Regency High Society Vol 1: A Hasty Betrothal / A Scandalous Marriage / The Count's Charade / The Rake and the Rebel

Ridgeway burst out laughing and his eyes suddenly gleamed with a newfound confidence as he stared at Harriet curiously. ‘How did one so young come to be so astute?’ he asked.

‘Well, I’ve hardly had the conventional sheltered upbringing,’ Harriet answered dismissively. ‘I’ve mixed with people from many different walks of life, which I believe has helped me to appreciate other points of view. I have always been interested in people and—well—travel is supposed to broaden the mind,’ she laughed. ‘Isn’t that why young men were sent on the Grand Tour?’

Ridgeway’s eyes crinkled appreciatively. ‘I missed that myself, as a matter of fact,’ he said. ‘So I suppose you must consider my mind to be on the narrow side, since London and the Lake District are the furthest reaches of my travels!’

Harriet flicked his hand with her fan. ‘You know perfectly well that is not what I meant and just for that I shall oblige you to stand up with me for the next dance. So, kindly do your duty, sir, and lead me to my place.’

Laughing together, they re-entered the room and joined the set that was presently forming, Ridgeway carefully ensuring that he positioned them as close as possible to Judith and her partner, young Cedric Lambert, and, as Lady Eugenie struck the first chord, Sandford arrived back just in time to see his betrothed swing into the steps of the dance which he had selected as his.

A hot anger filled his throat as he watched Harriet’s laughing interchanges with the other members of her set and, turning away, his fury was such that he was obliged to sit down to control his breathing. Unfortunately, he chose the seat next to Lady Butler’s.

‘Without a partner, my lord? Your little miss is quite the little honey-pot, I see.’ Her voice held its customary disapproval. ‘She is no doubt used to being the apple of all the men’s eyes.’

Sandford’s eyes glittered in distaste. ‘What makes you think that?’ he asked carefully.

‘Oh, I see how she tosses her head at them all—it is but a come-on—I was used to do it myself, of course, as a girl—I was much admired. She will have had plenty of practice with the military, I’ll be bound, and without such chaperonage as is considered de rigueur in our own society. Certain young women nowadays do seem to have the most perfidious disregard for convention, as I am sure you have found. However, I must admit to a certain surprise that you allowed your own betrothed to disappear into the garden with one of her recent conquests—and for so long!’

Sandford rose to his feet and bowed stiffly. ‘I cannot say that I have much experience of young women’s ways, ma’am,’ he ground out between clenched teeth. ‘And, since it appears we are about to go in for supper, I am sure you will excuse me if I now make a push to collect my own young lady before she bestows that singular honour on one of her many conquests!’

‘Your loyalty does you credit and is most touching, I’m sure,’ sniffed Lady Butler, also rising heavily to her feet. ‘I suppose I must see to my own repast, as usual.’

She waited expectantly for Sandford to offer his arm but he, still seething with indignation, ignored both her remark and her person and turned swiftly away from her just in time to see a smiling Ridgeway leading Harriet towards him.

‘Apologies, Sandford,’ said his cousin cheerfully. ‘I appear to have stolen your dance—Miss Cordell seems to have misread her card—not going to call me out, I trust?’

Sandford swallowed. He had been about to take Harriet to task, but had no quarrel with Charles. He doubted that Harriet had misread her dance-card, for she had made it perfectly clear that she did not care to dance with him. He gave Ridgeway a mock punch in the arm and said, with forced gaiety, ‘Pistols at dawn, I should think—I trust you’re as much out of practice as I am?’

Ridgeway returned the punch and laughed. ‘Quite right, coz. Guard her with your life—she’s a pearl beyond price!’ He smiled down at Harriet. ‘Thank you, dear lady—I think I know what to do now.’

Sandford frowned as he watched his cousin walk away. ‘What was that supposed to mean?’ he asked suspiciously.

‘Oh, nothing,’ countered Harriet quickly, not wishing to divulge Ridgeway’s confidences. ‘I’m truly sorry about the dance mix-up—shall we go in to supper? I see Lady Caroline beckoning us.’

The viscount led her to his mother’s table, where the countess and Lady Eugenie were exchanging reminiscences.

‘Harriet, my dear. Do join us.’ Lady Caroline patted the seat next to her. ‘Robert and Charles will fetch us our supper.’

She smiled at her son, who battled his way through the crowd to find Ridgeway already at the supper table collecting a plateful of sweetmeats and comfits.

Charles glanced at his cousin and grimaced. ‘Can’t stand these things meself,’ he said. ‘No substance to any of ‘em.’

Sandford laughed, nodding. ‘A good beef sandwich would suit me—and a tankard of decent ale.’ He looked around. ‘I suppose it’s Madeira or Portuguese for us, as

usual?’

Ridgeway pointed to the decanters. ‘Brandy too, I see. I wonder how Judith managed to slip that past her ladyship?’ Laughing, he made his way back through the throng to his table.

Sandford tossed back one large glass of brandy and indicated to the footman to pour him another. Thus fortified, he collected his glasses of lemonade and delivered them to the ladies who were still discussing the dances.

‘Not nearly so graceful as the minuets,’ Lady Caroline was saying, ‘but a good deal more lively. The young ones look so merry. We always had to be so serious, for the steps were quite intricate, you know.’

‘The country tunes are so cheerful, too,’ agreed Lady Eugenie. ‘Mrs Brewster brought me some new ones from London—and some German waltzes, too. I have been practising all week for this evening.’

Sandford’s eyes lit up at her words. ‘You play the waltz,

Aunt Eugenie?’ he asked, the germ of an idea stirring in his mind.

Lady Eugenie nodded, and then shook her head doubtfully. ‘Judith’s mother will never allow it,’ she said. ‘I understand it is still considered rather risqué.’

Sandford, now in a very mellow mood, laughed. ‘Not at a private party, surely?’ he asked. ‘And with such doughty chaperons present? I shall speak to Judith myself—come along, Charles, let us petition her together.’

Ridgeway glanced at his cousin curiously as they sought out their hostess. ‘What are you up to, Sandford?’ he asked. ‘Lady Butler won’t be at all amused, you know.’

Sandford stopped and whirled round to face him, his face flushed and his eyes bright. ‘Dammit, man!’ he said angrily. ‘This is Judith’s house, and she will decide. What’s more—if I want to waltz with my fiancée, I defy anyone to stop me!’

Charles put his hand on Sandford’s arm. ‘Steady on, dear boy,’ he said quietly. ‘Surely you cannot be foxed? Judith will not appreciate your making a scene, you know.’

Sandford hesitated. It was true that the strong spirit might have somewhat impaired his judgement, but it had been the exhilarating thought of whirling Harriet around the room that was responsible for the sudden rush of blood to his head. He took a deep breath and flashed a conspiratorial grin at his cousin.

‘Ne’er a bit, Charles’, he said. ‘Just thought to liven things up a touch. Wouldn’t you like to waltz with Judith?’

Ridgeway reddened and looked away. ‘Not sure I’d know how,’ he said diffidently. ‘Not been much of a one for dancing.’

‘This one is different. Your feet will soon tell you, once the music starts, I promise you. Come on, let’s ask the lady.’ They found their hostess collecting couples for the first after-supper dance and soon discovered that, after all, she needed little persuasion. Her party was an assured success and, as the guests consisted entirely of family and friends, she felt sure that it was highly unlikely anyone would take exception to this little divertissement.

‘Apart from your mother, of course,’ pointed out Sandford basely.

Judith pulled a face at him. ‘You need not remind me, dear brother,’ she said. ‘However, Mama will not make a fuss until everyone has left, so do let’s—it will be the perfect finish to our assembly!’

Since this had been his lordship’s intention, he merely grinned and nudged his cousin who, catching some of Judith’s excitement, had grasped her by the hand.

‘Will you do me the honour, Judith?’ he said breathlessly. ‘I can’t promise expertise, but I will do my best.’

Judith looked up at him in surprised delight and found herself blushing. ‘Thank you, Charles,’ she said almost shyly. ‘It will be my pleasure.’

As soon as the last chord of the eightsome reel had died away, Judith clapped her hands to gain everyone’s attention. She then announced that the very last dance of the evening was to be a waltz and that anyone who wished to try out this new dance was very welcome to take the floor. There was a gasp of excitement from the younger members of the local gentry, most of whom had undergone tortuous instruction from Monsieur Lavette, the local dancing master, but few of whom had ever expected to put their dubious skills into action quite so soon. There was a feverish rush of brothers seeking out the sisters who had been their usual partners when Monsieur had attended them for their weekly lessons and a hasty consultation with parents by those without convenient siblings.

The reels and sets that followed Judith’s announcement

were danced with an undercurrent of anticipation. Few of the older guests had actually seen the waltz performed but they were, for the most part, level-headed country folk who liked to make up their own minds about such things and who felt that there were enough chaperons amongst them to curb any excessive behaviour that their offspring might exhibit.

Sandford found that the sets he had secured with Harriet were rather unsatisfactory, insofar as conversation was concerned, and the ‘grand chaining’ that formed part of the movements meant that he was forever having to change partners. No wonder no one else had initialled them, he thought savagely, as he led yet another schoolgirl under the arches of raised arms.

Eventually he had his moment as they stood together once again waiting their turn to ‘strip the willow’ and, looking down at her bright and laughing face he said in a low voice, ‘You will waltz with me, Miss Cordell.’

‘Oh, no! I don’t think so, thank you, my lord,’ she said, flushing momentarily.

‘You misunderstand,’ he said shortly. ‘You will waltz with me!’