Page 155 of The Lady and the Duke

But the fact was, she knew none of these people. And unless she was introduced to gentleman friends of Ellen, she would most likely not spend much of the evening dancing. But she was content with that. David would offer to dance with her several times, and Ellen would probably conspire with Bartley to dance with her atleastonce.

David turned to her. “Miss Lydia, would you like to take the next dance with me?” He looked longingly at the buffet table, “Or would you rather we go to the buffet for somesupper?”

Lydia smiled. “I think a little supper would be nice. What doyousay?”

David’s face lit up. “Oh, yes, Miss Lydia, that would besplendid.”

He eagerly stood up and offered his hand to Lydia. He then turned to Ellen, “Will youjoinus?”

“No, thank you.Notyet.”

The selection of food was so vast it overwhelmed Lydia and she ended up selecting only a few offerings. David, however, filled and heaped his plate before they returned to theirtable.

David dug into the food on his plate and said nothing until he was nearlyfinished.

“Splendid spread, is it not?” he announced joyfully. “Miss Lydia, would you like to go back for anotherround?”

She had barely eaten anything of what she had. “No, thank you, Mr. David. I am quitecontent.”

“Then you will excuse me.” He got up and went back to thebuffet.

Ellen had wandered off and was chatting with friends at another table. Bartley came over and stood next to her, putting his arm around her waist. She looked happy and Lydia was very pleased for herfriend.

But already Lydia was becoming bored. She wished she had brought a book, but who brings a book to a party? Then she began to daydream about her garden. She was wondering if the worker assigned to watering the new fruit trees was doing his job properly. And she began to go over in her mind where the new vegetables were to be planted in the garden nextspring.

But she was shaken from her reverie by the sight of Daniel climbing the stairs to the party. But, of course, he would have been invited, why had she notconsideredthat?

He stood at the top of the stairs and looked around the room, but he did not see her sitting alone at the table. However, he did see the wine service and went directly to it and took a glass of wine. Then he turned around and surveyed the room again. He spotted some friends at a nearby table and went to greet them. He stood talking to them and laughing. He was invited to sit with them and he sat down next to a stunningly beautiful woman with strikingredhair.

A server topped up his glass once and then, a short while later, once again. He leaned in and whispered in the red headed woman’s ear, as he put his hand on her shoulder, and then a moment later around herwaist.

Lydia was shocked. What had she just witnessed? Was he flirting with that woman? It seemed he was. Was this the reason he had not communicated with her at all the last few days? Had he discarded her? Was he entertaining another? She did not know what tothink.

David finally came back with his second plate of food, sat down, and immediately beganeating.

“You should try the Scotch salmon. Quite the best I’ve had in quite a while, let metellyou.”

Just then Ellen returned to the table with Bartley. She sat at her place, while Bartley came over and stood atLydia’sside.

“Might I, please, have this dance, MissLydia?”

“That would be lovely, thank you, Mr.Evans.”

“Oh, please call me Bartley,” he said, as he offered herhishand.

He escorted her to the dance floor and they began to dance awaltz.

“You dance beautifully,Lydia.”

“Thank you, Bartley. And what a lovely evening you have arranged. It seems to be quite asuccess.”

“Are you enjoyingLondon?”

“Tolerablyso.”

“Only tolerably? We are not sweeping you offyourfeet?”

Lydia laughed. “I am not certain I have the stamina forLondonlife.”