Chapter 4 #2
Confound it, but that was the most stuffy assembly hall in London. Caroline was fortunate to have vouchers of her own, but she had only used them in order to see Mr. Dennison. She swallowed her feelings and nodded. “We often attend as well.”
“Would you be willing to save me a dance, Miss Whitby?”
Mama’s soft gasp was not as quiet as she likely intended.
“I would be happy to,” Caroline said, lying through her teeth. It was so she could speak to him privately and for no other reason. This was not her youthful fantasies come to life. It was the means to an end.
“You’ve made me the happiest of gentlemen,” he said, his smile looking almost too private for the parlor.
It sent a volley of chills up Caroline’s spine. “If a mere dance will do that, I shudder to think how you would respond to anything greater,” she said dryly.
Mama laughed. “Careful, Caro. Mr. Shepherd might not realize you are jesting.”
“Perhaps I am not.”
Tristan held her gaze. “I look forward to testing that theory. I will ruminate on the matter and prepare a proper invitation for you to accept. Perhaps it will be ready this evening.”
Disloyal, ridiculous anticipation settled low in Caroline’s stomach. The man was masterful. “I, likewise, look forward to hearing what you settle on, sir.”
His eyes flashed with interest before he straightened, turning his attention on Mama. “Have you been in Town long?”
“We come for the Season each year, but we leave the moment the weather turns warm. I cannot abide the heat of London in the summer.”
“It is too stuffy by half,” Caroline said.
Tristan nodded slowly. “I’ve found that while I do enjoy some time away each summer, there is something pleasant about remaining here while the majority of Society has fled.”
“Oh?” Mama said.
He nodded. “There is little in the way of social entertainment, but much to be seen and enjoyed nonetheless.”
“Are you not too hot to enjoy much of anything?”
“I find solace in Gunter’s ice, naturally. Walking along the Serpentine provides relief on the worst of days.”
Caroline imagined having most of Hyde Park to herself once Society had retreated to their country houses. She did not find the prospect particularly enticing, but she could see the appeal, however faint.
The tea service was carried in, and Tristan drank his cup slowly, sharing stories about his parents in Surrey and a few memories with James and his brother Charles.
When their tea was finished, he lifted his hat and stood.
“Thank you, Mrs. Whitby. Miss Whitby. I look forward to seeing both of you this evening.”
With a polite bow, he replaced his hat on his head and walked from the room. They waited until the sound of his footsteps retreated entirely, the door closing behind him, before Mama swiveled to face her, setting down her empty teacup in the process. “He is interested in you, darling.”
Caroline laughed. “The only thing he is interested in is making amends.”
“Does that matter if it means more time with the gentleman?”
“You mistake his intent, Mama.”
“And you underestimate it.” With that parting shot, Mama left Caroline to stew.
The first person Caroline laid eyes on when she stepped through the ballroom doors at Almack’s was her dearest friend, Miss Kitty Fielding. The young woman’s eyes lit up, and she left her father’s side to cross the small space between them.
Kitty’s pale green gown was cut in a fashionable mode, her light brown hair styled intricately, with small ringlets framing her temples.
She was the picture of a modern woman, igniting a dormant jealousy within Caroline’s chest that she promptly swatted away like a bothersome insect.
Father’s changed finances might have caused certain hardships over the last few years, but they did not give her leave to begin comparing her plight to that of her friends’.
She knew resentment would soon follow, and she liked Kitty too much for that.
“I did not realize I would see you here, Caro.” Kitty took her hand, tugging her away from her mother. “You are meant to be engaged, are you not? You should be home, comfortably settled and no longer searching for a husband at these stuffy assemblies.”
Caroline wrinkled her nose. “Mr. Dennison has chosen to find a wife more suited to his hobbies. He’s discovered my disinterest in horses, and it was enough to put him off me for good.”
“Oh, pish. If that is reason enough to turn his back on the most beautiful available woman in the ballroom, he doesn’t deserve you anyway.”
“You exaggerate.”
Kitty lifted an eyebrow, providing a sly smile. “I said available, did I not?”
Caroline sucked in a quick breath of understanding, clearly seeing why her friend was slowly dragging her away from their parents into a more secluded area. “You’ve had an offer?”
“Not yet, but I’m certain to soon.”
“Who is the gentleman?” Caroline asked.
Kitty’s smile grew so wide, her teeth were all on display. “Lord Bengard.”
“The viscount? Is he not old enough to be your father?”
“Hardly.” Kitty rolled her eyes. “He’s just over thirty and indecently wealthy.”
The appeal was made abundantly clear. “I am happy for you. Though some would argue that you are indecently wealthy.”
Kitty shrugged. “Soon I will be more so.”
“How soon?”
“I must secure him first, but we are not far from that eventuality. He came to dine last night and spoke with my father at length. He will fit in my family nicely.”
“Is he here this evening?”
“Not yet, but he will be. I shall introduce you.”
Music softly punctuated the conversation as instruments were tuned.
Knowing Tristan would arrive at some point and claim a dance did something to Caroline’s stomach.
In their youth, she had always enjoyed his offhand flirting.
But never knowing when to believe him serious or when he was teasing had grown to be something of a trial.
When he’d left for university, she considered it a good opportunity to put him from her mind entirely.
A feat she had been mostly successful at, until he had appeared in front of her again and ruined her chance at security and contentment.
Despite her frustration, she could feel eagerness tingle within her. Blast that man and the old feelings he’d inadvertently reignited. She needed to douse them entirely.
A throat cleared in her periphery, garnering both of the ladies’ attention. “May I have this dance, Miss Whitby?”
Tristan stood in the required knee breeches and pure white cravat, his blue coat setting his brown eyes to advantage. He struck a fine figure, even in the slightly outdated clothing Almack’s forced gentlemen to wear. His hair was dark and neat, his mouth set into an expectant smile.
Caroline ignored the pang of attraction. “Of course, Mr. Shepherd. Are you familiar with Miss Fielding?”
“I haven’t had the pleasure,” he said, bowing to her.
Kitty gave a delicate curtsy. “I’ve heard much about you.”
Tristan’s gaze flicked to Caroline. “Certainly nothing good, I presume. Miss Whitby has a tongue of steel when it comes to me, despite how beautifully she speaks in regard to everyone else.” He leaned in, lowering his voice. “If she mentioned toads, you must ignore her.”
She fought a blush. “Perhaps others have not earned my ire.”
“That is a fair observation. I suppose it is my new goal to climb my way back into your good graces. Is it possible for a man to be esteemed by the beautiful Caroline Whitby?”
The blush climbed her neck, and she hoped it was not noticeable. “I have plenty of friends who are men.”
“You are a shocking flirt, aren’t you?” Kitty said, entertained.
Tristan’s hand gripped his heart as though he’d suffered a pain. “You wound me, madam. I abhor being called a flirt. Everything I say is entirely true.”
Kitty’s eyes sparkled. “You would say that, whether you were honest or not. How is one to know?”
“My character, I suppose.” He smiled in amusement. “It is spotless.”
“The couples are lining up,” Caroline observed. It was moments like this, where his attention did not seem to focus on one person, that reminded her how much of a flirt he was. She could take nothing seriously that came from Tristan Shepherd’s mouth.
“Shall we?” he asked, offering his elbow.
Caroline placed her silk-gloved hand on his arm and let him lead her toward the center of the ballroom.
Men in similar clothing lined up on one side of the room, facing their partners in an array of soft-hued gowns in every color.
After Caroline took her place, she looked up into Tristan’s eyes, his smile soft and centered on her, and her heart paced rapidly.
Oh, dear. She was in trouble, wasn’t she?