Page 64 of The Trouble with Anna

“Indeed, I would.”

Charlotte looked quite dazed. “All right. We’ll sell your Lipizzaner. But if Julian disowns me, I’m counting on you to make me rich.”

CHAPTER29

YOU’RE VERY QUIET, ANNA,” SAIDthe Dowager the next night. The silver-tipped ostrich feather she wore in her hair brushed the top of the carriage as they swayed along the streets to Maltraver House. “Are you nervous for your first ball?”

“A little.”

“Quite right,” said the Dowager. “It’s a lot to keep straight and we haven’t had much time to prepare. Remember, your first curtsey should be made to—”

“Enough, Gran!” said Charlotte. “One more word and I swear my eyes will cross. Anna, if you must remember something, remember to dance until your feet ache, then hide your slippers behind a palm and dance some more. Remember to have a glorious time, and if you’re not having a glorious time, remember to drink champagne—it lends even the dullest dinner companion some sparkle.”

“Charlotte, really! You know how your brother feels about over-imbibing.”

Charlotte made a face. “Shall we toss out the rules, just for tonight? It’s Anna’s first ball. It can be magic, if we let it.”

The Dowager frowned at her granddaughter. “At my first London ball, I took that last rule of yours too seriously and ended updreadfully ill the next morning. My mother didn’t speak to me for a week. And atyourfirst London ball, Charlotte, I seem to recall you nearly had your Almack’s vouchers revoked.”

Charlotte laughed. “You see? Magic!”

Anna nibbled at her lip. “I’ll try not to disgrace you, my lady.”

“All of a sudden, it’s not you I’m worried about,” said the Dowager with a meaningful look at her granddaughter.

Guilt shivered through Anna. She certainly had nointentionof disgracing the Dowager, but she did plan on selling a horse and collecting more bets, neither of which had been covered in her extensive etiquette lessons.

The carriage came to a stop and Anna caught her breath. Maltraver House was lit by what looked to be a hundred lanterns, flickering over the stone stairs, gleaming off the guests who made their way past a line of footmen standing at attention. The men were immaculate in their jackets and snowy cravats or in the brilliant scarlet of their regimentals, their chests clinking with medals. But it was the women who shone, their silk dresses whispering, their hair threaded with ribbons or—Anna was shocked to see—strings of real pearls. Diamonds and a rainbow of other stones winked out from earlobes and necklines, or even from the impossibly tiny buttons that fastened the long gloves the women wore. Everyone looked so impeccably turned out, so alarmingly self-assured, that for a second Anna could only see them as one terrifying mass.

Charlotte leaned in. “You see that woman with the iron hair, glaring at everyone? Don’t stare! She’s mean as a wart, but it’s no wonder—her daughter died two years ago, poor darling. And that rather portly man looking down his nose? He talks with a lisp and it makes him terribly shy. They’re all just people, Anna. Some nice, some beastly, most in need of a little kindness.”

Anna tried to smile, but failed miserably.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake! Did you bring your handkerchief?”

Anna nodded weakly.

Charlotte sighed dramatically and thrust her hand into the gap where the upholstery met the carriage wall to pull out a small flask, which she shoved at Anna.

Anna unscrewed the top and sniffed the contents. “What’s this?”

“Scotch.” Charlotte widened her eyes when the Dowager sputtered. “What, Gran? I know you and your garden club drink it when you think no one’s looking. Tonight’s such a special night I thought you might like to share?”

The Dowager went pink. “Really, Charlotte!”

Anna took a large swig of the stuff and thrust the flask back to Charlotte, but the Dowager swept it out of her hands.

“I’ll take that!” The Dowager took a quick swig of her own and thrust the flask into her reticule just as a footman opened the carriage door.

“One last thing,” the Dowager instructed Anna as they reached the top of the wide stone stairs. “When Julian joins us later, you’ll need to dance with him. One dance. Will you manage?”

Anna’s eyes flashed. “I will.”

“Wonderful. Perhaps without looking quite so murderous?”

“She makes no promises.” Charlotte swept the three of them into the house and down to the ballroom.

The butler threw out his chest to announce them, but the ballroom was so packed and clamoring that Anna had a blissful moment to imagine they might slip in unnoticed.

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