She did not have long to think about the Cavalier, however, for her dances were soon all spoken for, and she spent most of the next hour on the dance floor. She was taking a much-needed rest, sipping a glass of punch and chatting with Francesca, when she saw her grandmother making her way toward her, gripping the arm of a solemn sandy-haired man.
Callie groaned under her breath.
Francesca glanced at her. Is something the matter?
Just my grandmother. She is bringing over another prospect, I warrant.
Lady Haughston spotted the dowager duchess. Ah. I see.
She has become obsessed with the idea that I must marry soon. I think she fears that if I do not become engaged this next Season, I will spend the rest of my life as a spinster.
Francesca glanced again at the pair walking toward them. And she thinks Alfred Carberry would suit you? she asked, frowning slightly.
She thinks Alfred Carberry would suit her, Callie replied. He is in line to inherit an earldom, though given the fact that his grandfather is still alive and hale, not to mention his father, I shouldnt think it will be until he is in his sixties.
But he is such a dreadfully dull sort, Francesca pointed out. All the Carberrys are. I do not suppose they can help it, living all together up there in Northumberland. But I should not think you would enjoy being married to him.
Yes, but, you see, he is so respectable.
Mmm, that is one of the things that makes him so dull.
But that suits my grandmother.
And hes nearly forty.
Ah, but men my age are apt to be flighty. They might go haring off and do something that isnt respectable. No, Grandmother prefers them stodgy and dulland from a good family, of course. Wealth would be nice, but she is not utterly wedded to that.
Francesca chuckled. I fear your grandmother is doomed to disappointment.
Yes, but I am doomed to her lecturing me. She has been doing so all winter.
Oh dear, Francesca said sympathetically. Perhaps you should come visit me. My butler has instructions to turn away all dull and stodgy menor women, for that matter.
Callie laughed, opening her fan to hide her mouth as she murmured, Do not let Grandmother hear that, or she will forbid me to call on you.
Calandra, dear, there you are. Not dancing? And Lady Haughston. How lovely you look, as always.
Thank you, Duchess, Francesca replied, curtseying. I must return the compliment, for you are in excellent looks tonight.
It was true, of course, for Callies grandmother, with her upsweep of snow-white hair and slim, ramrod-straight body, was still an arresting-looking woman. She had been, Callie knew, quite a beauty in her day, and Callie counted herself fortunate that at least the duchess had excellent taste in clothes and had never quibbled about Callies choice of wardrobeaside from a time or two in Callies first Season when her grandmother had put her foot down firmly against a ball gown that was other than white.
Thank you, my dear. The duchess smiled in a regal way, taking the compliment as her due. You know the Honorable Alfred Carberry, do you not? She turned toward the man at her side, unobtrusively maneuvering things so that the duchess stood facing Francesca and Mr. Carberry was closer to Callie.
The duchess went on, introducing the women to Carberry. Lady Haughston. My granddaughter, Lady Calandra. Tell me, Lady Haughston, how is your mother? We must have a nice coze together, for I dare swear I have not seen you since Lord Leightons wedding.
She laid a hand on Francescas arm and glanced over at Callie and Mr. Carberry, effectively separating the two couples. Smiling indulgently, she said, No doubt you young people would rather not listen to us gossip. Why dont you ask Lady Calandra to dance, Mr. Carberry, while Lady Haughston and I catch up with each other?
Francescas brows lifted slightly at being put in a group with the duchess while the honorable Alfred, at least seven or eight years older than she, was termed a young person. However, she knew when she had been outmaneuvered, and she could not help but admire the duchesss expertise, so, casting a single sparkling glance at Callie, she let the duchess steer her aside.
Callie, smiling somewhat stiffly, said, Pray do not feel you must dance with me, sir, just because my grandmother
Nonsense, my girl, Mr. Carberry said in the hearty jocular voice that he commonly adopted with his younger relatives. Twould be my honor to take a twirl about the floor with you. Enjoying yourself, eh?
Callie resigned herself to a dance with the man, reasoning that it would be easier to avoid conversation with him while they were dancing. She was pleased to find, when they took to the floor, that it was a sprightly country dance, which allowed little breath or time for talking, though it was unfortunately a good deal longer than a waltz. She found herself glancing around the floor as they went through the steps, looking for the curving plume of a Cavalier hat.
Then she had time to do no more than smile and listen to his thanks for the dance before her hand was claimed by her next partner, Mr. Waters. She knew Mr. Waters only slightly, having met him once before, and she had the faint suspicion that the man was probably angling for a wealthy wife, but at least he was a witty conversationalist and a smooth dancer.
When their dance ended, Mr. Waters suggested a stroll around the room, and Callie agreed. It was almost ten oclock, which meant that the dancing would shortly cease and soon the guests would start making their way to the supper that would be laid out in the smaller ballroom across the hall. Callie feared that her grandmother would approach her with some appropriate escort to lead her in to supper, so she would just as soon stay out of the duchesss sight for the next few moments.
They started around the periphery of the room, with her escort making polite conversation about the grandness of the ball, the liveliness of the music and the warmth of the room after the dancing. He paused at one of the doors, open to the terrace to let in some of the refreshingly cold evening air.
Ah, that is much better, is it not? he said. One can grow quite heated dancing.
Callie nodded absently, thinking that perhaps Mr. Waters was not so interesting a conversationalist as she had thought. She glanced around the room and finally spotted her grandmother. The old lady was engaged in conversation with Lord Pomerance, and Callie stifled a groan. Surely her grandmother would not inflict that insufferable windbag upon her! He was younger than Mr. Carberry and less stodgy, but his sense of self-importance was overreaching, and he was certain that everyone around him was deeply interested in all the minute details of his existence.
Those two have the right idea, Mr. Waters continued.
What? Callies gaze was fixed on her grandmother.
Her companion nodded toward the terrace beyond them. Stepping outside for a bit of fresh air.
Yes, I suppose.
The duchess turned her head, searching the room, and Callie knew that she was looking for her.
Callie whipped around so that her back was to her grandmother. Yes, she said quickly. You are righta breath of fresh air.
She slipped out the door. Her surprised escort hesitated for a fraction of a second, then grinned and hurried out after her.
Callie walked swiftly away from the ballroom toward the darker reaches of the terrace. The winter air was chilly against her bare arms and neck, but, warmed as she was from dancing in the stuffy room, it was at the moment quite welcome. She stopped when they reached the railing that marked the end of the upper terrace, well beyond where her grandmother might see if she looked out the door from the ballroom.