by Lynn Morris
Josephine’s eyes widened. “Now I can see why one of the gates of heaven is made of sapphire.”
Lady Camarden searched Mirabella’s face. Mirabella had never cared for precious gems. She had always said that as small as she was, she’d look foolishly gaudy wearing ostentatious jewelry; and generally she was correct. She preferred her opals and her pearls, and she had some semiprecious pieces of coral, lapis lazuli, and garnets that she often wore.
“They are indeed delicate and ethereal,” Lady Camarden agreed. “Do you truly like them, Mirabella?”
“I do, it’s the first time I’ve seen a parure of precious stones that I think wouldn’t look ridiculous on me,” she said quietly. “Have you ever seen sapphires of such purity, such clarity?”
Mirabella, Josephine, and Lady Camarden lingered over the sapphire parure, admiring it, until Mr. Bridge returned to them. “I see you’ve found our newest pieces,” he said, lifting the necklace and offering it to Mirabella. To Lady Camarden he handed the tiara, and to Josephine he gave the earrings. “Our premier silversmith, Mr. Storr, only finished this parure two days ago.”
“Ah, so that’s why the prince regent hasn’t purloined them yet,” Mirabella said. “But Mr. Bridge, please tell me about them. Is this a silver setting? I’ve never seen such finely detailed silver, it almost looks like gossamer.”
“No, it’s very difficult to fashion silver in such a small filigree, it does have a tendency to break. This setting is made from a fairly new precious metal called platinum, which is more generally known as Colombian white gold, as Colombia is the only source of it. It’s an extremely hard, durable metal, and the means to fashion it into jewelry is a relatively new science.”
“White gold,” Mirabella repeated. “It’s apt. It’s such a gleaming silver that it does almost look white. And the sapphires? Surely it’s rare to have so many perfectly matched stones.”
“You’re correct, my lady, they are Ceylon sapphires found in one single rock, and it is almost unheard of to have stones of such quality that match in hue and in clarity, and with no flaws. Mr. Rundell flatly refused to make separate pieces from these particular sapphires.”
Mirabella sighed. “I comprehend that what I’m hearing is that this parure is rare and precious, and so the price must be dear indeed.”
“Yes, my lady,” Mr. Bridge said kindly. “The parure is priced at four thousand pounds.”
Three audible sharp intakes of breath sounded from Josephine, Lewin, and Giles, who had gathered around. Neither Lady Camarden nor Mirabella looked shocked, however. Mirabella gave Mr. Bridge a rueful smile. “I’m sorry to tell you this, Mr. Bridge, but if I were buying them you could have charged me more. I was guessing five thousand.”
“Of course your ladyship knows that your credit is unlimited here, always,” Mr. Bridge said. “And by that I do mean certainly up to four thousand pounds.”
“You are so obliging, as always, Mr. Bridge, but no, it’s impossible,” Mirabella said firmly. “They are well worth it, however, and I hope whoever is fortunate enough to acquire them appreciates them.”
They stayed a while longer, for the marchioness had decided to order a new set of silver. Mirabella lingered over the sapphires; she had never been as enchanted by any jewelry as she was by this parure.
When they left, Mirabella saw that Giles was carrying a parcel. She thought—hoped—that he had been able to redeem some or all of his mother’s jewelry that he’d been obliged to sell to pay her father back for the charity school funds. She knew that Rundell & Bridge generally simply bought and sold jewelry. But often the discreet, courtly Mr. Bridge would make allowances for reputable patrons who were obliged by some financial embarrassment to sell family jewels, and would act more as a pawnbroker, without the vulgarity, of course.
When they were in the carriage, Josephine said, “At first I was surprised that you were so enamored of the sapphires, Mirabella, since you’ve never seemed to care for precious gems. But that parure was so exquisitely fashioned, it was of such delicacy, that it would suit you perfectly.”
“Except for the cost,” Mirabella said. “It’s entirely beyond my purse, and I fear that Pappa would have an apoplexy if I asked him to buy me a necklace, tiara, and earrings for four thousand pounds. Hm, I wonder who will be sporting them at the opera, or the next grand ball? I have no doubt that Rundell & Bridge won’t have them for long. Now, where are Giles and Lewin? I declare that if they dawdle along and don’t come for our waltz lessons I’ll wring their noses.”
They didn’t dawdle, so Mirabella wasn’t obliged to carry out her threat. They all arrived at the town house at the same time, and promptly the young people went up to the music room. This was a sizable room, specifically designed for the musical soirées that Lord and Lady Camarden often gave during the Season. It had a concert piano and a harp, with graceful chairs provided for the audience, and comfortable settees and sofas lining the walls.
Giles said, “Lewin, we must clear out the central space here, as the waltz takes a lot of room.”
“I know that,” Lewin said indignantly. “I know the German waltz. In point of fact, if I say so myself, I’m fairly adept at it.”
“You are?” Josephine said in amazement. “You never said.”
“You never asked,” Lewin retorted. “Not everything in France and Spain was dirt, drudge, and drear. There were some very nice ladies there, too.”
Giles said, “You’re a deep old file, Rosborough. Small wonder that you’ve been getting along so famously with the ladies. Now, Mirabella, come here and I’ll give you your first lesson. Let me think, music, music…”
“What kind of music is played for the German waltz?” Mirabella asked.
“Actually, it’s the Viennese waltz, and I learned it firsthand in Vienna,” Giles answered. “But now I think of it, the music that was played was always Mozart’s and Beethoven’s German Dances. Perhaps that’s why here we’ve come to call it the German waltz. Anyway, I know we’ve no transcription of them for piano.” He thought for a moment, then asked, “Josephine, do you know Bloomsbury Place?”
Smartly Josephine answered, “Giles, not everyone has all the music and all the books memorized as do you. Of course I don’t know Bloomsbury Place by heart.”
“The sheet music is there,” Mirabella said with amusement.
“Oh. That’s all right then,” Josephine said, shuffling through the sheet music until she found it. “Very well, I think I can creditably play it, though I know I’ll have to patch through some of the more complex passages.”
“That will do very well,” Giles said. “The important thing is to keep the three beats to the bar. Now, are you ready, Mirabella?”
“I am.” She was standing four feet away from him, facing him, as couples do in country dances.
With a crooked half-smile, Giles came to stand close in front of her. She looked up at him, mystified. He said, “Now, hold up your right hand, gracefully, to the side.” She did, and Giles took her hand in his left. “Rest your left hand on my shoulder.”
“I beg your pardon?” Mirabella said blankly.
Patiently Giles said, “Rest your left hand lightly on my right shoulder. Mind, arrange your fingers gracefully, with your middle fingers together and your pinky and forefinger slightly raised.”
“I know how to arrange my fingers gracefully,” Mirabella snapped. Tentatively, barely touching him, she rested her left hand on his shoulder.
“And now I do this,” Giles said, and slid his left hand around her waist.
Instantly Mirabella lurched backward. “You must be joking!” she exclaimed.
Giles looked amused. “I’m afraid I’m not, my lady. This is how the waltz is danced.”
“But—but do you mean people actually embrace each other? In public?”
“Generally a ball is public, yes, although I’m sure that people may dance the waltz in private, also.”
“This is not amusing, Giles,” Mirabella said between
gritted teeth.
He looked repentant. “I apologize, Bella, I don’t mean to make light of your discomfort. You don’t have to do this, you know.”
“I am most certainly going to do this! And I’m not discomfortable!”
Behind her she heard smothered chuckles from Lewin and Josephine, and Giles couldn’t help but grin. “Very well, Mrs. Malaprop. Shall we continue?”
As usual, Mirabella’s good humor was immediately restored, but she still felt unsure. She turned to ask, “Josephine, do you really think this is quite—proper? If you waltz, what do you think your father would say?”
She answered, “I know exactly what he would say, that in First Corinthians thirteen it says that true charity thinketh no evil. And I think no evil of it, either.”
Mirabella said, “So apparently I’m the only person in London who’s discomfortable with the waltz. No, no, I shall be courageous, and allow you to grope me, Giles.”
She stepped forward again and assumed the waltz position, her cheeks flaming, but her face set with determination.
“I won’t grope you, and neither will anyone else,” Giles said firmly. “And this is supposed to be enjoyable, you know. You look as if you were riding in the tumbrel to the guillotine.”
“So sorry, I shall attempt to appear as if I’m enjoying it.”
“Please do, or else you’ll frighten your partner. So, actually, it’s a simple dance. It’s one-two-three steps, and we turn. We turn to my right first, and whirl around a bit, and then we do a change step and turn the other way. The couples on the floor never pass each other; we dance in a circle, counterclockwise. Josephine, some music, please?”
On the second bar of three beats, Giles stepped forward—and almost knocked Mirabella down. “You mean I must dance backwards? I’m backwards!”
Soothingly Giles said, “Yes, to begin, but remember, we turn and turn, and you’ll be dancing forwards half the time. Let’s try it again.” This time Mirabella haltingly took her three steps backward, and then did a creditable turn. They did well for several steps, and then Giles did the change step and Mirabella trod solidly on his foot. “Ow,” he mumbled. “Sorry.”
“It is your fault, you know, how am I supposed to know when we turn about? Can’t we set a certain number of turns to your right, and then a certain number of turns to your left?”
“But it doesn’t work that way, the waltz is very free and flowing, and the dancers turn as they feel. The gentleman is the leader, you see, and he will lead you to know when to turn.”
“You said this dance was simple,” Mirabella said accusingly.
“And so it is, if you can just relax and enjoy it.”
Mirabella nodded, and they began again.
Though she did try hard, she found it terribly difficult to relax; she felt stiff and awkward. Although Giles held her very lightly, and did not press close at all, his arm about her waist still felt overly warm. She was painfully conscious of his nearness. Oddly she felt hot and cold at the same time, unaccustomed as she was to a man’s touching her.
And there it is, she thought with no little confusion. I haven’t been so much as touched by a man since Captain Pryce, except for taking their arm and such as that…I suppose I must be so flustered because it reminds me of him…
But it didn’t, really. Dancing with Giles, his arm secure about her, his hand warm in hers, sensing the solid muscle of his shoulder even with her light touch, was nothing like embracing Captain Pryce. This realization only added to her bewilderment. After a few minutes she stopped and disengaged herself and said, “Do you know, I think it might help me if I could watch this dance being performed. Josephine, I’ll play, and you dance with Giles.”
Mirabella took her place at the piano, and Josephine easily assumed the waltz position with Giles. They danced very elegantly, from the beginning. Josephine said as they whirled by, “You’re probably correct, Mirabella, I’m sure it came easier to me since I saw the steps first.”
Mirabella wondered if this was true. After playing for several minutes, she stopped. “I think we all understand the three-beat now. Lewin, would you dance with me? And we can all practice not running over each other.”
“It would be my great pleasure, my lady,” Lewin said, bowing.
Mirabella danced with Lewin, and was amazed to find that she was much more at ease. Perhaps it is true, seeing the steps demonstrated makes it easier to learn. Can that be it? Why should I feel so uncomfortable with Giles, and yet I’m perfectly fine now, dancing with Lewin? Could it be that it was just the shock of the first time?
Lady Mirabella, by her own admission, was a woman who did not know her own heart. And so she dismissed the questions in her mind.
Chapter Eight
Almack’s Assembly Rooms was not a particularly imposing edifice on the outside. The grand ballroom, however, was palatial. It was large enough to easily accommodate the hundreds of dancers who gathered there every Wednesday night. Three enormous crystal chandeliers lit the ballroom, and the shimmering light was reflected in the mirrors that lined the walls. At one end was a gilded balcony for the musicians; at the other end was a dais where the patronesses received the invitees in a queenly manner. The long expanse was decorated on each side by gilded columns and pilasters. Between the columns were many comfortable armchairs, settees, and sofas for the patrons to rest on between dances.
On this opening night, even at the relatively early hour of eight o’clock, a large crowd had already gathered. In one alcove stood three young gentlemen, observing the arrivals. Giles and Lewin were joined by a longtime friend of Giles’s, Lord Trevor Brydges. He was a tall, athletic-looking man with thick blond hair and flinty masculine features. His expression, however, was generally one of good humor.
“So, here is Lady Mirabella,” Lord Trevor said. “A vision, as always. And Rosborough, your sister looks very well indeed. She’s charming.”
“She is,” Lewin agreed. “And even I can see that she’s in particularly good looks tonight.”
The three watched as Lord and Lady Camarden, Mirabella, and Josephine made their entrance and paid their respects to the Lady Patronesses.
Lord Trevor said, “Lady Mirabella Tirel is a prize, some man is going to be very lucky indeed. Knyvet, I admit I was surprised to hear that she’s in the market now. I always thought that you and she had some sort of understanding.”
“We do,” Giles said shortly. “We’re friends. And she’s not a prize that’s in the market now. You make it sound like some racehorse at Tattersalls.”
With amusement Lord Trevor said, “There, that’s exactly what I’m speaking of. You’re very protective of her, you always have been. Sorry, old chap, I meant no offense, either to her or to you. So I am correct in assuming that you only regard Lady Mirabella as a friend?”
“Why do you ask?” Giles asked.
“Because I wouldn’t want to interfere if your relationship is anything more than that,” Lord Trevor answered smoothly.
“Interfere? You mean that you’re contemplating throwing your hat into the ring?” Giles demanded.
“Now who’s making it sound as if we’re betting on a sporting event? But yes, I am. As I said, she’s quite a—she would make a perfect wife. She’s witty, she’s accomplished, she’s elegant, and of course she is beautiful.”
“And rich,” Giles snorted.
“Yes, she is, and that’s always an asset. But not everyone would consider that her most attractive quality,” Lord Trevor retorted. His father, the Marquess of Levenden, was extremely wealthy.
“No, I suppose not,” Giles begrudgingly agreed. “Still, Brydges, are you saying that you’ve formed an affection for her?”
“No, I’ve never had the opportunity to get to know her well enough to form any sort of attachment. She’s always held men at such a long arm’s length, except for you, which is precisely why everyone was under the impression that you were a couple.”
How I wish it were true, Giles thought
with a pang, though he remained expressionless. He shrugged. “Obviously we are not, since I expect that after two or three weeks Lady Jersey will be announcing Lady Mirabella’s engagement to some other poor young fool.”
“Besides you, you mean,” Lord Trevor said, grinning. “I won’t say I hope it’ll be me, because despite how shallow you think I am, I would like to at least first get to know the lady somewhat. And I see I’m not the only one, either.” Mirabella and Josephine were already being besieged by four gentlemen. “There’s Southam, I had a feeling he might be interested. Excuse me.” Lord Trevor began to make his way through the crush to the knot of men surrounding the two ladies.
Lewin and Giles watched in silence for a few moments. Then Lewin said, “Begging your pardon for continuing with the sporting allusions, but I’m of the opinion that she won’t come up to scratch.”
Giles looked at him with narrowed eyes. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t think she’ll actually go through with it. Do you, honestly? I mean, Mirabella can be rash and impulsive, but it’s quite another matter to stand and vow to God to bind yourself to another person for life.”
“Mirabella knows that very well,” Giles said. “Yes, she can be rash. But in this case I think she’s made a rational decision, with a cool head. She’s not romantic, you know. She hasn’t been since she was seventeen years old.”
“Maybe. Still, I think that she’s making a mistake. And I think you should dissuade her. You could, you know.”
“Perhaps I could, but why should I?” Giles said shortly.
Lewin looked straight into his eyes and said quietly, “You know why.”
Giles frowned darkly. Yes, I know, and Lewin knows, though Bella doesn’t. I suppose I’ve been in love with her all of my life…even though I really didn’t realize it until I came back after Father died. But I can’t possibly take care of her and offer her the kind of life that she’s accustomed to, not now. Perhaps in a year, or maybe two, I could…if I can recover that quickly. I thought I would have time, but it seems that I’ve run out of time. Too soon, too soon.