Page 8 of The Truth about the Marquess
“Well? What are you waiting for?” Lord Dunstable threw one hand out as though to sweep Oliver towards the crowd before him. “Take yourself to thetonand have as many young ladies on your dance card as you can!”
“I – I thought you would help me?” Confused, Oliver did not take another step. “I will do what I have always done, dancing with various young ladies – and then what shall I do?”
“Ah-ha!” Lord Dunstable tapped the side of his nose. “Then, you can return to my company, and I will look at your dance card and inform you of which young lady you might then consider pursuing. You know that I am well-informed about society and those within it, so I would hope that I can help you there.”
A slight lift of Oliver’s heart made the edges of his lips curve up. Finally, he felt a little hope.
“Yes, I suppose that you shall,” he agreed, for Lord Dunstable was a very popular gentleman within London, with his title, excellent character, substantial fortune, and his easy smiles – as well as the fact that he had not yet taken a bride! “That is kind of you to be willing to assist me, my friend.”
“Of course.”
Lord Dunstable lifted one eyebrow and, with a nod, Oliver made his way out into the crowd.
His eyes scanned the room, taking in one face after another. Yes, he had been in London for many a Season already and was known to theton,but that meant theyalsoknew about his past financial struggles. He could only hope that Lord Dunstable’s offer of help would prove to be beneficial. Letting his gaze alight on one small group of young ladies, Oliver’s heart lifted just a little. There were, he recognized, three that he was already acquainted with and two that he was not – and what better way to fill his dance card than by greeting themallwithout hesitation?
“Lady Norah, Lady Jemima, Miss Dutton.” Oliver bowed his head low, keeping his smile pinned as he then looked up and smiled. “How very good to see you all here this evening.”
Lady Norah and Lady Jemima shared a glance, and both curtsied. Miss Dutton, however, smiled warmly and dropped into a quick curtsey, barely taking her eyes from his.
“We are enjoying the evening here, Lord Edenbridge,” Miss Dutton told him, her green eyes warm. “I am glad to see you again. I think it was last Season when we last spoke!”
“It may well have been.” A little surprised by the lady’s enthusiasm, Oliver turned to the ladies he did not know, keeping his smile fixed. “Might you introduce me to your acquaintances?”
“But of course!” Miss Dutton was more than enthusiastic, quickly introducing him to Miss Quillon and Lady Victoria, whoboth were warm in their greeting, though not as effervescent as Miss Dutton, who appeared to be more than delighted in all that Oliver said and did. That in itself was rather unusual, for they were not particularly well acquainted.
I have only just been complaining to Lord Dunstable about the lack of genuine interest from various young ladies. Am I really going to be suspicious of a young lady merely because she appears to be warming to my company?
Telling himself that he was being ridiculous, Oliver looked around the group, his gaze lingering on Miss Dutton. She had fair hair and pale blue eyes with a kind smile and that, he was sure, spoke of a good character.
“I do hope that some of you will dance this evening? As yet, I have no one to stand up with and I should very much like to dance as many dances as possible!”
Before any other young lady could do so, Miss Dutton practically flung her dance card at him, her eyes wide with evident excitement.
“I should be delighted!”
Oliver took it from her, then quickly wrote his name in the very first dance he could find available.
“Here, Miss Dutton. I do hope that the cotillion will suffice?”
“Oh, but of course!”
She took it with eager fingers, but Oliver was already looking around at the others, doing his best not to focus entirely on what Miss Dutton was offering by way of her keenness for his company. He reminded himself that he had already failed in his pursuit by focusing on only one lady. He had to do as Lord Dunstable had suggested and make sure that he danced with as many young ladies as possible. Mayhap then he might have a greater chance of success when the time came to move forward with only one.
“I should be glad to dance with you, Lord Edenbridge,” Miss Quillon said, handing him her dance card. “Thank you for your kindness.”
Oliver took it from her, confidence beginning to fill him as he wrote his name down for the polka. Lady Jemima and Lady Norah each folded their arms, evidently making it clear that they were not interested in dancing with him. That took some of Oliver’s confidence away, though he did his best to appear outwardly contented.
“I thank you,” he murmured, handing the card back to Miss Quillon, just as Lady Victoria slipped her dance card from her wrist. “Lady Victoria, I–”
“Might I ask, Lord Edenbridge, whether you have still a great difficulty with your father’s poor investments?”
Oliver blinked, suddenly frozen in place, his hand only half reaching out towards Lady Victoria.
“I beg your pardon?”
Lady Jemima lifted her chin, her gaze a little icy.
“Everyone in London knows that you did not inherit a fortune and that your estate is in need of some repair. Might I ask if those difficulties have become any heavier upon your shoulders? I must sympathize with you, I am sure, for it is not your fault that you have inherited such troubles.”
