by Sandra Heath
Jane smiled. “Why, Mr. Grenfell, what a pleasure it is to see you again.”
William glanced a little uncomfortably at Mr. Richmond, then smiled at Jane. “The pleasure is entirely mine, Miss Jane.”
“You’re too kind, sir,” she murmured in reply, wafting her fan to and fro in a way that a dismayed Christina judged to border on the coquettish.
“Jane ...” she began in an urgent undertone.
Jane ignored her. “Tell me, Mr. Grenfell, how is your balloon?”
“Grounded again, I fear. The flap valve is being very obstinate.”
“Oh, dear. Then we must trust that you solve the problem as quickly as possible, must we not?” Jane smiled one of her most enchanting smiles, and Christina couldn’t help see the effect it had upon William, who reddened, and swallowed.
Mr. Richmond was still delivering the pilot a very lengthy snub, gazing squarely past him. Christina had never known her father to behave like this before, it was very embarrassing indeed, but even though William was obviously embarrassed as well, he nevertheless held his ground, encouraged to do so because Jane showed herself prepared to be engaged in conversation. Christina didn’t know what to say or do in such circumstances, and she was cross with all three of them.
William then proceeded to make things more difficult than ever by asking Jane to dance with him. “Miss Jane, would you do me the inestimable honor of dancing with me?”
Christina looked at Jane with quick warning, but it was already too late, for the invitation had been promptly accepted. “I’d be delighted to dance with you, Mr. Grenfell,” Jane said, smiling as she placed her hand in his, rising quickly from the sofa before either Christina or her father could say anything.
Mr. Richmond was dumbfounded, staring after his younger daughter as she swept onto the floor with the loathed pilot. For a moment it seemed he was about to call her back, but Christina hastily put a restraining hand on his arm. “It’s too late, Father. If you say anything now, you’ll only draw very unwelcome attention.”
He saw the wisdom of this, and so remained angrily silent, but his expression was very dark indeed.
On the floor, Jane knew full well she should have declined the invitation. Her father had made his feelings about William Grenfell only too plain, but as the handsome pilot smiled into her eyes, and told her she was divinely beautiful, she sighed and smiled in return. “I’m very flattered, sir.”
“It isn’t flattery, for you outshine every other woman here,” he said, being bold enough to draw her hand to his lips.
“You shouldn’t pay me such compliments, Mr. Grenfell,” she reproved, blushing still more as she quickly pulled her hand away.
“I know I shouldn’t, and if it offends you ...”
“I’m not offended, sir,” she replied, her lovely eyes meeting his, “but you still shouldn’t do it.”
“I envy Robert Temple with all my heart,” he said softly.
The orchestra began to play a minuet.
* * *
Christina and Mr. Richmond watched from the sofa. Mr. Richmond was still angry, and Christina felt obliged to warn him again that he might yet attract undue interest. “Father, it is a ball,” she said tactfully, “and Mr. Grenfell is hardly an undesirable element.”
“That, my dear, is a matter of opinion.”
“So it seems, but you shouldn’t scowl at them like that, for it will be remarked, which is the last thing we want tonight. Remonstrate with Jane afterward by all means, but all she’s actually done is dance with a gentleman of whom you disapprove, which disapproval isn’t known to everyone else here present.”
“I take your point,” he replied, looking away from the floor. “That pernicious Icarus is an insolent young pup, and she, indiscreet minx, isn’t doing all she might to discourage him. Remonstrate with her later? I’ll make her foolish ears ring!” His glance swung back to the pair on the floor. “Look at her! See how she smiles at him!”
Christina followed his gaze and said nothing, for Jane was making it quite plain that she found William Grenfell’s company very pleasing, and under the circumstances it was very unwise indeed. Robert Temple might arrive at any moment, and it wouldn’t do for him to see his future wife smiling so frequently into the admiring eyes of his old friend.
Even as this dire possibility crossed her mind, the steward’s staff rapped again, and a buzz went around the ballroom as Robert Temple’s name was announced at last, but on the floor, Jane and William continued dancing unawares.
Christina looked at the man her sister was to marry. He was the image of his portrait, and in the flesh even more breathtakingly handsome than she’d expected. He was tall, his dark hair was a little disheveled, and she felt she could see how gray his eyes were, even across the room.
There was something about him that would have set him apart in any company, an unruffled poise that told of the exalted circles in which he was accustomed to move. He wore a dark-purple velvet coat and white silk breeches, and a jeweled pin glittered in the rich folds of his lace-edged neckcloth. She gazed at him as he paused by the doorway, toying with a spill of lace at his cuff.
There was something utterly compelling about him, something that had her complete attention. Suddenly the noise of the ballroom seemed to fade all around her. The orchestra was still playing, people were still dancing and talking, but she couldn’t hear anything except the quickening of her own heartbeats.
The master of ceremonies had hurried over to him now, and was leading him around the floor toward the sofa. He smiled at whatever the bustling Mr. Tyson was saying, and acknowledged a number of greetings from friends and acquaintances, but his gray eyes were suddenly on Christina. A spell was winding seductively around her, a forbidden spell that was so subtle she could do nothing to resist.
His lips softened into a lazy smile that was directed solely at her. Her heart was beating wildly now, and still the ballroom was muffled and remote. She was hardly aware of the master of ceremonies as he introduced him to her father, but every sense was suddenly alive as at last he was being presented to her.
Her hand trembled as she extended it.
His white-gloved fingers were warm. “I’m so glad to make your acquaintance, Miss Richmond,” he murmured, raising her hand to his lips.
His voice was low and quite softly spoken, and his eyes held her captive. She somehow managed to reply. “And I yours, my lord.”
He smiled again, and a shiver of wanton pleasure passed through her. Emotions she’d never experienced before coursed wildly along her veins. She was shaken and confused. Whatever she’d expected on first meeting Robert Temple, it hadn’t been this. Not this.
Chapter Nine
His duty having been discharged, the master of ceremonies returned to his other tasks.
Robert looked at Mr. Richmond. “Forgive me for arriving late, sir, my only excuse is that my aunt’s cook fell suddenly ill and I waited until the doctor had examined her.”
Mr. Richmond, who thought highly of his own cook at Richmond House, was concerned. “I trust it isn’t serious.”
“A surfeit of her own rich cuisine would appear to be at the back of it, sir,” replied Robert, smiling again, “but since she is much treasured by my aunt, who in turn is much treasured by me, I felt it only right that I should wait to hear the diagnosis. My aunt is a formidable lady, and it wouldn’t do to offend her.”
“I don’t believe I know your aunt,” said Mr. Richmond, doing his best not to glance toward Jane, who was still dancing unawares with William.
“Lady Chevenley. She departed from Bath last month to stay at my country seat, Bellstones, and I sincerely hope that you will meet her when you are my guests there.”
“Your guests?” replied Mr. Richmond.
“Yes. It would seem appropriate and more than desirable for you to stay at Bellstones once we have agreed all the tiresome details of the betrothal.” Robert smiled at Christina again.
Mr. Richmond saw the invitation a
s absolute proof of Robert’s commitment to the match, and he beamed.
The dance was ending at last, and Jane was sinking into a graceful curtsy, still ignorant of her future husband’s arrival. William seemed unaware as well, for they lingered on the floor as the other dancers dispersed.
Mr. Tyson announced the next dance, a cotillion, and for a terrible moment Christina was afraid that Jane and the pilot would take their places in one of the sets, but they began to leave the floor at last, still smiling and talking together.
Robert suddenly looked at Christina. “Miss Richmond, I trust you will not think me forward if I ask you to honor me with this next dance?”
She was taken completely aback, for it was hardly proper for him to dance with her before he’d been introduced to Jane.
She might not have known what to reply, but her father, who wished to speak sternly alone to Jane if at all possible, seized his opportunity. “Of course she’ll dance with you, my lord, she’d be delighted.”
Robert held his hand out to her, and hesitantly she accepted, only too aware of his touch. As they stepped onto the floor, she was aware, too, of the curious glances they were receiving, for a great many people thought it odd that Lord St. Clement should be leading the elder Miss Richmond out instead of the Miss Richmond he was supposed to be marrying.
Christina was sensitive to everything about him, as if a current was passing between them. She saw the way his dark hair curled at the nape of his neck, how soft his lips were when he was about to smile, how graceful he was as he moved; she drank in every detail, unable to help herself, and she was totally bewildered by the force of feeling that had suddenly been aroused in her. She danced in a dream, still hearing hardly anything but the beating of her heart.
* * *
At the sofa, Mr. Richmond was confronting Jane and William, his gaze fixed upon his daughter in particular. “Well, missy? What have you to say for yourself?”
She was immediately defensive. “Father, I merely accepted Mr. Grenfell’s invitation to dance. Is that so heinous a crime?”
“Yes, missy, it is. You’re very well aware of my feelings where this latter-day Helios is concerned, and not only did you choose to defy me, you also allowed him to ogle you in a most obvious way!”
Jane drew back, both mortified and indignant. “Father, how could you say such a thing!”
William was torn between guilt and a similar indignation. “I say, sir, that’s a little strong ...”
“No, sirrah, it isn’t strong enough! You’ve made your interest in my daughter disgracefully clear. You’re most definitely surplus to requirement, sir, and I’d be obliged if you’d spare us your presence,” replied Mr. Richmond coolly.
Jane was utterly shocked. “Why are you being so horrid, Father? I really haven’t behaved all that badly.”
“Oh, yes, you have, missy. As to why I’m being so horrid, as you’re pleased to term it, well, what else do you expect when you cavort so intimately with this blackguard and don’t even notice the arrival of the man you’re expecting to marry!”
She stared at him. “He’s here?” she said at last, glancing quickly around.
“He most certainly is, and he is at present dancing with your sister.”
William cleared his throat awkwardly then. “I, er, I think I should perhaps take my leave of you, Miss Jane.”
“And not before time,” agreed Mr. Richmond cuttingly.
William took Jane’s hand. “Thank you for honoring me with a dance, Miss Jane,” he said softly.
“It ... it was a pleasure, Mr. Grenfell,” she answered, suddenly conscious of the glances of many of the guests. Spots of color marked her cheeks, and she snapped open her fan, moving it to and fro before her hot face.
As William withdrew, Mr. Richmond eyed her again. “I think you may count yourself lucky that Temple doesn’t appear to have noticed your conduct.”
“Are ... are you sure?” she asked hopefully, looking toward the floor and picking out Christina and Robert as they danced.
“Fairly certain. I tell you this, missy, you’d better be a model of excellence from now on. Mr. William Grenfell is to be a thing of the past, is that clear?”
“Yes, Father.”
“It had better be, or you’ll be returning to Stroud without a match!”
She bit her lip, lowering her eyes.
* * *
On the floor, Christina was still moving in something of a daze. The cotillion progressed, step by step, turn by turn, and in her confusion she forgot that it ended with a forfeit, a kiss on the cheek from her partner.
Robert smiled, stepping close. His arm was briefly around her waist, and his lips brushed warmly against her cheek. She felt weak and not in control, sensations alien to one usually disciplined and calm. Oh, this was so very wrong. She shouldn’t feel like this about him, she mustn’t feel like this about him ...
As the floor cleared and a country dance was announced, he drew her to one side of the ballroom, not the side where Jane and Mr. Richmond waited by the sofa. Still holding her hand, he looked into her eyes. “Maybe I’m again being a little premature, Miss Richmond, but I feel we will do well together. I consider myself very fortunate indeed to have secured you as my bride.”
Stunned, she stared at him. He thought she was Jane?
Her reaction puzzled him. “Miss Richmond?”
“I ... I think you’ve made a mistake, my lord,” she said at last, a flood of hot color staining her cheeks.
“Mistake? In what way?”
“I’m not the one you are to marry, my lord.”
Now he stared. “I don’t understand. You are Miss Richmond, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but I’m Miss Christina Richmond. It’s my sister, Jane, who is to be betrothed to you.”
“Miss Christina Richmond?” Obviously taken quite by surprise, he ran his fingers through his hair, giving a rather embarrassed laugh. “Deuce take it, I had no idea ... Forgive me.”
“There is nothing to forgive, sir, for you’ve evidently been misled in some way.” She was too flustered to meet his eyes.
He drew her hand through his arm then, ushering her to a quieter corner and turning her to face him again. “As you will by now have gathered, Miss Richmond, I had no idea that your father had two daughters.”
She was puzzled. “But how could you possibly mistake me for Jane? You were sent her miniature, and I’m not even remotely like her to look at.”
“I received the miniature, it’s true, but it was in what the Irish call ‘smithereens,’ broken beyond all repair. It didn’t occur to me that there might be sisters, because I was informed that Miss Jane Richmond was the only daughter of Mr. Henry Richmond and his wife, Georgiana Vesey.”
“Which is quite true, for Georgiana was my father’s second wife. Jane and I are half-sisters.” She gave a self-conscious smile. “Jane has inherited a fortune from her mother’s family, which is why the younger Miss Richmond is the one you hope to marry, my lord.”
His gray eyes moved over her face. “Fortunes aren’t everything, Miss Richmond, and although it may be presumptuous of me to say so, you are more than lovely enough to have found a husband before now. May I ask why you are still single?”
The question took her a little aback. “I ... I’m quite happy to remain as I am, my lord, and I’m quite content for my sister to marry before me.”
His gaze seemed almost intense. “Which can only mean that you haven’t given anyone your heart.”
She had to look quickly away. Until tonight that had been true, but it wasn’t anymore.
Her silence was misinterpreted. “Now I have indeed offended you. Forgive me.”
“You haven’t offended me,” she replied, taking a long breath and making herself look at him again. “We ... we’re beginning to cause comment, my lord, and as I see my sister is with my father now, perhaps it would be best if we ...?”
“Yes, of course. But, Miss Richmond ... ?”
“Yes?”
“I trust this unfortunate misunderstanding will not blight our future friendship?”
“Of course not, it’s forgotten already.”
“Would that I could forget as promptly,” he replied, smiling at her. “If your sister is only half as lovely and charming as you, I shall count myself exceeding fortunate.” He offered her his arm.
Their progress around the crowded floor was punctuated by many pauses to speak briefly to his numerous friends and acquaintances, most of whom were openly curious about Christina’s presence at his side, instead of Jane. He passed it off by replying that in his opinion it was a wise bridegroom who first made allies of his prospective in-laws, an explanation that was accepted with much amusement.
Christina was careful to conduct herself as properly as possible, for she was aware that the Richmond family was on trial tonight, and that Jane’s conduct with William Grenfell hadn’t gone unnoticed. By the time she and Robert were at last approaching the sofa, and Jane, Christina was satisfied that the damage had been repaired; she was far less satisfied with what had happened to her own small world, which was suddenly in complete disarray.
As Mr. Richmond hastened to at last effect the long-awaited introduction between prospective bride and groom, and Jane raised her magnificent eyes to meet Robert’s, Christina discreetly drew aside, in need of a moment or two to compose herself for the remainder of the ball.
She felt utterly wretched, and strove to hide the fact behind a smile. There was a pain deep inside, and it was a pain she knew she had no right to feel. Love at first sight was a phenomenon she’d hitherto believed existed only in books and poems, but now she knew it did indeed happen, for it had happened to her tonight.
From the moment he’d entered the ballroom, she’d been utterly lost. She was the victim of unkind fate, falling head over heels in love with the one man she could never have, for he was to marry her sister.
Chapter Ten
It was just before dawn when the three sedan chairs returned to Johnstone Street.