It had been a good hour since Phillip had arrived at the ballroom, and still he had not greeted Lord Dayton. That had been deliberate on his part, as he had not wanted to seem too eager nor overly excited about the card game that was due to take place tomorrow evening. He had stayed back, keeping to the shadows and letting his gaze flick across the room, landing on almost every debutante but showing no interest in any.
His stomach had grown tight with tension as he had seen Lord Dayton move towards the card room, fearing that he would lose the man altogether but not wanting to hurry after him, only for Lord Dayton to stop and talk at length with a gentleman Phillip did not know. With relief, Phillip had watched Lord Dayton return to the ballroom to stand by his wife’s side, his eyes flickering across the room in much the same way as Phillip’s.
“My lord?”
Picking up a glass from the tray offered to him by the footman, Phillip threw it back quickly, aware of his tension and finding that it irritated him. There was nothing to upset him here, nothing to bother him other than the fact he was simply to greet Lord Dayton and, thereafter, continue to enjoy the evening as best he could. Was it because of the thoughts that had afflicted him ever since he had spoken to Lord Watt? Was he now a little too aware of the debutantes that surrounded him, fearing that they might want to become close to him when he wanted nothing more than to stay aloof and out of reach? His eyes closed and he blew out a long breath of frustration.
“You do not appear to be enjoying yourself, sir.”
He half turned his head, seeing out of the corner of his eye a young lady with her arms folded and her head tilted just a little towards him.
“I am enjoying myself very much, my lady,” he said firmly, trying to force himself to believe it as much as he wanted her to do so as well. “I just do not show it.”
The lady laughed, a hint of mockery in her tone, and Phillip felt himself tense.
“I cannot believe that to be true,” she said, waving a hand in his direction. “You have not stepped away from the shadows in almost an hour.”
“That does not mean I am not enjoying myself,” he responded, a little tartly, refusing to turn his head so that he might look at her properly. “Some are quite content to be watching proceedings rather than engaging with them.” A small, mocking smile twisted his lips. “Although some, unfortunately, are given no opportunity to engage, regardless of what they might wish.”
The moment he said it, Phillip felt himself flush with
shame, hearing her sharp intake of breath and knowing that he had been unnecessarily thoughtless. There was no reason for him to have spoken so to the lady and, in doing as he had done, he had set a wall between them – and all without even so much as knowing her name.
“Forgive me,” he said, turning around so that he might face her properly. “I…” The words stuck to his lips as he took in the young lady glaring back at him, seeing her as an ethereal spirit rather than the flesh-and-blood young lady that he knew she must be. She had white gold hair, resplendent on her head, with shining lights seeming to dance through her tresses. Her cheekbones were sharp and flooded with color, which highlighted all the more the dark flickering shades in her eyes. There was a deep anger and embarrassment in her expression, but for whatever reason, Phillip found her all the more lovely with it. The gown of silver she wore seemed to him to be like a cloud, floating gently about her, as though drawn to her. He felt himself begin to be pulled towards her also, as though there was something about her that he could not release himself from.
“Your words are cruel, sir.” Her voice was high pitched and thin now, her eyes narrowing slightly as she held his gaze steadily, although there was a slight tremor about her frame now. “You ought not to speak so. It does your character great ill.”
“I can only apologize,” Phillip said at once, managing to find his voice. “I–I was not thinking.”
“No,” the young lady answered, turning about in a whirl of silver and walking away from him. “No, you most certainly were not.”
Phillip wanted to go after her at once; he wanted to put out his hand and pull her back towards him, but he felt his feet stuck fast to the floor. His mouth opened to call her back, but no sound came out. Instead, he was left with one hand grasping the air, the other loose at his side as regret and shame crashed over him, leaving his face hotter than before. Closing his eyes, Phillip let out a long, heavy breath and berated himself for ever speaking so foolishly. The young lady had only been conversing with him, teasing him, almost, and he had reacted very badly indeed. Having already felt a little on edge, it had not helped him to hear her speak so, and thus, he had retorted sharply when he ought not to have said anything.
“And I do not even know her name,” he muttered to himself, pushing one hand through his dark brown hair and feeling more ridiculous than before. Taking in a long breath, Phillip lifted his head once more and tried to set the ethereal young lady to the back of his mind. He had to go and speak to Lord Dayton now; he had to ensure that their acquaintance continued in the same amiable, relaxed fashion as before. Then, tomorrow evening, he would be taken to this card game where all manner of secrets might soon be revealed. That was his only goal, he reminded himself, turning again to look for Lord Dayton. It had to be the only thing to occupy his thoughts, the only place to steer his intentions. The young lady had to be forgotten, his shame and regret set to one side. There was too much else at stake to make a misstep now.
Making his way slowly across the ballroom floor, he smiled at one person and then the next, never quite letting his gaze fix on Lord Dayton. Then, as though he had only just spotted him, he turned his head a little more and smiled, nodding towards the gentleman.
“Ah, Lord Monteforte!” the gentleman exclaimed at once, appearing quite pleased to see him, a glass of brandy in his hand. “Are you enjoying the ball this evening?”
“I am,” Phillip lied, looking all about him as though overwhelmed by what he saw. “It is quite magnificent, is it not?”
The man nodded, his blue eyes still sharp no matter how much liquor he had already consumed. “I must ensure that you meet my daughters,” he said, sending a sudden shock through Phillip’s heart. “They would be glad of another partner to dance with, I am sure.”
Phillip put a smile on his face at once, inclining his head as if he had been truly touched by the offer. “I would be more than glad to meet them, Lord Dayton,” he said, praying that the man would believe him to be genuine. “And to dance with them would be an honor.”
“Very good, very good!” Lord Dayton cried, grasping Phillip’s elbow with a firm hand and tugging him towards a group of three women, who were standing together. “Here they are.”
As Phillip let his gaze travel over the group of ladies who were, by now, turning to greet him, he could not help but see the silver-gowned young lady from only a few minutes before standing just behind the two dark-haired young ladies. Her expression was icy, her eyes still narrowed, and her lips pulling thin. His heart turned over, a sudden anxiety filling him—even as he was forced to bow in greeting.
“Might I present the Earl of Monteforte,” Lord Dayton said, looking expectantly at Phillip as he rose from his bow. “Lord Monteforte, this is my wife, Lady Dayton, and my two daughters.” He gestured to the first. “Lady Margaret and Lady Louisa.”
Phillip inclined his head again, wondering why Lord Dayton had not introduced the young lady standing just behind his daughters. It was clear that she was with the young ladies, but he had not thought to make her known to him.
“I am very glad to meet you both,” he said, as the young ladies rose from their curtsy. “And I should be very happy to dance with you both – that is, if there is any space left on your dance cards!” He chuckled despite the confusion in his mind, growing almost sorrowful when the unknown young lady turned away, her expression a mixture of despondency and frustration. Not that he could allow such emotions to show, he reminded himself, turning his full attention back towards Lady Margaret and Lady Louisa and ignoring the other young lady completely.
“There is certainly a space for you, Lord Monteforte,” Lady Louisa murmured, almost purring as she held out her dance card for him. “Please, choose whatever dance you wish.”
He took it carefully and looked down at the dances, finding it quite difficult indeed to fix his mind solely on what was expected of him at the present moment when all he could think of was that strange young lady and wondering why Lord Dayton had all but ignored her. With an effort, he put his name down on one dance card and then the other, seeing how Lord Dayton smiled his agreement with such a thing taking place.