With a brief smile that faded as soon as it had shown itself, the lady turned her head a little and let the dance continue. Henry said nothing more, concentrating on his steps, but finding himself glad that the young lady agreed with him, even though he had not thought himself in need of such reassurance.
When the dance came to a close a few minutes later, Henry was surprised at how much he did not want it to end. Keeping hold of the young lady’s hand, he bowed over it, then smiled into her eyes.
“I thank you.”
“Of course.” Taking her hand away quickly, she dropped into a curtsey. “I will make my way back in amongst the crowd ofdancers before it is noticed that you have danced with me. I should not like to give you any more difficulty.”
Henry wanted to ask her what she meant, his hand going out to hers again but, before a single word could be uttered, she had smiled, turned, and walked away from him, pulling herself into the crowd of gentlemen and ladies as they all walked from the dance floor, so that she was barely noticeable, not even by Henry himself.
And I did not ask her what her name was.
Shame bit down hard and Henry groaned aloud, rubbing one hand over his eyes as he realized how foolish he had been. With a sigh, he walked in the same direction he had seen her go, but she was nowhere to be found. Thinking that he might hurry back to the same place where he had first met her, he was suddenly accosted by Lord Falconer who, with a grin, slapped Henry on the back.
“Was it Miss Blakefield you danced with, old boy? I thought you might rub along very well with her.”
Henry scowled, his eyes still on the edge of the ballroom as he looked for the young lady.
“No, it was not. I chose to step away from her rather quickly once she told me that I must have had some happiness on the day that my father died.”
Lord Falconer’s expression changed at once, his eyes flaring wide.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Indeed,” Henry sighed, his shoulders dropping as he realized that the young lady in question was as good as lost. “I could not quite believe it and, when she told me that all that mattered was title, standing, and fortune, I knew that there was nothing more to be said between us. I took myself from her by making an excuse and was then forced to ask a young lady tostep out with me – and no, before you ask, I do not know who she was for I did not ask her name.”
Lord Falconer’s eyes rounded.
“That is most unlike you.”
“Be that as it may, I had no other choice,” Henry returned, quickly. “I perhaps ought not to have lied but I chose to do so and then was forced to waltz with a stranger.”
“And you do not know who she was?”
Henry shook his head.
“No, I do not.” Another heavy breath tore from him, and he dropped his head. “I do not have the same anticipation as I did before. Thus far, I have tried to avoid Lady Judith and thereafter, ended up making a connection with Miss Blakefield, only to then desire to remove myself from her just as quickly!”
“Do not give up hope,” Lord Falconer said, firmly. “Take a look around the ballroom and see just how many young ladies are present.”
“And just how many of them would be suitable? How many would offer me what I require?”
Lord Falconer shrugged.
“I suppose it depends on how particular you are determined to be.”
Henry sighed and shook his head, looking away from his friend and finding himself wondering about the young lady he had stood up to dance with. Could there be a chance that she might be the one lady he found more delightful than any other? Or was it foolish for him to even think about such a thing?
Chapter Five
“Another ball.”
Sighing, Joy leaned back against the wall, her head resting against it as she let her gaze rove quite freely through the ballroom.
“Indeed, Miss Fairley, though this time, at least I am not standing alone and wondering what is to become of me!”
Her new friend smiled.
“That is true, I think – though I did hear Lady Alice speaking with you about dancing?” Her head tilted, her eyes filled with questions. “Did you dance recently?”
