Her card was half-filled and Jane was quite content. She had danced the first two sets, although neither had been solicited in advance. Uncle Alfred could be relied upon to lead her out for one set, and Mr.Fafordwould surely sign her card as soon as he arrived. He was late already. And if she had to sit out a few dances, it would not be the end of the world. Only the newest debutantes considered such an eventuality a disaster. She would merely sit with her aunt or find another acquaintance with whom to converse for half an hour.
Jane smiled to herself. Honor had confided to her before the opening set her chagrin at finding that she had not one space left on her card.
"What if I find that there is someone else with whom I particularly wish to dance?" she asked. "And what if Viscount Fairfax makes an appearance and turns out to be as handsome as you andPruesay? I shall burst with frustration, Jane."
Jane laughed. "You must be the only female present tonight to complain of a full card, Honor," she said. "If I were you, I should be preparing to enjoy my triumph."
Honor pulled a face. "But just look at these names!" she said, opening her card so that Jane could see the signatures scrawled next to the various sets. "There is not one handsome face among them. Not one!"
"These poor gentlemen," Jane commented, her eyes moving over the card. "You must be very demanding, Honor. There are some very distinguished names here."
"Hm. 'Distinguished' is a word one uses when it would be a lie to say 'handsome,' " Honor replied. "Oh Lord, here comes Perry. At least I am thankful to be able to tell him truthfully that I may not dance with him. I swear, Jane, the poor boy has two left feet."
The next set was about to form. Jane could see her uncle moving purposefully along the edge of the ballroom floor in their direction. Dear Uncle Alfred, she thought,cometo make sure that she would not have to spend too many sets standing on the sidelines. She knew that he would far prefer to be playing cards. She smiled.
And then beyond her uncle's advancing figure she saw him. Viscount Fairfax. He had just entered the ballroom and was standing in the doorway, his fingers toying with a quizzing glass. Oh, he had not changed. If anything, he was even more handsome now. The extra years had added muscularity to his slender physique. His hair was longer than he had used to wear it. And he looked quite breathtakingly magnificent in black tight-fitting evening coat and knee breeches, masses of sparkling white lace at his neck and wrists. Even as she returned her attention to her uncle, Jane felt it.Quite unmistakably.That old churning of the stomach.
She put her hand in her uncle's and allowed him to lead her into a set that still needed one couple. Lady Pendleton had left the receiving line and was about to start the dancing, but she had hurried over to greet her nephew, Jane saw in one swift glance. He was still standing just inside the doorway. There was another gentleman with him, shorter, slightly stockier, his looks quite overshadowed by those of his companion.
Jane looked around for Honor. Her cousin was part of another set. She was talking animatedly to her partner and the couple beyond them. But she had seen him, Jane felt sure. There was an extra sparkle and self-consciousness to her behavior. She would be even more furious now that there were no dances to spare on her card. Poor Honor! Jane turned her attention to the music, which was beginning.
It was even more obvious at the end of the set that Honor had seen the viscount. She had her partner leave her in a part of the ballroom far removed from the spot where her mother sat conversing with a group of dowagers, and she was waving vigorously for her father to bring Jane to her. Jane saw as they approached that Lord Fairfax and his companion were quite close by, talking with their hostess.
"Jane!" Honor hissed, fanning herself so fast that her cousin could feel the breeze from where she stood. "Why did you not tell me? He is not just handsome. He is… handsome! I just have to dance with him. Max orAmbiewill not mind releasing me from my obligation. You must partner one of them instead. You will not mind, will you?" She regarded Jane with wide, anxious eyes. "Dear Jane!"
Jane could not help smiling. "Really, Honor," she said, "you could not possibly be so rag-mannered. It just is not done to pass on your rejected partners to someone else. Or even simply to reject them, for that matter."
"Oh, but Max orAmbiewill not mind," Honor insisted. "They are just like my brothers."
"I would guess that those two young gentlemen do not think of themselves in any such way," Jane said. "Besides, Honor, there are hosts of lovely girls here. How can you be sure that Lord Fairfax will even ask you?"
"But of course he will!" Honor said ingenuously.
"He has already noticed me, you know. I swear his eyes were on me for fully half of the last set. Oh, bother, Harry has spotted me and is on his way to claim his dance." She turned a dazzling smile on the tall, thin young man who was approaching.
Jane did not have a partner for that particular set, a quadrille. She looked around to see if any of her acquaintances was close by, saw that none was, and turned to make her way around the room to her aunt. However, Lord Pendleton blocked her way.
"Not dancing, Miss Matthews?" he asked. "I would lead you outm'self, my dear, if it weren't for this confounded gout. May I fetch you some lemonade?"
"No, really, my lord," Jane said. "I am not thirsty."
Lord Pendleton was in no hurry to move away. He stood and chatted amiably to Jane, watching the dancers as he did so. Jane too looked about her. The viscount, she could see, was dancing with Lady Pendleton, his companion with someone Jane did not know. Honor was sparkling, and dazzling the faithful Harry.
When the music drew to a close, Lady Pendleton joined her husband. She was on the arm of the viscount.
"Ah, Pendleton," she said in the rather masculine tones that characterized her, "there you are. You see, Michael did decide to put in an appearance after all. The scold I gave him two days ago had its effect."
The two men shook hands. "Glad you came, Michael," Lord Pendleton said. "AndSedgeworthtoo, I hope? Hazel would have been disappointed if you had not come. Not every woman can boast such a fine nephew, you know."
Jane felt decidedly awkward. She did not know whether she should stay beside Lord Pendleton or turn away and look elsewhere. Perhaps she should even move unobtrusively away. She took a step back and glanced toward the empty dance floor. Honor was crossing it, smiling dazzlingly at her cousin.
"Why, Jane, you naughty thing," she called teasingly as she approached nearer. "I have looked all over the place for you and only now saw that you were with Lord Pendleton." She smiled at the latter and fluttered her fan.
"My manners have certainly gone begging," his lordship said, turning to Jane and taking her by the elbow. "I suppose you have not met my wife's nephew, my dear, since he has only recently arrived in London and has not been here for several years. May I present Michael Templeton, Viscount Fairfax? Miss Matthews is from the North, Michael.Niece of Jamieson.And Miss Jamieson is his daughter. She has been taking thetonquite by storm this year." He smiled kindly at a blushing Honor.
Lord Fairfax bowed. His eyes met Jane's briefly. They regarded her steadily and unsmilingly. She curtsied and muttered, "My lord." But he had already turned to Honor, who was glowing with blushes and smiles and who must have been raising a veritable gale with her fan.
"I am so pleased to meet you, my lord," she said. "You have chosen a splendid occasion on which to make your first appearance in public. I declare this is the greatest squeeze of the Season so far."
