Page 28 of A Match for Princess Pompous
“That was different,” she said. “You were required to, so no one would think twice about seeing it.”
“Hmm.” He apparently hadn’t pondered it in quite that way. “Then I am even more determined to walk into the ballroom with you.”
They walked through the doors of the ballroom and into the glittering whirl of the Season’s grandest social event. Odette received many of the same looks she had the past few months: blatant curiosity, hints of superiority, subtle dismissal. But she also saw something new sprinkled about the room: smiles of welcome, happiness at her arrival, a hint of approval.
“Walking in with you seems to have helped my standing,” Odette said to Jack.
“It’s not me,” Jack insisted. “I have been hearing very positive things about you during nearly every at-home and casual conversation in the park. I would wager Mrs. Northrop has been doing a great deal of talking.”
“I am beginning to suspect that she knows absolutely everyone.” Odette shook her head. “I had never heard of her until she arrived on our doorstep. Yet, she apparently has more connections than the Prince of Wales himself.”
“And she is utilizing those connections to make certain you’ll dance with every eligible gentleman of importance in Town.”He clearly liked that no more than Odette did. “I am doing my utmost to trust her methods.”
“But it is not easy,” Odette added.
“Not in the least.” He took a breath as they approached his parents and hers, standing to the side of the ballroom, speaking with the Summerfields. “Yet, she is our best chance. We’ll simply have to choose to believe she knows what she is about.”
She offered a quick dip of her head to a group of matrons they passed. Voice still lowered, she spoke to Jack once more. “I don’t know how much longer my heart can bear this.”
“Then tell yourself you need bear it only this one night,” he said. “Tell yourself all our dreams will come true if we can simply endure for this one night.”
This one night.She squared her shoulders. She could do that. She would. She had to.
***
Jack waited impatiently for the supper dance. He was struggling to keep his own advice. Trusting Mrs. Northrop’s methods when she was actively making Odette the belle of this particular ball was difficult to say the least. He kept to the edges of the room, avoiding the necessity of asking any other ladies to stand up with him, while keenly aware that doing so would likely mean being the subject of a great many whispers of disapproval in the days to come.
He happened past the Summerfields just as Miss Summerfield was returned to their side by her most recent dance partner. They saw him, not allowing him the luxury of slipping away unnoticed.
“Mr. Hewitt.” Mrs. Summerfield waved him over. “We have not seen much of you yet this evening.” She turned to herdaughter. “You have a dance remaining, do you not? An unclaimed set?”
“Mother,” she whispered miserably, heat filling her cheeks.
Despite his preference for dancing only with Odette, he did not wish for Miss Summerfield to be embarrassed or made unhappy. “I would be happy to stand up with you,” he said. “Honored.”
Mrs. Summerfield beamed.MissSummerfield looked only more miserable. Jack might have been offended if he didn’t see in her eyes a desperation to simply be granted a moment’s respite from the demands of the social whirl. She was quiet, precisely the sort of person who, if the exact opposite wasn’t absolutely required of her, would have kept home, interacting with only the smallest number of her closest associates. How did her family not see that? Perhaps they simply didn’t care.
“This is the supper dance, Mother,” she said. “It has been claimed.”
The supper dance.He had engaged Odette for the supper dance. How could he politely extricate himself from his current company so he could find her?
“Who has claimed it?” Mrs. Summerfield asked. “No one appears to be approaching.”
Both ladies glanced about, confusion and concern on their faces. He could not simply walk away, no matter his commitment to Odette. He could be a moment late, though he could not,wouldnot relinquish entirely the opportunity to stand up with her and spend the length of supper at her side.
“Mr. Tolmer was meant to stand up with me for this set,” Miss Summerfield said. “Where do you suppose he is?”
Jack knew Tolmer. He was not one to fail in his duties. Jack looked around as well. “I saw him not thirty minutes ago.” Odd.
“You don’t suppose he has run out on his promise?” Miss Summerfield sounded somehow both hopeful and despondent. She’d likely enjoy a respite for the length of a set, yetabandonment did no young lady’s reputation nor happiness any good.
Where was Tolmer? People nearby were beginning to take note of the situation.
“Mr. Hewitt, please will you stand up with her? This humiliation is too much for her delicate feelings.”
“I am engaged for this set,” he said. “I would not wish to do Miss Armistead such a disservice.”
Miss Summerfield, in an admirable show of strength, turned an empathetic gaze on him, but one undermined by the sheen of tears in her eyes. “You must go claim your set. Odette will be quite counting on it.”
