Page 5 of A Lady's Stardust Passion
He smiled curiously at his awestruck friend, and then he approached her. It was his duty to escort her down, and so, with a smile, he walked partway up the steps to meet his sister. Her gown was bright white, and there were pearls around her neck as well as white feathers in her hair. Her curls had been pinned back, and her bright hazel eyes shone with excitement.
The crowd below was quiet as she descended, and he couldn’t have been happier for her. He was even more glad that he had kept the situation with their family to himself for that very moment.
“You look beautiful, Emily,” he whispered to her in her good ear as they met in the middle of the stairs, and he held out his arm for her.
“Thank you, Nathaniel,” she said, walking down with him at her side, breathing a little harder than normal.
The crowd parted for them as they made their way to the center of the dance floor. It was up to them to open the dance, for it was her debut ball. He dropped her hand from his arm and stepped back, bowing low and holding out his hand for her.
“A dance, dear sister?” he asked with a smile, spotting his mother on the edge of the crowd, smiling with tears in her eyes.
“Yes, of course, brother.”
Emily took his hand. Nathaniel nodded at the musicians in the corner. They began their first strains of music, and he and Emily led the dance. He smiled down at her, but he also searched the crowd for Lady Jane, for he knew that he could not go the whole night without asking the beautiful young woman to dance.
Chapter 4
Jane was glad to have escaped her Aunt Sarah’s clutches after they’d entered the ballroom, for she needed time to recover from whatever had just occurred. A buzzing, warm feeling filled her and would not let her go, and all she could do was clench her fists and try to breathe. She tucked herself away along the side of the ballroom, for before any dancing could begin, the young woman would make her entrance.
And what an entrance she made. Jane found herself calming after she watched the happy young Lady Emily make her descent, but her heart began to beat faster again when she saw Lord Balwood escorting her, a broad smile on his impossibly handsome face.
She blinked a few times, trying to make herself not see him as impossibly handsome because what good would that do? He was a duke’s son, and he certainly had his share of admirers. Feeling as plain as she did, Jane knew she would never gain his interest. Not only that, but she had her own plans to make, plans which had nothing to do with dangerously handsome men or hazel eyes.
Their dance began, and she picked up a glass of champagne as she watched them. Occasionally, the marquess’ eyes darted to and fro around the room as if looking for someone.
His own betrothed, no doubt.
She sipped at her glass, attempting and failing to take her eyes off him. She had seen men in her life, but this was entirely different. She had never been so utterlyawareof someone in her entire existence, and she feared that she would never be able to get him from her mind.
Eventually, the dance ended, and she pulled back against the wall as people sought out partners, and as they became aware that she, Jane Caldwell, was there among them.
She could practically feel their words as they whispered to one another, stealing glances her way.
The heiress with the fortune in need of husband. That is surely what they’re saying. Lord save me.
Her savior came in the form of bright-eyed Margaret dressed in a pale green who approached her.
“Why are you standing here on your own?” Margaret said, her eyes flashing as she took in the array of guests. “There are certainly many handsome and eligible gentlemen here today, and you should not waste the opportunity.”
Margaret was batting her eyelashes at someone, and Jane touched her on the elbow, drawing her attention back to her.
She said, “I thought you were in agreement that I follow my dreams and plans?”
Margaret kept on smiling. “Of course, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see what options you have or enjoy all that there is to see this season. Like I said, you might find someone you love.”
“Doubtful,” she said aloud, but in her mind, the flash of Lord Balwood’s face appeared, and her cheeks turned crimson.
I do not even know the man and yet I think of him when I think of love? Nonsense!
“Ah, look, here comes someone now, just as I predicted.” Margaret did not point, but turned her gaze to a gentleman coming their way.
Jane held her breath, wondering how she was going to survive the evening. But she put on her best smile and curtsied when the man approached and asked her to dance.
“Of course, Lord Mitchell,” she said, taking his hand and following him onto the floor, not looking back at a beaming Margaret.
As they began, he kept grinning at her, and she would look at him every so often, but mostly keeping her gaze away.
“Is this your first season, Lady Jane?” he asked.
