“Yes. I’m sure she’s quite nervous,” Lady Victoria said.
They backtracked a little until they met Lord and Lady Gardner, with Lady Arabella just behind them.
“Good evening, Lord and Lady Gardner,” Lady Victoria said. “May we promenade with Lady Arabella for a bit?”
“Lady Victoria, Miss Parker, you’re both too kind,” Lady Gardner said. She turned to her daughter. “Darling, go enjoy some time with your friends, but be mindful of where you are.”
Lady Arabella kissed her mother’s cheek. “I will, Mama. Thank you.”
Lady Gardner smiled as the trio made their way around the ballroom.
When they’d gone some distance from her parents, Lady Arabella sighed. “Thank you for rescuing me. I was so nervous walking into the ballroom. It seemed like every eye was upon me.”
“Well, they were,” Mia said. “You look absolutely lovely this evening.”
“Thank you. That’s so kind of you to say. Has anyone signed your dance cards yet?”
“Your brother has graciously signed both of our cards,” Mia said.
Lady Arabella smiled. “Chandler is such a dear brother.”
Before they had a chance to talk further, Lord Webb approached their group. He was on the slender side, with light-brown hair and brown eyes. Mia had danced with him at the Thompson ball and enjoyed it. His pleasant demeanor made him a favorite of thetonhostesses, and Mia could understand why. She liked him, too, but not in a romantic way.
“Lady Arabella, Lady Victoria, Miss Parker, good evening,” Lord Webb said. “I’m pleased to see you all again this evening. May I have the honor of signing your dance cards?”
Each young woman held out her wrist in turn for the lord to sign. Lord Webb signed his name next to the reel on Mia’s card and a country dance on both Lady Victoria’s and Lady Arabella’s cards.
“Miss Parker, I shall return shortly. I look forward to our dance,” he said with a bow.
“As do I. Thank you, my lord.”
The three young women giggled amongst themselves when he’d departed. They each now had signatures on their dance cards.
“See, all will be well, Lady Arabella,” Mia said. “Your dance card will be filled in no time.”
“I feel much better now. Thank you both for staying with me,” Lady Arabella said.
Mia was only half-listening to the conversation because her attention was on finding Lord Easton again in the crush of bodies. He hadn’t approached her yet, and she was afraid that ifhe didn’t appear soon, all her dances would be taken, which sent a stab of sadness through her core.
The night wore on. Three gentlemen had come to claim their dances, and there was only one waltz left open on her card. When Mia’s latest dance partner, Mr. Cook, led her back to her sister when the dance ended, she was relieved to finally see Lord Easton talking with Fletcher.
“Thank you for the dance, Miss Parker,” Mr. Cook said.
“It was my pleasure,” she replied as Mr. Cook took his leave to find his next dance partner.
“Good evening, Miss Parker. You look especially lovely this evening,” Lord Easton said.
Mia had received numerous compliments on her appearance this evening, but this one from Lord Easton meant the world to her. “Thank you, Lord Easton. That’s very kind of you to say.”
“I’m sure your dance card is quite full, but might you have any dances available?”
“As a matter of fact, my lord, the next waltz is currently available,” she said.
She saw his eyes widen. Was he pleased to be waltzing with her?
“I would be delighted to partner with you,” Lord Easton said.
As the orchestra played the first strains of the dance, he held out his hand to her. When their fingers touched, she felt that delicious jolt travel through her body once again. No other gentleman had elicited such a reaction from her this evening.