Chapter Two #3
of her trying to make a friend, even if Catherine hasn’t entirely accepted her crusade for revenge yet. And if that friend
can give her some insight into Lady Rosalie’s intentions, all the better.
“It’s nice to meet you as well,” Catherine says, stepping to stand in front of the mirror beside Miss Raught’s. “How long
have you been in Bath?”
“About ten years,” Miss Raught says, her face relaxing. “My father has a solicitor’s business.”
“Do you like it here?” Catherine asks, pretending to adjust her curls.
“Most of the time,” Miss Raught says with a shrug. “It gets a little dull after so many years, but we keep busy.”
“We?”
“Oh, my friends. Miss Linet’s been here for her entire life, and Lady Rosalie. They adopted me into their group when we moved,
and we’ve been friends ever since.”
Catherine wonders what it must be like to have a friend like Lady Rosalie. To walk about the ballrooms with someone like that.
To be under her care and protection . . .
“That’s lovely,” Catherine says. “Bath seems such a busy place. It must be nice to have such good friends.”
“It is,” Miss Raught says, taking a short breath before finally looking back at her. “How are you enjoying Bath so far?”
“It’s been an adjustment,” Catherine says carefully, watching the way Miss Raught’s face is going slightly wooden, her jaw
tight, lips poised for another question.
“I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it quickly. You certainly have made an impression tonight,” Miss Raught says, a little fast.
Catherine hides her smile. It seems she struck a nerve, gaining Mr. Dean’s first dance. Though she thinks Miss Henrietta Raught
was perhaps not the most subtle of friends to send on a reconnaissance mission. “I get the sense that any newcomer causes
some minor fuss, but I’m sure there’ll be another in a few weeks.”
“Oh, but none so pretty as you. All of the suitors are interested, I can tell,” Miss Raught says.
“Do you have a formal suitor?” Catherine asks.
“Not . . . officially. But Mr. Rile comes to call quite often,” Miss Raught says, blushing.
“He seems taken with you from what I could see.”
Miss Raught’s face relaxes and her shoulders come down. “Oh, thank you.”
“And your friends, are they courting too?” Catherine asks, hoping it comes off as casual.
“My friend Miss Linet and Mr. Fortes are close, I think. He seems very set on her.”
“But not she on him?” Catherine wonders. She didn’t get a close look at the third woman in their trio.
Miss Raught’s smile drops. “Oh, well, I don’t know. I’m sure she’s very—she’s very fond of him,” she decides.
“That’s good,” Catherine says quickly. “It’s always nice when there’s mutual regard in a potential match.”
Miss Raught’s eyes brighten. “Was there anyone you danced with tonight with whom you think you could have a spark?”
This is what she was sent in to ask. Catherine could demur, could play it safe. But where’s the fun in that?
“Well, Mr. Dean is surely quite handsome,” she says, withholding a laugh when Miss Raught’s face goes scarlet.
“He’s courting Lady Rosalie,” she says loudly, glancing at the door to the cloakroom. “Surely . . . surely he must have said.”
“We didn’t say much to each other,” Catherine admits. She got her answer, no need to antagonize the poor woman. “And a single
dance doesn’t mean anything.”
“It was the first dance, though,” Miss Raught says, her words not quite a whisper, her eyes darting back to the door again.
“That can mean things here, Miss Pine.”
“Oh, well, I suppose I’ll keep that in mind,” Catherine says. “I appreciate you looking out for me.”
Miss Raught’s face drains of color and Catherine feels a pang of remorse. It’s not Miss Raught’s fault that she’s rather bad
at subterfuge.
Thankfully, the door to the cloakroom opens, interrupting whatever further questions Miss Raught might have tried to stumble
through. Though the figure entering doesn’t put Catherine any more at ease.
Because here is Lady Rosalie, up close, in person, and thoroughly, stunningly intimidating. Her cheeks are a bit flushed,
her dark brown hair beginning to go frizzy with the humidity of the ballroom. And her eyes, oh, her eyes are simply dazzling
at this distance. The whole effect is awe-inspiring. Which is quite a feat at five feet tall.
“I worried you’d gotten locked in the water closet,” Lady Rosalie says to Miss Raught. Her voice is low and rich, not at all what Catherine expected.
Miss Raught looks flustered and glances at Catherine as if they’ve been caught somehow. Which is absurd; Lady Rosalie was
clearly listening at the door.
“She actually saved me from that fate,” Catherine says, her voice only a little tight.
Lady Rosalie looks over and meets her eyes. Catherine wonders if her face has gone as flushed as Miss Raught’s was a minute
ago. There’s just something about Lady Rosalie that seems to make one a bit unbalanced, a bit stunned.
“How heroic of Miss Raught,” Lady Rosalie says.
“Lady Rosalie, this is Miss Catherine Pine,” Miss Raught says hurriedly. “We were just talking about this being her first
ball. She says Bath has been an adjustment, but that she’s enjoyed her dances.”
It comes out rapid-fire, but Lady Rosalie doesn’t look surprised by the delivery. Catherine wonders if Miss Raught is always
this flustered around Lady Rosalie.
Catherine can hardly blame her if she is. When Lady Rosalie looks Catherine up and down, it sends a shiver of something other
than cold down Catherine’s spine. The sensation isn’t wholly unpleasant, but it’s foreign, and makes her want to blush too.
But she doesn’t want to appear unsure or discombobulated. She can’t show weakness here. Clearly, she stood up well enough
to Miss Raught’s interrogation, or she doubts Lady Rosalie would have approached her.
“We do a lot of dancing in Bath. I’m sure you’ll have the opportunity to dance much more as the season progresses,” Lady Rosalie
says, her voice even.
“I certainly hope so,” Catherine agrees. “Do you like to dance, Lady Rosalie? I didn’t see you on the floor, though Miss Raught and Miss Linet danced a fair few.”
Catherine feels a little thrill at the way Lady Rosalie’s eyes narrow just a touch at the insinuation.
“She was dancing with Mr. Dean when I came to the cloakroom,” Miss Raught says loudly.
Lady Rosalie closes her eyes for a moment. Catherine’s touched a nerve just by existing somehow. Thrown what she imagines
is a well-oiled social machine all out of whack, and now Lady Rosalie must repair it.
“Mr. Dean and I did dance,” Lady Rosalie agrees, giving Miss Raught a very tight smile before meeting Catherine’s gaze again.
“And he told me you are a talented dancer yourself.”
“Oh,” Catherine says, surprised. “Well, that’s kind of him. I wasn’t entirely sure of the steps.”
“No one else noticed,” Lady Rosalie says.
No one except Lady Rosalie, apparently. “Oh, well, that’s good. Dancing is not my forte,” Catherine says humbly, wanting to
put her at ease.
“And what is your forte?”
If only Lady Rosalie would extend her the same courtesy. “I enjoy music,” Catherine replies honestly. “I play pianoforte rather
well. And I like to read, which I suppose isn’t really a skill.”
Lady Rosalie considers her for a moment. Miss Raught opens her mouth but Lady Rosalie raises a hand, as if able to anticipate
whatever she would have said. “We’re having a private concert next week. You ought to attend. Your parents as well, of course.
It will be the best performance you’ll see this season. My father knows the best musicians.”
Catherine blinks, surprised. It’s a bold move to invite Catherine to a private gathering so soon. Miss Raught looks surprised as well.
“You can enjoy the music, and then I can help you line up your dances for the next ball.”
“Lady Rosalie knows everyone worth knowing. She’ll find you the perfect, proper suitor in no time,” Miss Raught says eagerly.
Lady Rosalie shoots Miss Raught a sharp look.
So, it’s about keeping your enemies close, is it?
“I’m sure your cousin will introduce you to a good number of men, but he doesn’t know the young ton like we do,” Lady Rosalie
says, her voice calm, but just a hair too quick, trying to undo the damage of Miss Raught’s honesty. “We can help you fall
in with the right crowd, if you’re interested.”
Catherine meets her eyes. Lady Rosalie wants to keep tabs on her, orchestrate her matches, and keep her far away from Mr. Dean,
all under the guise of friendship. Killing Catherine with very precise kindness.
Two can play at that game.
She thought Mother’s scheme utter madness not an hour ago. But now, she wants to meet the challenge in Lady Rosalie’s eyes.
She wants to find out what will happen if she lets Lady Rosalie think she’s controlling her. She wants to see the inner workings
of her world, and her mind, and find out how she ticks. And then she’ll use it all against her while Lady Rosalie thinks she’s
got the upper hand.
“I would be delighted to attend your concert,” Catherine says sweetly.
Lady Rosalie’s lips quirk in a smile. “Wonderful. I’ll have Mother send an invitation for you tomorrow morning.”
“Thank you,” Catherine says. “And I would appreciate your help with the marriage mart. It’s so hard to know who to trust.”
Catherine could get used to seeing the challenge in Lady Rosalie’s eyes. It’s exciting. She feels a little breathless, and
hopes it doesn’t show.
“You can trust Lady Rosalie,” Miss Raught says.
Catherine almost jumps. She’d nearly forgotten Miss Raught was there. Lady Rosalie sighs quietly.
This is going to be interesting.