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She stopped and spoke briefly with a group of matrons before she continued walking.

She passed the Earl of Tamarin, but did not stop to speak to him.

She could not be sure, but Elizabeth thought she heard the man mumble some words.

They sounded like, “My daughter should have been the Duchess, not some country miss…” She was not certain, so she would not say anything to Archy.

If she did, he would have the man thrown from the house, and if it could be avoided, Elizabeth did not want any unpleasantness to mar Mary’s celebration.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

After the supper set and the time she had spent with Richard during the meal, Mary had been floating on air.

She had relished being in his company. If only it had been longer.

At least she had the final set to look forward to.

It would be her first waltz in a public setting.

Until today, Mary had only danced the waltz under the guidance of a dancing master.

She found herself hoping that if Richard intended to declare himself, something she believed was when and not if , it would be sooner rather than later.

After supper once other ladies who desired to had exhibited, Lizzy had joined Mary for a duet to which Lizzy had lifted her superb voice in song.

Soon, her older sister had called the first set after supper, which had been with Warren Portnoy, Marjorie’s husband.

Franklin Lucas had been next. After a pleasant dance with the oldest of Charlotte’s brothers, Franklin delivered Mary back to where the Gardiners and Phillipses were seated.

Viscount Tesco’s luck had not changed, and he had lost more money in the card room. He almost forgot about his dance, but the vision of his angry sire spurred him to leave before he could win back his lost funds. He pushed his pique at losing from his mind as he approached Miss Bennet.

“I believe this is our set,” Tesco stated as he bowed over Miss Bennet’s hand.

“Yes, Lord Tesco, I believe you are correct,” Mary replied. She had been concerned that he had been about to kiss her hand, but thankfully he had not done so.

He led her to the line and waited until the Duchess called the next dance, which was a quadrille. For the first half of the dance, Tesco said nothing.

For her part, Mary was pleased the man was silent, there was something about him which told her to be wary.

She looked to the one side, not far from where they were dancing and John was there watching her intently.

Mary looked across the ballroom, opposite John, and there was Brian, watching her just as closely.

She hoped she would not need that kind of assistance, but it was comforting that they and their men were in place.

Richard was dancing, but he was not close to where she was.

“You are very pretty, Miss Bennet,” Tesco drawled when they came together the next time.

“Are you a flatterer, Lord Tesco?” Mary asked pointedly.

“Is it flattery if it is the truth?” He riposted. “I think we would suit very well. I am sure you can see the advantages of having a viscount, a future earl bestowing his notice on you.”

“Lord Tesco, I ask you to cease this line of conversation; it is highly inappropriate, considering we have only just met and know nothing of one another,” Mary shot back when they came back together.

“In my opinion, if we were married tomorrow, I should think we have as good a chance of happiness as if you had been studying my character for a twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of each of us are ever so well known to each other or ever so similar beforehand, it would not advance our felicity in the least. Once we are married, our feelings will grow sufficiently. Rather than partake in our share of vexation, it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life,” Tesco recited when the first dance ended.

“You speak of marriage when we have only now met. You are the last man in the world I would ever be prevailed upon to marry. Return me to my family, now, Sir!” Mary demanded.

“You are overwrought with my attentions, which I am sure are a great compliment to you. I will guide you to take some air.” Tesco took her wrist and started walking towards the nearest balcony. He would not fail; he would compromise her.

“You are no gentleman; unhand me!” Mary commanded.

She noted that John would reach them in seconds.

“This is your last warning; you will not enjoy what is to occur if you do not release me this instant.” She looked around and noted that Richard was at the other end of the dancefloor with his partner, with his back to her.

In a way it was better. If he had seen what the Viscount was attempting, he would not have held back.

“What can you do to me…?” Tesco froze when an enormous hand clamped onto his shoulder. “You may not touch me…” The words died in his throat when he saw the size of the man holding his shoulder and then saw another man of equal size advancing towards them, weaving in and out of the dancers nimbly.

“Miss Bennet said release ‘er. Do it now,” Biggs hissed next to the toff’s ear.

Tesco fought not to relieve himself in his breeches right there on the dancefloor. He removed his hand from Miss Bennet’s wrist as speedily as he was able. Just when things could not get worse, his host and hostess were bearing down on him, both looking anything but amused.

“Biggs and Johns, take this boy to my study. As soon as Her Grace calls the next set, I will join you,” Hertfordshire commanded.

“Mary, are you well?” Elizabeth enquired concernedly. “Tell us what occurred.”

In sotto voce Mary assured her sister and brother she was well and told them what had been said and what Viscount Tesco attempted to do.

The three walked back to where the Gardiners and Phillipses were seated as if nothing untoward had occurred.

Elizabeth called the next set, and as soon as Johnny Lucas collected Mary, she remained with her aunts and uncles, while her husband exited the ballroom.

They had decided it would not do for both of them not to be in the ballroom, and he would tell his wife all afterward.

By the time he reached the study, Hertfordshire’s fury was boiling over. He nodded to the footman outside the study, and the man opened the door to allow His Grace to enter and then pulled the door closed again.

Richard entered having been advised of what Tesco had attempted. If Hertfordshire had not shook his head, Richard would have torn the Viscount’s head from his shoulders.

“ WHAT ON EARTH WERE YOU THINKING ?” Hertfordshire yelled at the cowering man standing between Biggs and Johns. “Even had you succeeded in compromising her, I would never agree to her marrying an empty vessel who loses his father’s money at the tables like you.”

Viscount Tesco blanched. Surely the Duke of Hertfordshire did not know of his own and his father’s debts and that they were about to be called in?

“Unless you would like to be transported and treated to fourteen years of hard labour in Van Dieman’s Land, then if I were you, I would tell me everything.

Or the guards and I could leave the room and leave you with Fitzwilliam here.

” Hertfordshire rested his fists on the desk and glared at the quaking man.

“Y-you know w-we are d-deep in d-d-debt?” Tesco stammered. Looking at the younger Fitzwilliam brother he saw naked fury and a desire to end him. He was too scared not to tell the truth.

“I do. Your father made several ill-advised high-risk investments, and you keep playing and losing at the tables. Even in my own home this night you have lost close to one thousand pounds. I know you intended to compromise my sister, who is also my ward. Were you put up to it, or was this your idea?” Hertfordshire demanded.

As much as he hated telling about his father’s part in this, he was far more scared of being transported.

“Father never forgave you for refusing to marry Petunia in ’04.

It cost him five and twenty thousand pounds to have a gently born man, a lowly country squire, marry her.

In having me marry Miss Bennet, he could recoup that money as well as enough to pay a portion of our debts to satisfy the creditors for the nonce and remove the threat from Tamarin.

” Tesco dropped his head in shame. He was aware that what he and his father had attempted to do was not honourable.

“Johns, have two of your men invite the Earl of Tamarin to join us,” Hertfordshire ordered. “Richard you will be missed, return to the ball room.”

After spearing Tesco with a look which told the younger man what he wanted to do to him, Richard exited the study to go find Mary to make sure she was well. If she was harmed, he would return, and no one would save Tesco from him.

The big man nodded and left the study. It was not long to wait before Johns returned escorting the semi-soused earl. “Ahh, Hertfordshire, are we here to discuss the amount you will settle on your ward when she is elevated to marry my heir?” Tamarin asked confidently.

“No, your progeny has told all. I know you ordered him to compromise my sister because I refused to marry your high-in-the-belly daughter six years past. In the morning, I will purchase all of your debts and call them in. If you cannot pay, I will seize your property, and for good measure, you will be thrown into debtor’s prison.

I will use my influence at court to have your line ended, and the royals will withdraw your patents,” Hertfordshire announced with control, his voice tinged with icy asperity.

“You cannot! I am a Peer of the Realm! I will not allow…” Tamarin blustered.

“There is nothing you can do to stop me. Now get out of my house and take your whelp with you. I suggest you enjoy the last few days you will be an earl and own property.” Hertfordshire nodded to Biggs and Johns, who assisted the two Grangers out of the house.

Meanwhile, Richard found Mary with Lady Elizabeth. It was very fortunate for Tesco that the woman he loved was unharmed. He intended to remain close to her side until the final set was called.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Dancing the waltz with Richard was everything Mary had dreamed it would be. That dance erased any memory she had of the unpleasantness with Viscount Tesco.

After the ball ended, Mary stood with Lizzy and Archy to farewell the guests not residing at Hertfordshire House and then floated up to her bedchamber.

After her maid helped her change into her night attire and her ablutions were complete, Mary fell into her bed, was soon asleep, and had a happy smile on her face as she slumbered.

Before they went to their shared bed, Hertfordshire told Lizzy all that was said in the study. She agreed that it was nothing less than the Grangers deserved.

She wanted to ask Jane about her night, but that would be on the morrow.