mind plain looks, so what better choice than a half-blind man? Just then a lady sauntered up to him in a dark crimson gown and wrapped her hand around his arm. She tossed her head in laughter, showing off the gleam of diamonds at her neck. Just Sue’s luck—even the old, doddering ones were taken. She was doomed.
She supposed this would be the last time she would attend this event. By next season, she would be packed off to spend an eternity with Great-Aunt Mildred. Turning her attention to the dance floor, she watched the swirl of colors sweep past, not really seeing anything. Perhaps somewhere on that dance floor was a marriageable man. Of course, if he was on the dance floor, he was dancing with another lady. That lady most likely had beauty and a large dowry. Sue had neither. But surely there had to be some titled yet penniless or untitled yet wealthy gentleman here who would marry her simply because…
He would overlook her appearance, excessive chatter, and small dowry because… Because… “Blast it all.” He wouldn’t.
Had she just cursed aloud? Had anyone heard that?
She glanced around to see which matron she’d now offended and saw a tall, willowy figure hovering beside the nearby column. The woman clearly hadn’t heard, for she didn’t turn around or even flinch. Of course, she may not have been capable of flinching with a spine that straight. Her blond hair was secured in too tight a knot at the back of her neck. Truly, her hairpins must be painful. Could she blink, or were her eyes permanently open?
Sue craned her neck to see the lady’s face. That’s when she realized she knew this lady. “Lillian?”
Sue took a step closer, waiting for her friend to turn in her direction. “Lillian! I knew that must be you! It’s been ages!”
“Sue!” Lillian exclaimed, bright blue eyes twinkling in the light of the ballroom. “You have no idea how happy I am to see a friendly face here tonight. It’s been ages, has it not? We must catch up!”
“Yes, we certainly must! Isn’t this ball exquisite?” Sue smiled, trying not to think about the prospect of finding a suitor here or her impending doom come the end of the season. “I always love attending the Dillsworth affairs. Have you tried the cakes in the parlor yet? They never last very long, especially the ones filled with strawberry jam.”
That would certainly be Sue’s next stop, for she hadn’t eaten all evening and a cake sounded divine at the moment. She would move in that direction in a few minutes when she was done chatting with her old friend. “You would think from year to year they would realize the popularity of the cakes and prepare more. But alas, we are forced to clamor over a single table of sweets as soon as we arrive to get one. Who are you here with?”
“Two of my brothers are here as my chaperones. One is getting me a drink and the other I choose not to think about.” Lillian’s eyes narrowed at the mention of her brother. “Who is with you this evening?”
“My family. You remember my sister, Evangeline. It’s her come-out this year. She is preening in the upstairs ladies’ retiring room at the moment. You probably remember how she is, unable to take more than two steps away from a mirror to this day. It’s rather annoying, if I can be honest,” Sue finished with a laugh.
It felt nice to laugh and to be honest. Something inside her relaxed. Perhaps she wouldn’t find a husband here. Perhaps she would be forced to move to Scotland and live without chocolate for the remainder of her days. But tonight she would enjoy visiting with Lillian. Tonight she would watch couples dance around the floor while she ate cakes. Tonight she would live life. Lillian’s voice pulled her back to the present.
“I believe Evangeline must have been ten years old when last I saw her. I don’t want to think about how young we were. Does this mean you’re not yet married?”
Sue’s reverie about her moment of freedom ended with
She supposed this would be the last time she would attend this event. By next season, she would be packed off to spend an eternity with Great-Aunt Mildred. Turning her attention to the dance floor, she watched the swirl of colors sweep past, not really seeing anything. Perhaps somewhere on that dance floor was a marriageable man. Of course, if he was on the dance floor, he was dancing with another lady. That lady most likely had beauty and a large dowry. Sue had neither. But surely there had to be some titled yet penniless or untitled yet wealthy gentleman here who would marry her simply because…
He would overlook her appearance, excessive chatter, and small dowry because… Because… “Blast it all.” He wouldn’t.
Had she just cursed aloud? Had anyone heard that?
She glanced around to see which matron she’d now offended and saw a tall, willowy figure hovering beside the nearby column. The woman clearly hadn’t heard, for she didn’t turn around or even flinch. Of course, she may not have been capable of flinching with a spine that straight. Her blond hair was secured in too tight a knot at the back of her neck. Truly, her hairpins must be painful. Could she blink, or were her eyes permanently open?
Sue craned her neck to see the lady’s face. That’s when she realized she knew this lady. “Lillian?”
Sue took a step closer, waiting for her friend to turn in her direction. “Lillian! I knew that must be you! It’s been ages!”
“Sue!” Lillian exclaimed, bright blue eyes twinkling in the light of the ballroom. “You have no idea how happy I am to see a friendly face here tonight. It’s been ages, has it not? We must catch up!”
“Yes, we certainly must! Isn’t this ball exquisite?” Sue smiled, trying not to think about the prospect of finding a suitor here or her impending doom come the end of the season. “I always love attending the Dillsworth affairs. Have you tried the cakes in the parlor yet? They never last very long, especially the ones filled with strawberry jam.”
That would certainly be Sue’s next stop, for she hadn’t eaten all evening and a cake sounded divine at the moment. She would move in that direction in a few minutes when she was done chatting with her old friend. “You would think from year to year they would realize the popularity of the cakes and prepare more. But alas, we are forced to clamor over a single table of sweets as soon as we arrive to get one. Who are you here with?”
“Two of my brothers are here as my chaperones. One is getting me a drink and the other I choose not to think about.” Lillian’s eyes narrowed at the mention of her brother. “Who is with you this evening?”
“My family. You remember my sister, Evangeline. It’s her come-out this year. She is preening in the upstairs ladies’ retiring room at the moment. You probably remember how she is, unable to take more than two steps away from a mirror to this day. It’s rather annoying, if I can be honest,” Sue finished with a laugh.
It felt nice to laugh and to be honest. Something inside her relaxed. Perhaps she wouldn’t find a husband here. Perhaps she would be forced to move to Scotland and live without chocolate for the remainder of her days. But tonight she would enjoy visiting with Lillian. Tonight she would watch couples dance around the floor while she ate cakes. Tonight she would live life. Lillian’s voice pulled her back to the present.
“I believe Evangeline must have been ten years old when last I saw her. I don’t want to think about how young we were. Does this mean you’re not yet married?”
Sue’s reverie about her moment of freedom ended with
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