Page 74

Georgiana groaned in frustration.

Thankfully, she was saved from the need to make further comments as the music came to an end.

Even as a married couple, it would be a faux pas for them to dance together twice in a row.

Georgiana relinquished her hold on Robert with relief and allowed herself to be escorted to the sidelines, where Selina was waiting for her.

Robert’s attention was immediately engaged by a man with a German accent as Selina looped her arm through Georgiana’s.

“Come, let us retire to the powder room. It is already so hot in here and I think we both need some fresh air,” she teased gently, her eyes on Georgiana’s burning cheeks.

Georgiana was too dazed to respond. She stumbled along with Selina, glad to be out of the ballroom and away from the ton’s prying eyes.

They spent a good half hour powdering their noses and catching up on the day’s gossip with the other ladies present.

“Someone said the Regent may attend,” Lady Stark said excitedly. “Would that not be so exciting?”

“I do not know. It sounds incredibly stressful, especially for the hosts,” Georgiana said a bit more truthfully than she might have, had she been less discombobulated.

“Oh, of course, but my darling Ariana is in the running for Belle of the Ball,” Lady Stark confided, as she leaned closer. “As is Lady Susan Windermere and…” she widened her eyes excitedly at Georgiana, “your sister!”

“What? That is…” she shook her head, at a complete loss for words. “Who decides these things?” she asked curiously.

Lady Stark shrugged. “The patronesses I would imagine.”

“Mmm,” Georgiana replied.

“Well,” Selina clapped her hands together, “we should get back, else your husbands will begin to wonder what became of you.”

Lady Stark trilled with laughter, getting to her feet. “That is true. Poor Lord Stark is lost without me.” She waved to them and left the powder room.

Selina and Georgiana exchanged glances before they too got to their feet.

Georgiana gave Selina a guilty glance. “I feel as if I have abandoned you tonight, what with my husband being in attendance.”

“Please do not,” Selina said at once. “All the suitors I have encountered this evening were after my fortune, not my person.Thistime, I have the luxury of choice. I intend to make the most of it.”

“Yes. When you put it like that, you are the lucky one here. I do wish for you to find that person, even though my chance to do so has passed.”

Selina patted her hand, smiling slyly. “I saw how you danced with your husband. I do not think your chance has passed quite yet.”

Georgiana blushed bright red.

“It is not… I mean… uh…” She rolled her eyes, letting her attempt at finding the right words slip away.

As they stepped back into the ballroom, they bumped into Lord Ketteridge who was also entering. He beamed at them both.

“Your Grace, Lady Galerton, this is a pleasant surprise. I did not expect you at this ball.”

Georgiana grimaced. “We did not expect us to be here either.”

The earl gave them a sympathetic look. “Are you chaperoning a debutante then?”

“Indeed. My sister has only just come out.”

“Well…look at it this way; she might catch some gentleman’s eye tonight and you may thus escape chaperoning her for the entire Season.”

Georgiana made a noncommittal noise, exchanging a loaded glance with Selina. She felt quite sure that if Thomas had spoken about his adventures with Daisy, then Lord Ketteridge would have known about it. Such gossip tended to spread like wildfire, which meant that their aborted elopement remained a secret.