Page 9 of The Viscount's Unwanted Bride
Kate stepped down, paused to wait for her mother, and then took Lady Drake’s arm. “You look very nice, too, Sophie.”
It was true, she did. Sophie would always be the kind of girl to attract attention—not because she was outstandingly beautiful, but because she was always moving, always expressing herself so freely. Kate was a little bit jealous of that. She tended to let her art speak for her and was more careful with her expressions and words.
They climbed the stairs together and greeted their hosts. The earl smiled at each of them and welcomed them to his home. Lady Wembley had a few more words to say, oohing and aahing over the cut of Kate’s dress and the flounciness of Sophie’s.
“Always lovely to see you, Lady Drake, Lady Carlisle,” she said with an openness that spoke of sincerity. “Lady Katherine, such a shame you did not find a husband last season. Hopefully you will find someone more promising among this season’s crop of bachelors.”
Kate forced herself to smile rather than grimace and bobbed a curtsy. “I’m sure I will, Lady Wembley.”
Sophie narrowed her eyes, apparently taking this as an affront to her friend even though Kate knew it hadn’t been intended as such. Lady Wembley was a straightforward sort. Shehadn’t meant to insult Kate. She’d simply been stating matters as she saw them.
They moved farther into the ballroom, and Kate took stock of who was present. As well as many of the women she met last season, there were a smattering of new debutantes along with their matchmaking mamas.
As usual, the earl and countess had spared no expense. Lush greenery that looked like something Kate had seen in Amelia’s books about tropical island countries was placed strategically around the room, creating small alcoves where more private conversations might occur. Musicians played on the elevated stage, and rich crimson-and-gold curtains fell from the ceiling to the floor behind them.
Ornate chandeliers hung above couples who swirled on the dance floor, and dozens of candles illuminated the space, reflecting off the gold of the gilded trimmings and decorative designs on the walls. Each corner had a pillar in the Roman style that Kate suspected were more for appearances’ sake than practicality. They did, indeed, make the room seem quite grand.
Opposite the entrance, a wide double door opened onto a smaller space, through which she could see a table laden with finger foods. Last year, Kate would have been eager to sample the delicacies, but after a season, she’d realized that almost every ball had a variation of the same offerings. That wasn’t to say the food wasn’t nice, but she had other priorities.
Namely, finding a husband.
Sophie nudged her arm. “Are those cakes?”
Kate sighed. Sophie, it seemed, was still swayed by the food.
“Would you like to have a look?” she asked, supposing that she could as easily study the ballroom floor from beside the food table as she could from the entrance.
“Yes, please,” Sophie said.
Kate and Sophie crossed the room together. Kate looked around for her mother and saw her speaking with the Duchess of Arundel. Pleased that she was otherwise occupied, Kate wound around the edge of the dance floor and took up a position near the open doorway while Sophie helped herself to one of the cakes from the table and offered another to Kate.
“No, thank you,” Kate said, surveying the male partner of each dancing couple. “Tonight is all business for me.”
What she most wanted was to identify the man she had seen outside the tailor’s, but she also wanted to get an idea of any other eligible gentleman who might be available for her to meet. She instantly dismissed the married couples and focused on the others.
She recognized many of the same men she had met last year. She’d already decided not to pursue anything further with them unless there was absolutely no one new to interest her. There was a reason she hadn’t set her cap for them last year, after all.
“This is good.” Sophie licked her lips, and Kate noticed a couple of gentlemen looking their way. She couldn’t tell if Sophie’s enjoyment of the cake had attracted their attention or if they’d already been looking before that.
As soon as she caught the taller man’s eye, the pair started toward them.
“Do you know who they are?” Sophie asked quietly.
From behind her, Kate sensed Lady Carlisle—who’d followed them over—perk up and pay attention.
“No, I don’t think I’ve met either of those gentlemen before,” Kate said.
“They’re new to Town this season,” Lady Carlisle said. “I am acquainted with both of their mothers, so I can make introductions.”
The two men stopped in front of them, both smiling broadly. They were a genial-looking pair with well-fitting suits and the same kind of pent-up energy that Sophie always exuded.
Lady Carlisle stepped forward between Sophie and Kate. “Good evening, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Garfield. Have you met my daughter, Lady Sophie Carlisle, or her friend, Lady Katherine Drake?”
Both men bowed.
“I, for one, have not,” Mr. Bromley said. He was relatively short and stocky but still taller than Kate. His hair was even redder than hers, and his face was liberally splashed with freckles. “Charmed, my ladies.”
Kate glanced from Mr. Bromley to Sophie and had to stifle a giggle at the thought of what flamingly redhead children they might produce together.
