As Greg had promised, the coach collected General Gardiner, Lizzie and Sarah and delivered them safely to the Assembly Rooms on the following evening. The girls had dressed in simple muslin gowns, Sarah in white with pleated white satin trimming and Lizzie in pomona green. Sir Thomas and Greg were waiting for them in the spacious entrance hall. The strains of a lively dance tune reached them while they greeted each other. Sir Thomas and General Gardiner immediately agreed to go to the card room. Sarah followed Lizzie and Greg into the ballroom.
‘Why, there is hardly anyone here!’ Lizzie’s face fell as she looked around the vast room. In the centre, a small line of couples was dancing but there was a wide, empty stretch of floor all around them. Along the walls the rows of chairs stood empty. Here and there a family group clustered or a chaperon sat watching the dancers.
‘It is a little bare,’ agreed Sarah, ‘but we shall still manage to dance.’
‘I cannot see a single person that I know,’ remarked Greg, ‘but then, I have spent most of the last seven years out of the country.’
‘Well,’ said Sarah, ‘I must admit I cannot see anyone I know – and I was at school in this town for a number of years.’
‘We will have to find the Master of Ceremonies and ask him for some introductions.’ Greg glanced up and down. ‘I do believe that he is over there. Excuse me.’ He strode off.
‘Have you noticed,’ whispered Lizzie, ‘he has left off his sling?’
‘He really intends to dance, then.’ Sarah began to twist the curl above her left ear. Her eyes widened as she considered her situation. She was tired of always struggling against events. This evening she would behave like any other girl at a ball and just enjoy herself. And if Greg asked her to dance, surely she was able to stand up with him without doing any damage to her heart?
But her heart was already beating faster than it should. No doubt she was excited by the prospect of a pleasant evening’s entertainment with no Alice on the look-out for a possible husband for her. She drew a deep, calming breath. Her heart was still fluttering! She became aware of someone approaching and looked up.
It was the Master of Ceremonies bringing two gentlemen with him. Sarah hastily pulled her finger out of the curl and glanced guiltily towards Greg. His face was quite bland, but he was looking in her direction. Blushing slightly, she curtsied as the newcomers were introduced. They were two unexceptionable young men and the problem of partners was now solved.
The next dance was just being announced and the taller of the two gentlemen, Mr Keating, invited Sarah to join in. She accepted readily and discovered that he was a light and skilful dancer as well as an amusing companion. She found it easy to make conversation with him and on several occasions he made her laugh.
She relaxed and began to feel her cares slipping away. Mr Keating was a good-looking young man with wavy brown hair and an amiable smile. Sarah judged him to be in his mid twenties. At the end of the dance, he asked permission to introduce her to his mother and sister.
Sarah was delighted to discover that Mrs Keating was a plump, kindly little lady. She greeted Sarah warmly and introduced her daughter, Lavinia, a petite brunette with lively blue eyes. Sarah could see she was a very young debutante, dressed in the usual demure white dress and pearl necklet but there was a sparkle of intelligence and a look of mischief about her. She probably kept her mother and brother quite busy, looking after her.
‘I am very glad to meet you, Miss Davenport,’ smiled Mrs Keating. ‘You and your friend make a welcome addition to our society. We ourselves only arrived this week but I confess I was disappointed to find Bath so sadly empty of young people. No doubt this dry weather has kept everyone in the country for the hunting.’
‘It will soon become busy once we get into November,’ Sarah replied. How refreshing it was, just to meet kind people and spend a few hours in agreeable company. Miss Keating was well mannered and pleasant, like her brother. Sarah introduced Lizzie and her new partner, Mr Wilden.
‘You see,’ she murmured to Mrs Keating, ‘we have formed quite a group already.’
‘Indeed,’ replied the lady, ‘it is so much more comfortable than just sitting here in this great empty ballroom.’
‘By the end of another month you will be longing for more space even in this room,’ laughed Sarah.
‘Well, Lavinia needs to become accustomed to living in Society before I take her to London in December, so you will not hear me complain about crowds.’
They were all still busy talking when the bell rang to announce the supper interval.
‘Goodness, nine o’clock already!’ exclaimed Lizzie, ‘I do hope there are ices.’
They began to move towards the refreshment area. Sarah looked around to see if General Gardiner had ventured from the card room. Across the crowd, her eyes met Greg’s and she could not help but smile. At once a smile spread over his face. In a moment he was by her side.
‘All well so far, Miss Davenport?’
‘Oh, yes, I much prefer this to London assemblies.’
He lifted an eyebrow but made no comment.
Sarah looked round again. ‘I was wondering about your father and the general….’
‘Pray do not worry. They have already been attended to.’
Sarah looked her surprise. He smiled. ‘There are waiters to serve the infirm card players at their tables.’
‘Well,’ she said, ‘that could be a good thing or a bad one – if they are very addicted to cards.’
‘If they are very addicted, I doubt they would stop for refreshments anyway. Do you play, Miss Davenport?’
‘No, not at all.’
Greg cast her a glance. ‘That was very gravely said.’
She looked away. Did she need to tell him how low her family had sunk through James’s addiction to gaming? Fortunately, he did not press the matter. They moved up to the table in silence. She accepted the ice he offered her. Lizzie, already eating her ice, beckoned them to follow her back to Mrs and Miss Keating.
Soon it was time for the dancing to begin again. Lizzie and Mr Keating were already joining the set. Sarah found Greg looking enquiringly at her.
‘I do hope you will not snub me,’ he murmured.
She put her head on one side. ‘Why would I do that?’
He offered his arm and she laid her hand on it. They walked towards the line of dancers. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘I had the feeling you were cutting me off just now.’
Sarah felt her colour rise. ‘Please forget that. It – it’s just my – a.…’ She floundered to a stop.
He pressed her hand slightly as they joined hands for the turn.‘Not the moment to twist your curls, is it?’ He grinned at her. ‘Yes, I did notice.’
She cast him a rueful look and bit her lip. When next they came together he asked her, ‘Does your sister remain in London?’
‘Oh, yes. She is settled there, I think for the whole season.’
He nodded. ‘Do you have any other brothers or sisters?’
Why was he asking? Sarah did not think he could possibly be interested in James. He did not seem like a gambling man.
‘I have one brother. He is usually to be found in London.’ She did not add ‘in a gaming hell’ but perhaps someone had told him that already. Or maybe not, as he was still being friendly. She wondered if the Davenport reputation was known in Bath. If it was, maybe the Keatings would not be so friendly the next time they met. Sarah swallowed hard, there seemed to be a lump in her throat. How was she to find a way out of her disgrace by association? Even more important, how was she to save Russeldene from Lord Percival?
Certainly not by gambling. She almost had to repress a shudder at the idea. She gave herself a mental shake. This was not the moment for such thoughts. She gave Greg a smile as she stepped towards him again and found he was considering her with a grave look in those fine eyes. Before she could think of anything to say the musicians gave a final flourish and the dancers all made their bow or curtsy.
Greg surprised her by taking her arm and preventing her from returning to her new friends. He looked at her very meaningfully. ‘Pray let us take a turn round the room,’ he said. ‘There can be no objection, can there?’
‘N-no,’ she stammered. Now what was he going to say?
He drew her hand firmly under his arm and walked her over to the most deserted part of the hall. She gave him a questioning look.
‘This is perhaps the best chance I shall have to understand the problem,’ he said, indicating a chair. Sarah ignored it. She fixed her eyes on his.
‘What problem?’
He rubbed his chin. ‘It is obvious that something is troubling you deeply. I saw it at the assembly in London. And even here, you are still blue-devilled.’ He gave her a very kind smile. ‘I would be glad to help you if I can.’
Sarah’s lip trembled. She lowered her gaze, afraid he would see too much. She was not used to sympathy. At the same time, she was puzzled by his insistent questions. Why was he so interested in her brother and sister? Well, she would try a direct question in her turn.
‘Are you acquainted with any of my family, sir?’
He gave a short laugh. ‘I believe I may have danced with your sister once or twice, when she was a debutante in London for the season. That was before I joined the army. I do not know your brother.’
But I need to know him! Dancing with Sarah Davenport was every bit as much pleasure as he had expected. She was very lovely with her pale oval face and long, slender neck. And that silken fair hair, twisted into a topknot and with little curls over her ears, with wispy tendrils escaping down her neck – his fingers itched to caress them and the creamy skin underneath. And her pretty pink lips – better not think about them!
He had other matters to deal with. Why was he preoccupied with her to the point that it was interfering with his quest to deal with the mystery of Henry’s debt? Had he not sworn never to let another woman get close to him? So, he warned himself, just stick to your plan! Get the information now, while you have the chance.
However, as soon as he asked questions about her family, the hunted look returned to those jewel-green eyes. In spite of his determination, Greg hated himself for upsetting her. But he must persevere. When the dance came to an end, he walked her firmly to a quiet corner. ‘I do not know your brother,’ he said, ‘but perhaps he is in Bath as well?’
She gave him a wary look. Greg remembered what Theo had said about James Davenport being a wastrel. It was clear that she felt ashamed of her brother. No doubt she was aware that Society would be gossiping about his impending ruin and speculating on her future as well. How could he not feel pity for her? It was pity that drew him to her, made him want to help her when any fool could see how forlorn she was. The fact that she was very lovely did not enter into it.
He cleared his throat. ‘Miss Davenport, I do not wish to intrude but, if I can be of service, please tell me.’
This time there were definitely tears in her eyes. Then she bent her head, giving him the chance to admire the fine blonde hair so cleverly swept into the knot on top of her head. He wanted to pull the pins out and bury his face in those silken strands. He took a deep breath and caught the fragrance of her lavender perfume.
She raised her head. ‘You are very kind,’ she said in a husky voice, ‘but it is time to rejoin our friends.’ Her expression changed as she saw him rubbing his right arm. ‘Is your wound troubling you? You should still be wearing your sling to rest it.’
‘We soldiers are tough enough to withstand such trifling things as an aching arm. The muscles need exercise, that is all. Come.’ He offered that arm for her to place her hand on it and encouraged her to do so with a nod. As they walked towards the Keatings he murmured, ‘You did not answer my question about your brother.’
He caught the flash of green as she threw him an angry glance. ‘He is at Russeldene for the shooting, but he will probably return to London shortly.’
Then she was talking to Miss Keating and he was definitely being cold-shouldered. He looked at her lovely profile. He would have to charm her again, without insulting her fine intelligence.