip would gain his opportunity with Lady Allanthorpe? And if there was an opportunity for him, then what exactly would happen thereafter? For a moment he began to fear that Lord Anderton had spoken to Lady Allanthorpe in advance of this, that they had arranged the whole situation together so that he would not succeed. Lady Allanthorpe, perhaps, knew exactly what was about to happen, meaning that she and Lord Anderton together had concocted this scheme simply to gain some extra coin for Lord Anderton. Swallowing hard, he tried to smile and pushed his thoughts away. “Have you danced very much this evening, Lady Allanthorpe?”
Her eyebrows dropped back into position.
“No, I have not. However, I am not certain that I wish to this evening, for I have had a great deal of enjoyment in speaking with my friends, and perhaps a dance would pull me away from their fine company.”
Phillip nodded.
“I quite understand but, should you change your mind, I would be very happy indeed to stand up with you.”
“As would I,” Lord Anderton added quickly, as though it were an afterthought. “And indeed, you also, Lady Essington if you would like to dance? And you, Lady-”
“No, no. Not in the least.” Lady Harrogate shook her head, holding up one hand in Lord Anderton’s direction, as if to push him back. “I certainly have no intention of dancing this evening. I am quite contented to be watching my daughter.”
“As am I.” Lady Essington laughed softly and shook her head “So you may take that hopeful glint out of your eye, Lord Anderton, for I shall not be dancing either. As I have said, I am continuously watching over my daughter, as Lady Harrogate is over hers. I should not like her to become diverted nor the gentleman who is courting her to become distracted by someone else, either.”
A heavy sigh slipped from Lord Anderton’s throat.
“Then it seems as though you are our only hope, Lady Allanthorpe.” He spread out both hands as Phillip allowed himself a small smile. “Will you also reject us? Will you also turn your back and refuse to step out with either of us?”
Lady Allanthorpe paused for a moment, then smiled.
“You paint a very despondent picture, Lord Anderton. So certainly, I will step out with you.”
She held out her dance card and Phillip immediately moved to snatch it from Lord Anderton’s fingers, chuckling as he did so. After all, his reputation was one of a scoundrel, so why should he not act the part?
“If you are to dance with Lord Anderton, then I am certain that you will dance with me also.” He grinned at the lady. “You cannot accept him and refuse me. I should be broken-hearted!”
Lady Allanthorpe put both hands on her hips, her chin lifting.
“But he has not the reputation you hold.”
Phillip chuckled, finding himself falling back into that familiar teasing manner he so often used whenever he was talking to a lady.
“That may be true, but he is not as good a dancer as I.”
At this, Lady Allanthorpe gave such a laugh that Phillip knew for certain that she was about to assent, and therefore he immediately looked down at the dances. Seeing there were two free, coming one after the next, he wrote his name down for the quadrille and then handed the card to Lord Anderton, seeing the gentleman tilt his head a little before writing his name for the country dance. The suggestion that Lord Anderton had made had been followed exactly.
