He smiled at her indulgently. “If you change your mind, Mama, I would be more than willing to indulge you in a turn around the room.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “You shall do no such thing,” her eyes narrowed.
He splayed his hands before him. “The offer is there and shall not be rescinded, Mama.”
He watched with satisfaction as she inclined her head towards Georgiana and whispered, “He is so good to me.”
Richard’s breath caught in his throat as Georgiana looked directly at him, and straight into his soul. “He is good to us both.”
He could not respond. There was nothing to say, or at least there was nothing in his mind to say. He tried to think rationally. Georgiana was merely expressing gratitude, but a shred of hope inside him dared to believe it was more than that. Much more.
* * *
Georgiana stepped out onto the pavement, the shock of the chill night catching her breath. “Oh! So cold!” she exclaimed, hearing others mirroring her sentiments around her.
Feeling Richard’s hand on her elbow, Georgiana allowed herself to be manoeuvred across the street, up the steps, and into the assembly room. Immediately the heat and noise of the crowd inside hit them.
“Oh, good!” Aunt Henrietta breathed in her ear. “I think this is the first time in years I’ve ever been glad of a mass of people.”
Richard steered them through the throng. Looking ahead of them, Georgiana spied Alex with Miss Hawkins in conversation with Louis. Knowing their direction, she aided Richard in pushing through the revellers.
“What ho!” Louis called out in greeting upon seeing them. “Lady Matlock,” he bowed, “what a pleasure it is to see you again this evening.”
Aunt Henrietta inclined her head. She was not one for curtseying. “Young man,” she tapped him on the shoulder with her fan, “do you see anywhere a person of my great age might be seated and still be able to watch the dancers?”
Georgiana watched on as Louis looked about him. “I shall see what I can do,” he replied, bowing his head, then turning and disappearing into the crowd.
Georgiana curtsied to Alex and Rebecca. “Good evening.”
Rebecca took hold of her hands. “Oh, I am so glad you are both here.” She blew out a long breath as though she had been holding it. “Apart from Alex and Louis, I am not acquainted with anyone here, I don’t think.”
“Fear not, Miss Hawkins,” Richard soothed her. “Between the three of us, you will have plenty of gentlemen to dance with.”
She giggled with excitement, and Georgiana found herself liking Rebecca even more.
“And if Alex does not mind,” Richard looked pointedly at his friend, “I would like to take this opportunity of soliciting your hand for the second dance.”
“I have no objections whatsoever,” Alex beamed down at his intended, who was more than a head shorter than he was. He then caught Georgiana’s eye. “If they are to dance the second dance together, shall we not dance it ourselves?”
Georgiana decided she liked Alex. He was affable, and she was comfortable in his presence. “Nothing would please me more,” she replied.
Louis returned, Georgiana suspected having displaced one or two patrons of the assembly rooms, and escorted Aunt Henrietta across the room where he sat down with her and started conversation.
Georgiana squinted at them across the room. “Does Louis know Aunt Henrietta well? They seem to be deep into conversation already.”
Richard chuckled close to her ear, sending warm liquid shiver down her spine. “I was at school with Louis, Alex, and George. So Mama knows them all rather well and has done since we were lads.” He craned his neck to see over the heads of those nearest them. “Speaking of George, where is the old devil?”
“Where do you think he is?” Alex drawled. “At the gaming tables as usual.”
“He never was one for dancing, was he?” Richard laughed, sharing a private joke between himself and his friend.
“No, not at all! Two left feet!” Alex threw his head back and laughed. He turned to his fiancée and explained, “To own the truth, my dear, I would pity any woman who had the misfortune of dancing with George Branford. Not only does he have two left feet, but she would find her own flattened and bruised all the way up the shins, no doubt.”
Both Georgiana and Rebecca winced at the same time.
Alex continued, “Believe me, it is better all round if George remains at the gaming tables.”
Richard nodded vehemently. “Undeniably. He seems to have more than his fair share of luck in that arena.”
“In fact,” Alex added, “he more than doubles his ample income every year because of how lucky he is gambling.”
Georgiana inhaled. “Really?” She looked up at Richard for confirmation.
He nodded. “Really. He is that good.”
Soon after, strains of music could be heard from further down the ballroom and couples started to move about, make space, and pair up.
“May I?” Richard held out his hand for Georgiana to take.
A broad grin spread across her face. There was nothing that would please her more than to remain by Richard’s side all evening long. If she could possibly avoid it, she would not dance with Lord Hugh ever again for the whole course of her life. She thanked Heaven that her stay in London was finite.
As she reached out and took her cousin’s hand, she prayed earnestly that neither Lord Hugh nor his sister Lady Francesca were present.
To begin with they danced A Fig for Bonaparte, which enabled them to stay as a foursome. Georgiana slowly pushed all thoughts of Lord Hugh from her mind and unwound. The next was The Lady’s Joy, in which another couple joined them. It was one of Georgiana’s favourite dances as they danced in a circle for some of it. During that second jig, she discovered Alex was also a talented dancer, like her cousin Richard.
They then danced a cotillion, La Liberté, where their party of three couples was joined by another. Georgiana’s throat went dry upon spying Lord Hugh and his sister, Lady Francesca. She did her utmost to plant a smile on her face and curtsey to the siblings, while all the joy she had begun to feel fled from her heart.
As she took her place, Richard whispered in her ear, “Stay close by me.”
Georgiana nodded, full of gratitude for those four simple words. “I have every intention of doing precisely that.”
She saw satisfaction on Richard’s face, and her sensation of being safe with him increased.
La Liberté, a dance Georgiana usually adored, lost something of its appeal. Thankfully, the steps were complicated enough for her to have to concentrate on what she was doing. Otherwise, she knew Lord Hugh would take all her attention.
She put her mind and energy into the dance, keeping her eyes on Richard alone; and by the time the dance ended, she could say that she was enjoying herself again.
As soon as the music ended and the couples applauded the octet of musicians, Richard hastily whisked her away to the side. He found an empty seat swiftly enough, and Alex and Rebecca joined them.
“I shall procure some refreshments,” Richard bowed to the ladies. As he turned away, he leant in close and whispered, “Whatever you do, do not agree to dance with him.”
As she watched his back retreat from view, Georgiana wondered why he was so adamant. For certain, she had no intention of dancing with Lord Hugh after his deplorable behaviour at the dinner party, and she began to suspect that Richard knew more about him than he was letting on. Her eyes narrowed. She wondered what it was when her train of thought was broken by the arrival of Lord Hugh and his sister.
“Deuce it all!” Lord Hugh exclaimed, drawing all attention to himself. “This is the busiest I’ve ever seen this place!”
Georgiana did not reply, but he was right; this assembly hall was far busier than the previous time they were there.
“We’ve danced three dances already, and I have not yet had the opportunity or pleasure of dancing with my beloved Georgiana,” he sulked.<
br />
Georgiana paled and wished the floor would open up and swallow her.
To her great relief, Alex stepped in. “Miss Darcy has been happily engaged with her cousin. A fine couple they make when dancing, don’t you think?”
Georgiana watched Lord Hugh’s colour rise as Alex baited him.
“All the same,” he turned steely eyes upon her, “I am more than a little offended that she did not dance with me first.”
Alex chuckled forcedly, doing his level best to defuse the situation that was growing increasingly tense. “I can understand your being desirous of dancing with her. Miss Darcy is a most excellent dancer. I believe etiquette would dictate that she dance the first with her cousin, would it not?”
“And slight me?” Lord Hugh bawled, clearly affronted. A vein in the side of his neck stuck out.
“I fail to see why you would be slighted, Lord Hugh.” Alex’s tone changed dramatically, and he stepped forward. “After all, you are not promised in marriage to each other. Therefore, as far as I can tell, Miss Darcy is free to dance with whomever she chooses.”
Lord Hugh’s nostrils flared. He ground his teeth together and looked on the verge of saying something spiteful when Richard returned with a tray containing four glasses in his hands.
“Here you are Miss Hawkins, Georgiana, Alex,” he said, deliberately ignoring Lord Hugh and his sister, and going so far as to turn his back on them.
Georgiana took one of the glasses of fruit punch and passed it to Rebecca. Alex leant past and took one for himself, leaving the remaining two for her and Richard. Despite knowing the punch was well diluted, Georgiana sipped it carefully, aware of her thirst and the likelihood of the alcohol going straight to her head. She caught Richard’s eye. “Thank you,” she mouthed.
Lord Hugh huffed, and Georgiana watched him out of the corner of her eye while she fixed on her fruit punch. He most certainly looked out of sorts. His sister, on the other hand, was doing her best to jiggle from foot to foot in, what Georgiana thought, was the vain hope of catching Richard’s eye.
It did not take long before she gave up trying and blurted out, “I would like some of that fruit punch. It looks mightily tempting.”
If Georgiana was not mistaken, Lady Francesca even stamped her foot. The four in her group remained silent, their eyes fixed on anything but Lady Francesca, until Lord Hugh groaned.
“For goodness sake! I suppose I shall have to go and get you a drink myself, seeing as nobody else will do it for you.” He stomped off glaring at the back of Richard’s head. Richard, however, was unaffected by his outburst.
“I wonder if there’s any chance of my dancing again tonight…” Lady Francesca grouched.
Georgiana held a groan within her until it subsided. She watched as Richard and Alex stared at each other. Clearly, their long-standing friendship had given them an understanding of each other that extended to communicating with just one look.
“I will dance with you if my fiancée will release me,” Alex mumbled. “We can’t have you without a dance partner if Lord Hugh is not inclined.”
She looked disappointed and dragged her eyes away from Richard’s face to address Alex. “Oh, he is inclined to dance, just not with me.” She looked pointedly at Georgiana, and her eyes threw daggers. “Unfortunately, the young lady with whom he wishes to dance has been occupied thus far.” The pout deepened, and she leant ever so slightly forward as though she was speaking only to Georgiana. “Let this be a warning to you, Miss Darcy, my brother does not take kindly to being insulted or slighted by women.”
Georgiana’s mouth fell open and her eyes opened as wide as saucers. Irritation bottled up inside her and bubbled over. “I beg your pardon, but I know nothing of the slight or insult to which you and your brother have both referred,” she snapped. “I have come here to dance with my cousin. I have no other prior arrangements to dance with any other gentleman, excepting Mr Salisbury. Therefore, I am perfectly at liberty to dance with whomever I choose.”
She gripped the punch cup with both hands to stop the trembling from sloshing the liquid out and over her silk dress. Her eyes flicked upwards and she caught amusement playing on Richard’s mouth.
“What say you, Rebecca dearest?” Alex asked as though the altercation between Lady Francesca and Georgiana had never taken place.
Rebecca smiled up at her betrothed and laid her tiny hand upon his arm. “I have no objections whatsoever to your dancing with Lady Francesca.” She turned to the woman they discussed. “Of course you must have someone to dance with. It would be a crying shame if someone so elegant had to sit out any of tonight’s dances.”
Georgiana watched in amusement as Rebecca touched and toyed with Lady Francesca’s ego. If there was one thing that could break through her irritation and anger at Georgiana, it was being flattered.
“Why, my dear Miss Hawkins, what a nice thing to say.” She flattened her hand across her chest and batted her eyelids. “I must admit that I am enormously fond of dancing.”
Isn’t everyone? Georgiana thought bitterly as she drank to the bottom of her cup.
“Splendid!” Alex declared. “That’s settled.”
The current dance ended. Alex led Lady Francesca away. Richard stepped a little closer to Georgiana. She grinned and took hold of his arm, knowing instinctively what he intended. She was filled with the greatest excitement as he led her towards the dance floor again.
As they took their places, Georgiana peeked back to see if Rebecca had found somewhere to sit. She spied her friend and at the same time saw Lord Hugh return with two glasses of punch. His head was so red, Georgiana thought it might burst with rage.
The refrain continued to play, and Georgiana counted out the beats before she would take a first step. It wasn’t until she passed behind Richard that she was able to view Rebecca again. It seemed she was being her friendly self and endeavouring to engage Lord Hugh in conversation. Regrettably, he was clearly in no mood for a tête-à-tête.
Georgiana kept an eye on Rebecca. Anger boiled in her belly once again, for, if she was not mistaken, she could have sworn Lord Hugh looked down upon Rebecca, his lip curled in disgust.
Georgiana glared at Richard and nodded back towards Rebecca. The pair turned about in their set and just saw Lord Hugh’s back as he pushed and shoved his way through the crowd, away from Rebecca.
Georgiana felt helpless. It would not do to rush from the dance floor to her friend’s aid. All eyes would be upon her if she did so. The last thing Georgiana wanted was to draw attention to herself.
She pleaded with Richard when he was within earshot again. “We must do something. We cannot leave poor Rebecca sitting there alone. Goodness knows how Lord Hugh may have insulted her.”
Georgiana smiled kindly at the next man in the set as they do-si-doed around each other.
“I cannot believe he did not even think to either stay there and keep her company or to ask if she wanted to dance,” she hissed at Richard.
“I can.”
There it was again. Georgiana frowned. That same tone which suggested that Richard knew more about Lord Hugh than she could imagine. There was something deeper than dislike within it. There was a hatred and loathing to his tone.
“We will be at the end of the line, closest to Rebecca in a moment.” Georgiana brushed past his arm. “I shall fetch her, and she can take my place.”
“What?” Richard asked, the hatred in his voice gone and replaced instantly with something akin to panic. “What about Lord Hugh?”
“He stormed off, didn’t he?” Georgiana set her chin. “I shall seek out Aunt Henrietta. I shall be perfectly safe, I assure you.”
His eyes bored into hers, and she felt the now familiar jolt of lightning pass through her body, warming her instantly and making her more than a little giddy.
She giggled as she shot out of place, grabbed Rebecca by the hands, and dragged her into the dance. She laughed heartily as her friend looked confused by what was going on. As she skip
ped past on her way to sit with her aunt, she sing-songed, “Dance, Rebecca! Dance!”
* * *
Richard enjoyed his short but sweet dance with Rebecca. Alex is one lucky man to have found such a treasure. I am happy for him.
She wasn’t quite the dancer Georgiana was. She lacked a certain elegance that only Georgiana had. He laughed at himself. I believe I’m a little bit biased there. However, she was fun and sprightly, and her conversation was intelligent and informed. He vowed if ever he had the opportunity to dance with Rebecca again, he most undoubtedly would not hesitate to take it.
When the music stopped, he wrapped Rebecca’s arm around his own and smiled down at her. They were out of breath from their exertions, but he noticed the colour in her cheeks made her even prettier.
He led her through the throng, carefully picking out a path in which she would not get an elbow in the face which, he realised to his dismay, was a real and present danger of being so petite.
They joined his mother and Georgiana. A minute or two later Alex arrived.
“Did you lose Lady Francesca along the way?” Rebecca asked, turning around and scanning the room.
Alex chuckled. “I would never be so careless.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “No, as soon as the dance finished, there was an entire queue of gentlemen waiting to dance with her.” He glanced askance at Richard. “Who am I to stand in their way?”
Rebecca declared she would like to sit out the next dance with Georgiana, giving Richard and Alex the opportunity to seek out their friend George.
The room in which the card tables were set up was towards the back of the building. The farther they got away from the ballroom, the easier it was to walk and find their path. The air was less stifling as well.
They found George in the farthest corner, surrounded by a cloud of blue cigar smoke, chuckling to himself as he laid down a winning hand.
“The lucky so-and-so has won again!” Alex whispered to Richard.
“Did you ever doubt it?” Richard replied, chuckling.
George looked up at them, his eyes glistening with his success. He pulled the cigar from his mouth. “I wondered when you two would turn up.”
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