The Merry Lives of Spinsters (The Spinster Chronicles, Book 1) by Rebecca Connolly (15)

“Oh, isn’t this lovely? What a perfectly masterful arrangement of rooms! What taste! What elegance! Where are the hosts? I must congratulate them.”

Tony lifted his eyes heavenward. “Miranda, we are to be presented shortly. You haven’t even seen the ballroom yet.”

Miranda peered up at him suspiciously, her navy and gold earbobs glinting in the candlelight. “And why should that be any less magnificent than what I am currently seeing? Is the family inclined to leave that room to be an eyesore? I think not.” She reached down and flicked her navy silk skirts, the gold detailing on the hem dancing with the motion.

Tony shook his head and pulled her along as gently, yet firmly as he could. “Miranda, please do try to behave yourself.”

She gave a mock gasp of affront. “When has my behavior ever been less than perfection in public?”

“Shall we compile a list?” Mr. Johnston blustered good-naturedly from behind them.

Tony looked over his shoulder with a quick grin. His uncle by marriage had always been an amusing fellow, if a bit slower than one might have expected from a business man such as himself.

“Oh, Mr. Johnston, how droll,” Arabella chuckled, wrapping her husband on the wrist.

“And too cruel,” Miranda pouted. “After all the kindness I’ve shown you.”

Mr. Johnston had no chance to respond as they were suddenly before their hosts.

Tony bowed politely. “Lord Kirby, Lady Kirby, may I present my stepmother, Mrs. Sterling?”

They both inclined their heads with warm smiles. “A pleasure, Mrs. Sterling,” Lord Kirby said with genuine fondness. “We are most delighted with your stepson here. Such a credit to you.”

Miranda curtseyed graciously. “He is a credit to his father, sir, I can take no credit for his goodness myself, but I thank you for the compliment of thinking so.”

“You are so familiar, ma’am,” Lady Kirby broke in, shaking her head slightly. “I am sure I know you from somewhere.”

Miranda looked surprised. “I haven’t been to London in some years, madam. But I was once Miranda Keyes, if that helps at all.”

Lady Kirby beamed at her suddenly. “Of course! You sang at a musicale hosted by the Gregsons some years ago, an Italian aria.”

Now Miranda seemed positively bewildered. “I did, madam. Were you in attendance?”

She chuckled at that. “I was indeed, though half a world away. Lord Kirby asked for my hand that night, and your song seemed the song of my heart. I have never forgotten it.”

Miranda beamed and took Lady Kirby’s hand. “I am glad it touched someone, at least. What an honor, madam. Truly.” She turned to indicate the Johnstons. “My sister and her husband, Mr. Johnston.”

“Charmed,” Lord Kirby greeted, nodding to them. “Charmed indeed. Please, enjoy the ball.”

They all nodded and proceeded into the ballroom, Tony feeling a little windswept.

“You sang?” he asked Miranda quietly as they entered. “In public?”

“Every now and then,” Miranda said through her teeth, smiling for all the world, “I do behave as a proper lady ought. When asked to sing, being in possession of the necessary skills and talents, I complied. And in case it escaped your notice, I touched a few hearts.”

“Well, one, at least,” Tony reminded her.

He received a sharp elbow in his midsection for that, but it might have been worth it.

“Oh, look at this room!” Arabella exclaimed from behind them. “It’s a fairy land! Everything is gold! Oh, I shall be too afraid to touch anything. Fred! Fred, isn’t it a fairy land?”

“Just when I think the two of you couldn’t be more different,” Tony muttered, “something reminds me that you really are very alike.”

Miranda bit back a laugh and pulled his arm tighter.

Tony exhaled audibly as he looked about the room. He knew several people in attendance now, and most of them seemed to be here. He hadn’t thought the Kirbys so very popular, but the evidence was before him. He saw Charlotte in the midst of her admirers, Grace in conversation with her brother, who looked all too superior in these surroundings, and Prue, situated in her corner, as usual.

“Goodness sakes, is that Lady Hetty Redgrave?” Miranda suddenly asked, her voice ringing with delight.

Tony turned to her quickly, eyes wide. “You know her?”

“Of course! But I haven’t seen her in years, I had no idea she was still…” Miranda trailed off, tilting her head meaningfully.

“Alive?” he offered.

Her cheeks colored. “Well, yes, to be frank.”

“Be frank. She is alive, and she’s undoubtedly the best company you’ll find tonight.” He gave her a crooked smile. “Outside of yours truly, of course.”

Miranda gave him a pitying smile and patted his cheek. “It’s adorable that you think so.” She released his arm and started off towards Lady Hetty. “Save a dance for me, Tony. And one for Miss Allen. I insist on that.”

She insisted? He glanced around. At least six people had heard her say that.

There was nothing for it, then. To obey his stepmother, he had to dance with Georgie.

How unfortunate.

“Oh, Tony’s here, what a relief. All of the young women are safe.”

Tony turned at the sound of Hugh’s voice. “You object to my interference?”

Hugh looked at him blearily, looking rumpled, despite having just arrived. “I object to anything that doesn’t suit me.”

“Might I remind you that it was you who asked me to get involved?” Tony hissed, fighting his own revulsion at seeing his cousin thus.

“I didn’t think you’d go so far,” Hugh whined, blinking with difficulty. “It’s making me look dashed foolish before my friends.”

“Well, we couldn’t have that,” Tony drawled with a derisive snort.

Hugh missed the nature of his tone. “Give me something to tell them, Tony. Please. Anything.”

Tony stared at him, desperate to tell him off, to end the charade, to tell him the truth… He exhaled in irritation. “Tell them not to question me. I know what I am doing.”

Hugh brightened and thumped Tony’s chest almost jubilantly. “Brilliant, Tony. Absolutely brilliant. I’ll go straight away to the gaming room and tell them.” He half-stumbled away, struggling to recall the manner in which gentlemen usually walked.

“If you can remember it in five minutes,” Tony grumbled, shaking his head.

A twinge of guilt caused a pain in his chest, but he brushed it away. He hadn’t said anything that wasn’t true. They didn’t need to question him, and he did know what he was doing.

It simply wasn’t what Hugh or the others thought it was.

No harm done.

“What was that about?” Francis asked, suddenly coming to his side.

Tony shook his head. “You do not want to know, believe me.” He nodded at Janet with a smile. “Janet, you look beautiful.”

She curtseyed in acknowledgement, the burgundy of her gown bringing out the dark richness of her hair and eyes. “Thank you, Tony.” She glanced around, then back up at him. “Where is Miranda?”

Francis groaned, and Tony chuckled. “She spotted Lady Hetty, and decided she was better company.”

Janet laughed at that and looked towards the corner, where Miranda was now being introduced to Prue, who looked mildly terrified at the prospect.

Tony looked back at Janet with a frown. “Did you tell her about my association with the Spinsters, Janet?”

She turned back in surprise. “No, not a word. I presumed you would tell her if it became relevant. Considering she’s already decided on a woman for you…”

“She’s what?” Francis and Tony said together.

Janet giggled to herself, then clamped down on her lips. “Never you mind, it will all come out soon enough.” She waved her fan at the pair of them, then sauntered off in search of better company herself.

“Do you get the feeling that we have been left utterly abandoned and uninformed by our family?” Francis asked, sighing a little.

“All the bloody time,” Tony replied as he shook his head. He nodded towards Miranda and Lady Hetty. “Who knows where that will take me? I should probably make myself scarce.”

Francis made a soft sound of amusement. “Probably. Go find someone to dance with. They can’t criticize you if you’re dancing.”

That was probably true, Tony considered.

But whom would he dance with? Miranda wanted him to dance with Georgie, but he hadn’t seen her yet, so that was not an option. He glanced around the room, wondering how to spend his time until she did arrive.

Then suddenly he had it, and he smiled to himself.

Hugh and the other annoyed pups were upset that he was too involved with the Spinsters? They would absolutely despise him after this.

He strode across the room with all the purpose in the world, not caring who saw or what they would think about what he would do.

He stopped in front of Grace, who turned to face him in surprise. “Miss Morledge, would you dance the next with me?”

Grace smiled at him in confusion. “Of course, Captain Sterling.”

Tony held out a hand, and she took it with a laugh. “Good,” Tony praised softly. “Smile and laugh the entire time.”

“I can manage that,” she replied. “Why?”

“I’m going to dance with all of the Spinsters,” he informed her with a proud grin. “And I want everyone to see you all happy.”

Grace unleashed the full force of her smile on him, and he blinked at its brilliance.

“Right,” he said, slightly unsettled still. “Just like that.”

She nodded at him, took up position with the other ladies, and the dance commenced.

Grace smiled and laughed the entire time, drawing the gaze of a great many people, as though suddenly seeing her for the first time.

Charlotte followed suit, smiling and laughing gaily, though with none of the false airs she played at with her suitors. This, too, left the general public stunned and confused.

Prue was more restrained than the others, as was her nature, but by then everyone was wondering which lady would be delighted by dancing with Tony next, so her smiles and giggles had much the same effect. Even her mother was smiling, which was something of a miracle.

He allowed himself a rest after his dance with Prue, having been too distracted by the dance to notice if Georgie and Izzy had arrived, but he had seen Janet and Francis grinning at him, giving their nod of approval.

Miranda watched with interest from her seat near Lady Hetty but had remained where she was and as she was.

“You look fatigued.”

Tony smiled before he could stop himself and turned to face the voice he craved to hear. “Miss Allen.”

Georgie was a vision in a gown the color of lavender, her eyes the sort of brilliant green that would inspire poets and artists until the end of time. Her lips seemed fuller than he recalled, drawn up in a small smile that weakened his knees. She tilted her head at him curiously, her eyes asking a question that she did not voice.

“You are the most beautiful sight I have seen all day,” he told her in a ridiculous rush of breath.

She seemed surprised by that, then wrinkled up her nose in delight. “That’s a very lovely thing to say, thank you.”

“I mean it.”

“All day?” she asked, her mischievous glint returning.

“All day,” he said again. “Including this room, the park this morning, and anyone I saw in passing. Maybe even more than some flowers.”

“Well,” she replied, pretending to be impressed, “apparently I have a misconstrued idea of my own beauty.”

He nodded quickly, taking on the same sort of air. “I am sure you do. It is your one failing.”

Georgie heaved a sigh. “I knew there was one. What a tragedy.”

“But surely now that I have brought you into this new awareness, you are saved from it.” He tried to look hopeful, and it made Georgie giggle, which would forever be his favorite sound.

“I suppose so.” She smiled up at him. “I have no more failings.”

No, she did not.

But then, he wasn’t certain she ever had any to begin with.

That would remain his secret, though.

“So,” Georgie said in a suddenly bright tone, “your stepmother.”

Tony groaned and turned to face her with a shake of his head. “What did she say? I didn’t see you after you left, and she didn’t say a word. Nobody said a word.”

Georgie pretended to pout. “Aw, are you feeling left out?”

He gave her as severe a look as he could manage. “A little, yes. I am greatly concerned about everything surrounding Miranda.”

“I can see why.” Georgie watched the dance, seeming to laugh to herself.

Tony followed suit but couldn’t manage to smile. “Now what in the world does that mean?”

“Miranda is very… direct,” Georgie said, smiling still.

“Georgie, you know this is killing me, right?”

She nodded once. “I had gathered that, yes.”

He growled softly with his irritation. “And? Are you going to take pity on me or torment me?”

“Decisions, decisions…” She gave him a distinctly impish look, and he had the wild urge to kiss her senseless.

“Georgie,” he ground out.

She giggled to herself again. “She’s decided that I will do for her stepsons.”

Tony blinked at her once, twice, and then… “She said… what?”

Georgie gave him a sidelong look. “I’ll do. She gave me a choice of Dorset or elsewhere.”

Tony’s heart began colliding with every single one of his ribs. He wet his lips carefully. “And how did you reply?”

“Oh, I didn’t, really,” Georgie said, scoffing a little. “I didn’t have to. Miranda’s already decided.”

So help him, if she said anything remotely resembling his brother’s name or county at this moment…

“Apparently, we’re to be married by autumn.” She gave him a mock apologetic look. “I’m terribly sorry about this.”

Now he desperately wanted to kiss her senseless. But he opted to adopt a doleful expression. “I suppose I shall have to deal with it. But perhaps there is someone else you might wish to marry? I am hardly a fair prospect. Elinor could tell you that. I don’t even have a house.”

“This is true.” Georgie sighed and looked around the room. “Surely we can find a more suitable candidate.”

Tony pretended to help her look. He spotted a dashing looking young man who was too eager for his own good. “Why not marry him?”

Georgie snickered softly. “Not that one.”

“Oh, poor lad,” Tony pitied. “Why ever not?”

“Because he’s an idiot and I’d find a better husband on the docks.”

Tony tsked and shook his head. “You are rather selective.”

Georgie gave him a bewildered look. “No idiots, no old men, and no cads. What in the world is selective in that?”

“You just ruled out the entire right side of the room,” he told her, gesturing grandly.

Georgie coughed a laugh, covering her mouth quickly with her pristine white gloves.

Tony snickered beside her, barely maintaining his composure.

“Oh, if only it were so simple,” she mourned, still smiling. “But there are too many factors to consider, and everything gets all muddled. Look at Grace. Was there ever a better picture of perfection? Yet there she sits, no suitors and no prospects beyond her own fortune.”

Tony shook his head sadly. “I don’t know why any of you are unmarried. Except for Charlotte, but she’s peculiar.”

Georgie grinned briefly at that. Then she sobered. “I tried, you know. The first five Seasons, I did everything right. I should have been just as sought after as any of the other girls. But I never had anything. Not even once. And after a while, you just stop trying. Not because you’ve given up or you no longer want it, but because it’s easier. Why put forth the effort when there are no results? Trying only leads to disappointment. So, you lower your expectations, and instead of being disappointed, you become comfortable. Because it is all you’ve ever known, and it becomes what you expect. And yet… somehow you still hope.”

“Do you?” Tony asked, holding his breath.

Georgie dipped her chin in a brief nod. “Every ball. Every start of the Season. Every time Elinor brings information about a new gentleman. It would be easier to stop, to accept my fate as it is. But I still have hope.” She smiled almost sadly and looked over at him. “Does that make me pathetic?”

He shook his head at once. “No. No, not at all. In fact… You’re terrifying.”

That took her by surprise and she reared back. “What? Why?”

“Because you’re impressive.” He shrugged as if that explained everything.

Georgie frowned at him. “That’s not terrifying.”

“Not to you,” he replied. “But to a gentleman tasked with approaching you to ask for a dance? To court you? To marry you?” He shook his head again. “Utterly terrifying. You walk into a room and know exactly why you are there and what you are going to do. You handle every obstacle without fear and with a firm step. You are no damsel in distress, and you never will be. You, who are in possession of a fairly dismal prospect for your life, can still find a way to hope. That is both impressive and terrifying.”

Georgie stared at him silently for a moment, then returned her gaze to the dance, blinking rapidly. “I should very much like to be alone with you right now, Captain Sterling.”

His stomach lurched, and his toes began to tingle. “Indeed?”

She nodded very firmly once. “There is a rather enthusiastic kiss just begging to be claimed. Possibly more than one.”

He groaned very softly. “Oh, for an abandoned alcove.”

Georgie smirked at nothing in particular. “A closet, a closet, my kingdom for a closet?”

Tony managed a laugh. “Yes, something to that effect.”

“Well,” she said slowly, nodding in thought, “if we go along with this idea of Miranda’s, we could, perhaps, be permitted some time to ourselves every now and again.”

He liked this plan already, and he didn’t mind showing it.

“It is possible, yes,” he agreed, keeping his tone mild. “Miranda is a very determined woman, and if she has decided on you…”

Georgie winced. “She did seem rather certain.”

“Then it would only be fair to indulge her.” Tony pretended to consider it reluctantly. “For her sake, if nothing else. She does so want to be helpful.”

“And no one need know what we are about,” Georgie offered. “Miranda doesn’t know many people, and there will be no formal courtship or outings, so who is to know?”

Well now, that didn’t sound nearly as appealing.

“Actually,” he said slowly, dropping more than a little suggestion in to his tone.

Georgie whipped her head around to look at him. “What?”

He smiled rather smugly. “Miranda insisted that I dance with you.”

Her eyes widened, and she blinked hard. “She insisted you what?”

“Dance,” he repeated. “With you.”

Georgie’s throat worked on a swallow, and Tony watched it move.

“I must say, I was rather pleased about the suggestion,” he went on, keeping his eyes steady on hers. “After all, it is going to be difficult to find a moment alone with you without being seen or someone thinking we’re being improper.”

She stared back at him, her breathing just the slightest bit unsteady.

“This way,” he continued, dropping his voice, “I can be close to you without being remotely inappropriate. I can be near you and touching you in front of all these people, and no one will think anything of it. I can hold your hand, Georgie. And it won’t be a kiss, but it will be the closest thing we have.”

Georgie seemed to tremble before his eyes, and he smiled knowingly at her. He felt the same sort of tremor, though his was not visible. It thrummed through his body with energy and vigor, filling him with the need to act, to seize whatever opportunity he could.

“Must we?” Georgie whimpered. “Everyone will think…”

“At least six people heard her command me to,” he assured her, gentling his smile. “They and their friends will consider me fulfilling a duty.”

She nodded once, swallowing again. “And the rest?”

“I thought of that, too.” He winked at her. “I have at least four more dances I must engage in tonight.”

“Truly?” she managed. “With whom?”

“Well, I’ve been making it a point to dance with the Spinsters tonight,” he informed her with a smug smile. “I’ve enjoyed a dance with Grace, Charlotte, and Prue so far, so the next must be with you and with Izzy.”

Georgie began to smile at him, her eyes crinkling a little. “And the last two?”

“Miranda begged a dance for herself, and I think Janet deserves one as well. They’re not Spinsters, of course, but they are family. Duty must be upheld, after all.”

“Of course.” She smiled so warmly at him that he could scarcely breathe, and whatever power he’d felt from Grace’s smile seemed insignificant by comparison.

There was no telling what he would do for such a smile, but he suspected it would be a substantial effort.

He held out his hand as he tried to find his voice.

Georgie wordlessly put her hand in his, smiling at him still. “You’re right,” she murmured.

“About what?”

She looked down at their hands, then back up at him. “It almost feels like a kiss.”

If he somehow avoided dying this evening, it would be an absolute miracle.

He steeled himself, nodded politely, and led her out onto the dance floor, the room watching yet another Spinster dance with too much interest.

What they did not realize was that this was the one that mattered most.