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Ned quickly did the honors. “Emma, this is Lord George Linfield and Mr. Nigel Eversley. We’re all up at Oxford together. George, Nigel, my cousin Miss Emma Dunster.”
The two men crashed into each other trying to take her hand. Emma looked vaguely embarrassed and heartily amused.
“Excuse me, Linfield,” Nigel said in a deep voice, trying to appear older than his twenty-one years. “I believe I was trying to kiss Miss Dunster’s hand.”
“Excuse me, Eversley, I thought I was taking her hand.”
“You must be mistaken.”
“Really? I rather think you are mistaken.”
“You are highly mistaken if you think I’m mistaken.”
“Goodness!” Emma exclaimed. “I do believe Aunt Caroline is calling me. It was so lovely meeting you both.” With that, she hastily scurried away, trying to find her aunt
“Oh, brilliant, Linfield, absolutely brilliant,” Nigel said sarcastically. “Now you’ve gone and done it”
“I’ve gone and done it. If you hadn’t been falling all over yourself grabbing at her hand…”
“If you will excuse me,” Ned put in silkily, “I believe my mother is calling me as well.” He quickly slipped away and followed Emma, hoping she knew where to find her.
Across the ballroom, Belle was dancing with William Dunford. The two had met the previous year and, after a few weeks of courting during which they realized they were not at all suited to one another romantically, they had quickly become close friends. “I hope your cousin is poor,” he laughed, watching Linfield and Eversley fall all over themselves trying to meet Emma.
“Really?” Belle asked, amused. “Why?”
“Your family is going to be beleaguered as it is. If she’s got money, every fortune-hunter in England is going to be pounding on your door.”
Belle laughed. “Don’t tell me you’re planning on trying for her.”
“Good God, no,” Dunford exclaimed with a smile, his brown eyes warming as he remembered Alex’s obsession with Emma. “Not that she isn’t exceptionally beautiful, of course.”
“She has a mind, too,” Belle said pointedly.
“Imagine that!” Dunford teased. “Really, Belle, I never doubted for one moment that she was every bit as quick-witted as you are. I just imagine that she’ll have her hands full without me.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“Oh, nothing at all, Belle,” he said absently, scanning the ballroom for Alex. “Nothing at all. By the way, did I mention you look ravishing in blue?”
Belle smiled wryly. “How unfortunate, then, that I’m wearing green.”
Emma, meanwhile, was still trying to find her aunt when Ned caught up with her. “I don’t suppose you know where Mother is,” Ned said, picking up two glasses of lemonade from a nearby table.
“Not a clue,” Emma responded. “But thank you for the lemonade. I’m parched.”
“I imagine if we stand here long enough, she’ll find us. I think she still has about two hundred people she wants you to meet.”
Emma laughed. “No doubt.”
“I must apologize about the scene back there, Emma. I didn’t think they’d act that absurdly.”
“Didn’t mink who’d act that absurdly?” Belle suddenly appeared at Ned’s right, Dunford at her heels.
“I’m afraid I introduced Emma to George Linfield and Nigel Eversley.”
“Oh, Ned, you didn’t! Poor Emma will be beleaguered by them for months.”
“Don’t worry, Emma,” Ned said reassuringly. “They’re really good chaps once you get to know them. They just lose their heads around a beautiful woman.”
Emma laughed throatily. “Really, Ned, I mink you have just given me a compliment. That may be the first one.”
“Nonsense. If you recall, I couldn’t stop praising your right hook after you broke that pickpocket’s nose in Boston.”
Dunford decided he didn’t have to worry about Emma having any trouble with Alex. But he did start to wonder if his friend was going to be able to manage the redheaded American. He turned to Ned and said, “Blydon, I don’t believe you’ve introduced me to your cousin.”
“Oh, so sorry, Dunford. Been introducing her all night. It’s hard to keep track.”
“Emma, this is William Dunford,” Belle interjected. “He’s a great friend of mine. Dunford, I’m sure you realize that this is my cousin, Miss Emma Dunster.”
“I certainly do.” Dunford took Emma’s hand and graciously lifted it to his lips. “It’s a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Really?” Emma asked, intrigued.
“But I hardly told you anything,” Belle protested. Dunford smiled enigmatically and was saved from further questioning by Lady Worth’s voice.
“Emma, darling,” Caroline called. “I want you to meet Lady Summerton.” The foursome turned to see Caroline heading toward them with a plump lady wearing a purple gown with a matching turban. Emma thought she looked like a pot of grape jam.
“Don’t look now,” Belle whispered, “but here comes one of those ninnyheads we warned you about, Emma.”
“I’m so happy to meet you,” gushed Lady Summerton. “You’ve made quite an entrance into society. There hasn’t been anything like it since Belle made her debut last year.” The pudgy woman took a deep breath, turned to Emma’s aunt, and continued, “And Caroline, you must be so proud. This is surely the party of the year. Why, the Duke of Ashbourne even made an appearance. I don’t think he’s been to a ball such as this in over a year. You must simply be thrilled!”