Page 12 of The Duke Meets His Match

Chapter 4

Susan had never been thetype of person to be overly concerned with people’s opinions of her, but being at her first London ball after having been absent for so many years gave her trepidation, if she were to be entirely honest with herself. She was also more tired than she’d been willing to let on to Lady Walmsley. Lady Walmsley had seemed disappointed by Rebecca’s absence but had been keen, nonetheless, to shift her attention to Susan. Susan hadn’t been willing to disappoint the lady further.

“Margaret, I’mso gladyou could be here,” the hostess of the ball, LadyBledsoe, exclaimed, taking both of Lady Walmsley’s hands into her own. “And I see you have brought your young friends along—but I thought you were to have two young ladies with you?”

“That is true,” Lady Walmsley said. “Judith, may I present the Honorable Mister James Jennings and his sister, Miss Susan Jennings? It is their younger sister, Rebecca, who was to join us as well, but she broke her leg, poor girl, and was unable to make the trip after all.”

Susan watched the warm exchange between the ladies while she curtsied and James bowed. Susan and Mama had not traveled in the same lofty circles when they had been in London before. She waited for Lady Bledsoe’s reaction to her friend’s hosting an aging bluestocking of a spinster—who was wearing a gown well out of fashion, to boot.

Lady Bledsoe’s eyes took in James’s appearance swiftly, and from her welcomingexpression, it seemed James had passed muster, which came as no great surprise toSusan. James was tall and fine-looking, especially in his evening clothes. Handsome,even. He looked every bit the successful solicitor and son of a gentleman.

Lady Bledsoe turned her gaze to Susan, her eyes traveling up and down Susan’sperson with the intensity of a hawk that missed nothing. Susan straightened her back and smiled as serenely as possible, waiting for the results of the assessment.

“I do not believe I am acquainted with you, Miss Jennings, although Lady Walmsley informed me that you had your come-out, when was it? Twelve years ago. Yes, that’s it. Twelve. And that you enjoyed two more Seasons after that. I have an excellent memory for faces, yet I cannot find yours among any of my acquaintances.”

“That would be correct, Lady Bledsoe,” Susan replied, bristling a bit. Lady Bledsoe’s remarks seemed intended to point out the obvious: Susan’s age and spinsterhood. “Our father is Viscount Thurlby of Lincolnshire, who prefers his home in the country to Town.”

“As many do,” Lady Bledsoe said. “Well, I’m glad I have made your acquaintancenow. You have made a good friend in Lady Walmsley, you know. She is mostgenerous and one of my dearest friends. Welcome back to London, Miss Jennings. I hope you enjoy yourself while you are here.”

Susan curtsied again, and the three of them continued down the corridortoward the ballroom. Perhaps she had misjudged Lady Bledsoe’s comments. Uponreflection, Lady Bledsoe seemed much like Lady Walmsley in temperament, and they were obviously dear friends. Susan almost began to believe she might begin to feel more at ease, although that belief lasted only for the briefest of moments, for as soon as they left Lady Bledsoe, eyes began to turn her way, and lacy fans rose to cover ladies’ mouths.

Susan did her best to ignore them. She walked beside Lady Walmsley, a placid smile on her face, and greeted those people to whom Lady Walmsley presented her and James. James was at his congenial best, for which Susan was grateful—but, then, he had been to London on several occasions the past year or two or three, while Susan had not.

She allowed Lady Walmsley and James to lead the way.

The ballroom was large, with high gilded ceilings painted in shades of pale blue, with ethereal clouds and a bird or two soaring amongst them. The exterior wall was comprised of french doors, a few of which were open to allow fresh air into the room, despite the threat of rain. At the far end of the ballroom, Susan could see the dais upon which the musicians were seated and currently playing a lively country dance. Pots of lilies and roses filled the air with a musky scent, enhanced by the exotic perfumes of the men and women.

As the music soared beneath the gilded clouds, guests danced, their movements weaving tapestries of ever-changing color. Others stood together in smallgroups chatting, their voices creating a low hum under the music.

These aspects of a London ball were the ones Susan appreciated and felt would be difficult not to like. She had forgotten about them.

She responded politely as Lady Walmsley introduced them to Lady Starr, alovely older woman whom Lady Walmsley referred to as “her dear friend Adeline.”After a brief chat, they continued on, threading their way through the crush of people, Lady Starr now with them at the suggestion of Lady Walmsley.

“For I haven’t seen you in an age, Adeline,” Lady Walmsley said. “And I must hear all of the latest news from your children and grandchildren.”

“I am never reluctant to speak on that subject, as you well know,” Lady Starr said, smiling. “I doubt I will do much dancing. But one cannot say no to an invitation from Lady Bledsoe, can one?”

“Indeed not,” Lady Walmsley said with a chuckle. “As is plainly obvious by the number of people in attendance this evening.”

“If you ladies will excuse me,” James said suddenly, “I believe I see an acquaintance with whom I should like to have a word.”

Susan surveyed the area in which James had been looking to see if she knew the particular acquaintance, but as she was several inches shorter than James, she was unsuccessful.

“Are we to meet this particular friend of yours, James?” Susan asked while Lady Walmsley and Lady Starr greeted a mutual friend. “And by ‘we,’ I mean ‘me,’ naturally. I should enjoy getting to know your friends.”

“I suppose I can ask him if he’d like an introduction,” James replied. “He’s certainly respectable. Extremely so.”

“That was cryptic,” Susan said. “Be off, then, and I shall puzzle over your elusive answer while I gaze in awe upon thehaut tonof London.”

James laughed. “I shan’t leave you for long. In the meantime, try not to scare away those who might wish to join you. You must control your piercing eye and your sharp tongue.”

“You are not to worry,” she said with a wry grin. “I have already promised Mama I will be on my best behavior while under Lady Walmsley’s roof. She exacted it from me under pain of death.”

James laughed, as Susan had intended for him to do.

“Be off with you, then, Mr. Jennings,” Lady Walmsley said, rejoining theirconversation. “Young men will do what they must. Ah, here are three seatstogether, Adeline. They shall do nicely for the time being.”

Susan sat in the chair Lady Walmsley pointed to and watched James melt into the crowds of people and then out of sight. She sat and watched as the music ended and a new dance began, watched as gentlemen escorted their partners to the ballroom floor and, while new partners were invited to dance, watched as new lines formed and the music began again.

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