Page 71 of Rakes & Reticules
He suspected Amelia’s quick escape was more of an excuse to be away from Dorothea’s inane babbling than from any concern over Rosie, who was more than capable of taking care of herself.
Blast.
He was now left on his own with thistondarling who had not stopped prattling from the moment she had found him. But the wonderful thing about Dorothea was that she did not give a fig about other people’s feelings. Now that she had his agreement on tomorrow’s two dances, she had no more use for him at the moment and went on her merry way.
Unfortunately, not far enough away.
He heard her boasting to her friends about her coup.
Indeed, she grabbed hold of every young lady who drew near, reveling in their disappointment since he had not promised himself to any of them.
“He is not going to dance with anyone else,” she declared. “He is otherwise engaged for cards and is making the concession only to me.”
He made his way back inside, but Dorothea and her circle of friends soon followed him in.
Dorothea called out to him again.
Dear heaven, was she not done with him yet?
“Your Grace, are we to have dancing every night?”
“Tonight is the welcome supper for all my guests and quieter entertainments for afterward. There will be a pianist for those wishing to partake in dancing, but it is a side thing and will not go on very long. But the rest of the weekend, yes. It will be the featured entertainment and I have engaged an orchestra for it. All has been arranged.”
The ladies and gentlemen around her cheered.
“And a formal dance to end the weekend? You must have planned one or my modiste will be quite put out.”
“Your modiste? Why should she care?”
“I made the most terrible fuss about her finishing my gowns in time for your weekend party. She will be impossibly angry if she finds out I did not have the chance to wear them all.”
He nodded. “Your modiste will not scold you. There is to be a formal dance this Saturday evening.”
“Oh, I am breathless with relief.” She patted her bosom in a practiced manner designed to lure his gaze to her comely chest.
Amelia had done the same, but not intentionally.
Therein lay Amelia’s charm.
She was a beautiful girl coupled with a charming, academic absentmindedness. However, she was not scattered or dotty. Her hours were spent puzzling out the mysteries of the world instead of schemes to trap a husband.
He doubted Amelia realized he found her delightful or that he was among the men who were eager to meet her.
In truth, he was the only one interested in meeting her.
Rosie had been shocked when he had inquired about her.
But he had noticed Amelia at several Royal Society lectures in addition to varioustonparties, even though those parties had been a crush and friends were difficult to find even if one hunted for them. However, all Amelia ever wanted to do was hide. If she could have turned herself into wallpaper and hung upon the wall at thesetonaffairs, she would have done so.
He had often considered approaching her to claim a waltz, but thought better of it. The girl did not want to be seen, and dancing with London’s most eligible bachelor would have put her under the discerning, and often cruel, attention of society’s elite.
Amelia was obviously a girl who did not want to be talked about or fussed over.
Dorothea, on the other hand, would not leave him alone.
He once again disengaged himself from her and her friends, leaving them to their inconsequential chatter about modistes. Lord, help him, could they choose a duller conversation?
He continued to make his way around the room, shaking hands and chatting briefly with his other guests. He had been free no more than five minutes before Dorothea returned and insisted on clinging to him like a barnacle for the rest of their tea time.
