Barbara Metzger by An Affair of Interest

Author:An Affair of Interest
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Waltzes and Woes

“We talked about his mother,” Sydney said for about the hundredth time. One would think the man some kind of oracle the way the other girls on the sidelines wanted to know his every word. “No, I was only introduced to him tonight and, yes, I do think Lord Mayne and Winifred make an attractive couple.”

Lord Mayne and Sally Jersey also made an attractive couple, as did Lord Mayne and Lady Delverson, Lord Mayne and Lady Stanhope, Lord Mayne and Miss Beckwith. Sydney finally escaped to the ladies’ withdrawing room, sick and tired of hearing the wretch’s name on everyone’s lips. Which reminded her that she was also sick and tired. The chocolates!

She hurried to the refreshments room, which was nearly deserted now. Sydney had no doubt everyone stayed in the dancing area to watch Lord Mayne. The gentlemen were wagering on his next partner or trying to figure out the new arrangement of his neckcloth. The ladies were hoping to be that next partner, or admiring his graceful leg. Prinny himself wouldn’t have drawn more attention from the gudgeons. Sydney had more important matters to consider.

Drat Trixie! She said she was taking some boxes to her mother in lieu of stopping at a sweetshop for them, but here they were. Sydney counted three empty boxes and another half filled, hidden behind a fern. She stuffed candies into her reticule until it looked as if she had a small cannonball in it, then dug around in the fern, burying the rest. That’s where he found her.

He looked at her dirty glove through his quizzing glass and muttered something suspiciously like, “I knew I shouldn’t have taken my eyes off you for a minute.” Sydney blushed and felt her face grow even hotter when he asked, “You do not dance, petite?”

She was not about to admit that no one asked her. Then the strains of the next number started and she could thankfully claim, “It’s a waltz, my lord. I have not been given permission.”

“Then perhaps you’ll take a turn about the room with me,” he offered, placing her hand in the crook of his elbow.

Sydney couldn’t refuse without making a scene, for a flock of gawkers had followed him to the refreshments room. She could see tongues wagging everywhere. She wanted to ask him why he was doing this thing, making a byword of her, but there were too many interruptions. Gentlemen kept shaking his hand, telling him how glad they were to see him in town and inviting him for dinner, cards, morning rides. Ladies of all ages nodded and smiled and batted their eyelashes at him, while the prominent hostesses begged him to attend their next affairs. Or affaires, Sydney thought maliciously. Finally she blurted out, “They like you.”

He stopped walking and looked around. “I never thought about it in those terms. I have known many of these people my entire life and value their respect. I hold some in affection, and believe my regard is returned.

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