Page 45 of Redemption of a Marquess

Chapter Ten

Jeanine reentered the ballroom with Lady Guilford and realized the orchestra was playing a country dance. A good stroke of luck that. At least the dance she would share with Mr. Ross would not be a shorter dance. Lady Guilford slipped along the wall and halted at the corner of the ballroom near the hallway leading to the refreshments table, and scanned the still crowded room.

“We may not find him in time for the next dance,” she said more to herself than Jeanine.

Jeanine watched the dancers, suddenly irritated by the loud murmur of voices. She’d never attended a party this large back home. A party with more than a hundred people would have been considered a huge success.

The marquess reentered the ballroom and Jeanine wished that she could dance with him again. He really was a much better dancer than any other partner she’d danced with. She forgot to ask if he had found an elderly gentleman for her.

Lady Claire stepped up behind him and touched his arm. He turned and Jeanine glimpsed his smile when he saw the lady. She leaned close—too close for propriety—and said something. Jeanine couldn’t discern his expression, but he leaned a little closer.

“Does Grey know Lady Claire well?” she asked Lady Guilford.

Lady Guilford looked in the direction Jeanine stared. “Well enough,” she replied. “Lady Claire’s brother is in negotiations with Valan for her hand in marriage.”

Jeanine looked sharply at her. “They are to be married?”

Lady Guilford again scanned the ballroom. “Where is Mr. Ross?”

“I didn’t know that Grey was to marry,” Jeanine said.

“He wouldn’t say anything. He is an intensely private man.” She laughed. “Despite the fact that he constantly flaunts his improprieties to society. But there is a method to that madness.”

“What do you mean?” Jeanine said

Lady Guilford cast her a side glance. “Never mind.”

“When will they marry?” Jeanine asked.

“No contract has been signed, and if Valan doesn’t take care for his reputation, her brother will retract the offer.”

“But he is a marquess—and an earl—not to mention, he is very wealthy. Why would her brother do that?”

“Even a title and money does not save a man from closed doors, if he goes too far. Three years ago, Lord Ingers married a bastard girl barely out of the schoolroom. He found all doors closed to him. He moved to the country and, three years later, his young wife ran off with a navy captain. He never returned to Town.”

“That could never happen to Grey,” Jeanine said. “He is too… too intelligent to let that happen.”

“Lady Claire’s family does not need a title or money. An alliance must be without reproach,” Lady Guilford said. “In truth, I am surprised the family is interested in the connection. Though, ours is a very old family.”

Janine started to ask if Grey wanted to marry her, but stopped when he smiled down at Lady Claire. He certainly acted like a man who might consider marriage. What would happen if they married before Jeanine found an elderly gentleman to marry? Would Grey send her away? If his new wife wanted it, yes.

Two dances later, Jeanine decided she really had danced enough for one evening. The gentlemen were polite enough, but they were too young—they would live at least twenty years, maybe thirty—and she’d heard more than enough about new jackets, new horses, and how pretty her eyes were to last a lifetime. She hadn’t seen Miss Stone in over an hour. Perhaps she had been smart enough to slip away. Jeanine scanned the ballroom as best as her diminished height would allow, but found no sign of Miss Stone. Perhaps she could slip away too. But she discarded the idea as quickly as it formed, for she knew that Grey would not be pleased, as the party was held in her honor.

She turned to the right to find Miss Stone two steps away. “Miss Stone,” she said when her companion reached her, “I’ve never been so happy to see anyone in my life.”

“I am flattered, Miss Matheson. But, surely, you have spoken with many people far more interesting than me tonight.”

Jeanine shook her head. “You couldn’t be more wrong. Most of the people I spoke with are very dull.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Miss Stone whispered. “Tonight’s guests are among Society’s most elite. They are highly educated.”

“Educated about pretty clothes and horses.” Jeanine snorted. “Oh, and food. I have never met so many people obsessed with food.”

“One must know good food in order to entertain,” Miss Stone pointed out.

Jeanine sent her a deprecating look. “You’re being too kind. I think—” She broke off when two young ladies bypassed a nearby group of men, their eyes on Jeanine.

They stopped in front of her. She had met the girls earlier in the evening, but couldn’t recall their names. A frantic search of memory failed to provide any trace of their names.