Page 109 of The Unfortunate Debutante
She eyed him suspiciously. “You’re up to something.”
“You shall find out soon enough,” he said mysteriously, stepping back and reaching for her hand.
As he led her into the crowded ballroom, the Duke of Wellington was announced at the far end of the room.
Emma stopped and turned to him in surprise. “The Duke of Wellington is at my ball?”
“Ourball,” he corrected. “And, yes.”
“How did you arrange that?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “It turns out that Lord Revett is a distant cousin of the Duke of Wellington, and he owed me a favor.”
Lifting her brow, she asked, “The House Speaker owedyoua favor?”
“You could call it that.”
The crowd parted as the Duke of Remington, and a tall, lean man with a pointed nose and black hair approached them. “My dear Emma Pearson, and Lord Wentworth, allow me to introduce you to the Duke of Wellington,” he invited.
Emma curtsied. “Your grace,” she murmured respectfully.
“Thank you for attending our humble engagement ball,” Simeon said after he bowed.
The Duke of Wellington chuckled. “There is nothing humble about a social gathering that the Duchess of Remington hosts.”
“Very true,” the Duke of Remington agreed.
“I’m not a man that favors balls, but I would be honored if you would save your second set of the evening for me,” the Duke of Wellington requested, his eyes reflecting kindness as he watched Emma.
“I would be honored,” Emma said.
His lips twitched. “Very well, then. I will be back shortly to collect my dance.”
“If that doesn’t change the ton’s opinion of you, then we have one more trick up our sleeve,” the Duke of Remington remarked, watching the Duke of Wellington walk away.
“Which is?”
The duke smiled. “Patience is not one of your virtues, is it, my dear?”
“No, it’s not,” she admitted, returning his smile.
The duke bowed. “If you will excuse me, the ball is about to begin.”
Taking her hand, Simeon placed it into the crook of his arm. “Would you like a glass of champagne before you dance the first set with Downshire?” he joked.
“That’s not amusing,” she replied, bringing up her gloved hand to hide her smile.
He chuckled. “This time if you fall, I will be the one to catch you.”
“My hero,” she breathed.
Sir Alymer and his wife broke through the crowd and approached them. Lady Blackmore stopped in front of Emma and gushed, “You are looking radiant tonight, my dear.” She turned towards her husband. “Doesn’t she, Alymer?”
“Yes, she looks just like her mother did at this age,” he admitted, his voice strained. “I hadn’t noticed it until now.”
Betsey smiled kindly at her granddaughter. “Will you be coming for tea tomorrow?” she asked in a hopeful voice.
“Yes, I intend to,” Emma replied.
