‘I wish that I might,’ she said and smiled up at him. How handsome he was and how much she wished she were one of those young girls meeting a man she admired for the first time. ‘You know I cannot, Hal. It would not be right.’
‘No, I suppose not,’ he said and looked regretful. ‘You will not feel neglected if I dance? I must take my share of the responsibility for entertaining our guests.’
‘Of course you must,’ she agreed. ‘Do not be concerned for me, Hal. I shall be happy to watch.’
‘I wish that I might sit at your side and do the same,’ he said, touching her gloved hand. ‘But I must do my duty as one of the hosts.’
‘Go and enjoy yourself,’ she said and gave a slight shake of her head.
He remained with her a few minutes longer, remarking on various guests. Madeline did not know all of them and he pointed out various neighbours and long-standing friends, before leaving her to seek out one of the ladies still sitting on the sidelines.
Madeline found herself a chair by the window, where she could watch the other guests mingling. She could hear the music and see the dancers as they whirled by, but was a little out of the crowd. After a few minutes alone, Lord Ravenscar joined her.
‘How pleasant to have someone to talk to who does not dance,’ he remarked. ‘I fear my health will not sustain it, but I like to see the young people enjoying themselves.’
‘Yes, indeed, especially the very young girls,’ Madeline replied. ‘There is a very pretty girl over there—the one with red hair. She looks so happy and excited.’
‘You must mean Patience Harris,’ Lord Ravenscar said. ‘Her mother was an exceedingly handsome lady, but she died eighteen months ago. Patience could not attend dances last year and I dare say this may be her first affair of this sort.’
‘I thought it might be,’ Madeline said. ‘I dare say some might think it improper of me to attend this evening, but I do not intend to dance.’
‘No, I fear you cannot,’ he said and looked at her. ‘Hal has told me something of your story, Madeline. You must be assured of a welcome here for as long as you wish and if there is anything I can do to make your life easier...’
Madeline was thanking him for his kindness when her eye was drawn to a party of newcomers. They were a little late and Jenny had left her position at the head of the stairs to join the party, but she went immediately to greet the family. As the last of them entered the room, Madeline’s breath caught.
What was Lord Rochdale doing here? Jenny would scarcely have invited him knowing that he was suspected of having tried to abduct her.
A feeling of panic swept through her as she saw his eyes move about the room until they rested on her. Had Lord Ravenscar not been sitting with her she thought she would have left the room at once. However, to do so would occasion surprise—and, after some reflection, she realised that it would appear to the marquis that she was afraid of meeting him. She must accept that they would meet socially sometimes and, until she was certain that it was he who had had tried to abduct her, she must greet him with cool politeness.
He had seen her. She knew it from the narrowing of his eyes, but, thankfully, he did not come to her immediately and she was able to control her feelings of panic. He could do nothing to harm her here.
‘I suppose I must circulate a little,’ Lord Ravenscar murmured. ‘I shall return as soon as I have done my duty.’
She smiled and inclined her head as he stood and walked away to greet and welcome other guests. Undecided as to whether she would be well advised to do the same, Maddie was relieved when two matrons sat down on chairs next to her.
‘Well, isn’t this pleasant?’ one of the ladies remarked. ‘I was surprised when we received the invitation for it is hardly seven months since Mark was...killed, but I suppose the young people wish to entertain.’
‘Jenny consulted with Lord Ravenscar and he said it would do everyone good to put the sadness of his son’s death behind them.’
‘Ah, yes, a bride must be allowed her amusements, must she not?’ the matron said and looked at Maddie speculatively. ‘I believe you have been recently widowed, Lady Lethbridge?’
‘Yes, that is true,’ Madeline replied. ‘I am a guest here and felt I must attend, though of course I do not dance this evening.’
‘No, that would certainly be frowned on. I dare say London manners are a little different to ours here in the country—and your husband was some years your senior, I understand.’
Madeline murmured something appropriate. She was being tested and perhaps censured for attending the dance, but she kept a cool smile in place and refused to be drawn on the difference between town manners and those that applied in the country. This woman could have no idea of Madeline’s circumstances, or of the pain and humiliation that she’d suffered at her husband’s hands. Nor did she intend to enlighten her.
After a while the woman got up and moved away. Another lady came to take her seat and smiled at Madeline.
‘I believe I am slightly acquainted with your mama,’ she said in a friendly way. ‘We knew each other as girls. I have only sons, but I’ve brought my niece Patience this evening. The poor child has been in mourning for too long and I wanted her to enjoy herself.’
‘She is the very pretty girl with red hair, I think,’ Madeline said. ‘Lord Ravenscar pointed her out to me earlier.’
‘Yes, she is a pretty girl,’ the lady said. ‘I am Lady Eliza Smythe—and I know you are recently widowed. I am glad that you have some good friends. It can be such a lonely time and friends always pick one’s spirits up. I am a widow myself, you see. My husband died two years this past Christmas and I still miss him.’
‘Yes, for I dare say you were happy?’
‘Yes, very.’ The lady placed a sympathetic hand on hers. ‘I was fortunate. I do not ask your confidence, Lady Lethbridge, but I believe...forgive me. The count was not...but perhaps I speak too frankly. I happen to know he was not the kindest of men.’
Madeline swallowed hard. Lady Eliza meant to be kind and she could not rebuff her. ‘No, he was not, which is why...I am not grieving.’
‘I thought not. You will recover all the sooner, my dear.’
Madeline’s eyes had strayed to the dancers and what she saw made her cry out. Lady Eliza asked her what was wrong and she nodded in the direction of the dancers.
‘Forgive me, ma’am. Your niece is dancing with a gentleman I think she ought not...the Marquis of Rochdale. It is not my affair, but he may not be all he seems and perhaps not suitable company for such a young lady.’
‘No, indeed he is not. I know of his reputation. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. She will be warned not to dance with him a second time.’
‘He was not invited tonight, but came with friends, I imagine.’
‘He does have relatives in the area,’ Lady Eliza said and stood up. ‘Thank you for the warning. I must make sure Patience removes from his company as soon as possible without giving offence.’
Madeline inclined her head as the lady set out with new purpose. A little shiver went through her as she thought of that pretty child at the mercy of an unscrupulous man like the marquis. Thank goodness her aunt had the good sense to know the man for what he was and not be blinded by his wealth or title.
She knew that she was not the only young girl to be forced into an unhappy marriage, though perhaps her father had had more excuse than many parents for obliging his daughter to marry a man she could never love.
Madeline was alone with her thoughts for a few minutes and then