Page 149 of The Sisters of Sea View
She stepped on Mr. Stanley’s toes twice. And once, glancing over and seeing Lord Bertram and the dandy look in her direction and laugh, Emily turned the wrong way and felt her cheeks burn. Were they laughing at her?
“Sorry,” she murmured.
Mr. Stanley sent her a reassuring smile. “No matter.”
He followed her gaze, and finally his brave expression faltered. “Do you know that fellow?”
She blinked up at her partner. “Hm?”
“That man you keep looking at.”
“Sorry. I did not realize.”
Their turn at the top of the set came, and all eyes fell on them as head couple. Emily concentrated on the patterns to avoid humiliating herself with more missteps.
Mr. Stanley said, “He watches you too, I notice.”
“Does he? I don’t know the man well, but we have a mutual acquaintance. A friend from back home.”
He studied her face. “A ... special friend?”
She swallowed. “I once thought so.”
“Did he ... disappoint you?”
She nodded.
“I am sorry.” He nodded his understanding and glanced at the foursome. “And his companions?”
“I don’t know them.”
“Very handsome.”
Lord Bertram or the women? Emily wondered but didn’t ask for clarification. The truth was, the four were the most elegant people in the room, and many admiring glances lingered on them.
When the dance ended, everyone clapped for the musicians, then Mr. Stanley escorted her from the floor. Too late, she realized they were headed rather close to the quartet she wished to avoid.
Lord Bertram’s gaze locked on hers. “One of the Miss Summerses, I believe.” He bowed.
Midstride, she jerked to a halt and dipped a graceless curtsy. “Lord Bertram. G-good evening.”
Before she could move on, the man’s dandy friend spoke up, his face alight with interest. “Ah, the pretty little shrew who shouted at me at the cricket. Do introduce us, Bertram. There’s a good fellow.”
Lord Bertram glanced coolly at his friend, then said, “Miss Summers, allow me to introduce Mr. Sidney Craven.”
Mr. Craven bowed over her hand. “A pleasure, Miss Summers. And these are my sisters, Caroline and Persephone.”
Emily managed another curtsy, this one slightly more graceful. The younger sister replied in kind, while the elder made do with a dip of her head.
“Summers ... Was that not the name of—”
Lord Bertram interjected, “Miss Summers and her family are friends of Charles Parker’s.”
“Oh...”
They eyed her with interest.
Emily slowly turned to include Mr. Stanley, reluctant to introduce him should he blurt out he was a paying guest in their house, and was relieved to see him a few feet away, talking to his sister.
