Chapter Eight #2
“I am so happy you were able to come this evening,” Miss Kannady said. “Do either of you enjoy dancing, or do you prefer to watch the dancers?”
“We both love dancing,” Justina said brightly. “I am hoping to dance every set this evening. Oh, there is Miss Chambers. I would like to go and speak with her a moment.”
Justina excused herself, leaving the two of them alone.
“Mama and I would love to invite you to tea, Lady Verina. Of course, Lady Merriman and Lady Justina are also welcome. I so enjoyed our conversation in the drawing room the other night, and you play the pianoforte beautifully.”
“We would be honored to come for tea. Please send a note to my cousin.”
“Is any day better than another?” Miss Kannady asked.
“Tia has not mentioned any specific plans, so we should be open to visit any day next week. We have discussed coming into Merrivale and doing a bit of shopping one day, however.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful to meet up and do so together. I will speak to Lady Merriman and see if Mama and I might join the three of you on your outing.”
“If you will excuse me, Miss Kannady, Tia is calling me over. Let us speak later this evening with both your mother and Tia present. Perhaps we could firm up our plans then.”
Verina rejoined Tia and Hugo, as did Justina, and they introduced the two of them to several others new to them.
As always, she thrived when meeting others, and several of them mentioned sending invitations to them over the next few weeks.
It seemed as if she and Justina would be quite busy during the rest of their stay at Merrifield.
“It looks as if the dancing will soon commence,” Tia remarked. “I know Lord Vallow was asking after you, Verina. Ah, there he is, heading our way now.”
Lord Vallow was a newly-minted viscount who had attended the dinner party. He was very tall and had a wonderful sense of humor. Verina had been drawn to him and was happy he now might ask her to dance.
He bowed, greeting them. “Lady Verina, I heard that you enjoy dancing. Would you do me the honor of partnering with me for the first set?”
“I would be happy to do so, my lord.”
The center of the room was crowded as they lined up opposite one another.
The musicians struck up a tune, and she was caught up in the music.
Dancing was one of the chief reasons she looked forward to the Season.
Mama had told her there could be between fifty and sixty balls each Season, and she thought of all those nights where she might dance until the wee hours of the morning.
Verina was out of breath by the time the set ended, and Lord Vallow asked if she might care for some punch.
She agreed, and he guided her to one of the tables where punch was being served.
He retrieved a cup for each of them, and they moved to a corner of the room, sipping the cool drink, which was a bit too sweet for her tastes.
Still, it was refreshing, and she drained her cup.
“I am so glad you have come to visit your cousin for a bit,” Lord Vallow told her. “I do not recall having seen you at the Season before.”
“I am to make my come-out this next spring, my lord.”
He smiled. “Then I am happy I have already made your acquaintance even before next Season begins. Let me return you to Lord and Lady Merriman. Perhaps we might even dance together again later this evening.”
She smiled up at him. “I would enjoy that, my lord.”
Verina took the arm he offered, and they moved across the room, returning to where Hugo stood. Surprise filled her.
The Duke of Reddington chatted with him.
She stiffened, and Lord Vallow asked, “Is something wrong, my lady?”
“I am simply worried. I do not see my cousin with her husband,” she lied. “Perhaps Tia has gone to the retiring room.”
“I am returning Lady Verina to you, my lord,” the viscount told Hugo.
Before she released Lord Vallow’s arm, she smiled up at him. “Thank you for the dance, my lord. I look forward to dancing with you again this evening.”
The viscount departed, and Verina maintained her composure, reminding herself to treat Reddington as she might Tray.
“Whatever are you doing in Merrivale, Your Grace? Do they not have assemblies where you reside?”
“They do, Lady Verina, but I recalled both you and Lady Justina mentioning how much you enjoyed dancing. I do, as well, and thought I might come and see if I could have a dance with you both.”
“Matthew is an excellent dancer, Verina,” Hugo told her. “You could not be in better hands.”
“I am so glad you came tonight, Your Grace,” she said, causing one brow of his to arch. “It has been wonderful getting to know Hugo since we came to Merrifield. It is as if Justina and I have claimed a new brother.” She smiled sweetly. “And I am coming to view you the same way.”
He scowled at her. “I am not your brother.”
Hugo chuckled. “Relax, my friend. I believe Verina merely means she is comfortable in your company.”
“Yes,” she said. “Just as if you were Tray. Or Hugo.”
She saw he didn’t take kindly to her words.
“We should dance, my lady,” he said abruptly, stepping to her and taking her hand, placing it on his sleeve. “Come to the dance floor.”
He guided her, and she said, “That was more a command than a polite invitation to dance,” she pointed out.
They reached the center of the room, and squares began forming.
“Are you trying to rile me?”
Verina gave him an innocent look. “Now, why would I wish to annoy you, Your Grace?”
Before he could answer, the music began. She allowed him to move her about the floor. Oh, he did dance divinely. He moved with an athletic grace, effortlessly keeping to the rhythm of the music. Dancing with the Duke of Reddington was like dancing on air.
She reminded herself that she did not like him much, however, and so when the set came to an end, she moved back to Hugo and Tia, the duke trailing after her. Justina was also there.
“Ah, there is my sister, Your Grace. I know you were eager to dance with both of us. Justina, His Grace would like to reserve the next dance with you.”
Her sister’s face lit up, and Verina turned away, being asked by a new gentleman to dance. As she did so, she hoped the Duke of Reddington was done with her for the night.
Because despite her dislike of him, he stirred feelings within her that she was not ready to confront.