“I have,” Lord Chesterfield replied, his grey eyes glancing towards Bridgette, to whom he had not yet been introduced. “Although this is not my first ball of the Season.”
Lady Madeline laughed. “Nor is it mine,” she replied, with a small shrug. “Ah, might I also introduce you to a very dear friend of mine?” She turned towards Bridgette with a warm smile, which Bridgette returned, even though she herself would not have suggested that she and Lady Madeline were ‘very dear friends’.
“Viscount Chesterfield,” Lady Madeline continued, with a wave of her hand. “And, Lord Chesterfield, might I present Lady Callander, Countess to the late Earl of Callander.”
The gentleman’s eyes flared with recognition for a moment, before he swept into another bow which, of course, Bridgette had no other choice but to return.
“How very good to meet you,” she said, as warmly as she could and praying that he would not ask her any questions about her late husband. “Are you enjoying the ball this evening?”
Lord Chesterfield cleared his throat and finally bestowed a small smile upon her. “I am, of course,” he said, still looking at her with those firm, grey eyes of his. “And you?”
Bridgette smiled and thanked him, saying that she had not been here long but that she was sure it would be an excellent evening. Lady Madeline began to speak at length about all that had occurred thus far, including her sighing over a dance that was soon to come upon her, where she would have to step out with a gentleman named Lord Lowenstein, who had dogged her heels at almost every social occasion she had attended thus far. Whilst she was speaking, Bridgette took the opportunity to take in this new acquaintance, seeing how he practically hung onto every word that came from Lady Madeline’s mouth. He was not unhandsome, with brown hair that was neatly swept to one side of his forehead, a square jaw but kindness in his grey eyes. She did not know anything about him, of course, and certainly could not say whether or not he was of decent character, but it appeared that he was eager to spend a little more time in Lady Madeline’s company.
“And will you furnish me with your dance card, Lady Callander?”
Bridgette looked down and pulled off her dance card from her wrist at once, handing it to Lord Chesterfield and praying that he had not noticed her slight absence of attention. Lady Madeline laughed as he pored over Bridgette’s dance card.
“I fear that you may have to take the less favorable dances, Lord Chesterfield,” Lady Madeline said sharply. “Lady Callander is often in demand and has already been sought out by a good many gentlemen.”
Blushing at this remark, Bridgette wisely chose to remain silent, wishing that Lady Madeline had not said anything. She did not want to appear to be something she was not. She was not a diamond of the first water, nor was she someone that ought to be recognized and pursued simply because of her character. The truth was, people were only interested in her because of what she might be willing to do for them, not because she was of any particular interest.
“You must not listen to Lady Madeline,” she said, a little flustered. “Have you written down your name on her dance card also, Lord Chesterfield? I am sure she would be more than glad to dance with you.” She smiled up at him as he handed her back her dance card, seeing the flicker of hope in his eyes as he turned towards Lady Madeline, who now had something of an arrested look on her face.
“I would like to have at least one dance, if I may,” he said to Lady Madeline who, after a moment, pulled off the dance card from her wrist and dangled it out towards Lord Chesterfield, like a child teasing a cat with a piece of string.
Lord Chesterfield took it without hesitation and then eagerly wrote his name down in two separate places. Lady Madeline did not look particularly pleased at this, her brow wrinkling as she accepted her card back from him.
“I should go in search of Miss Taylor,” Lord Chesterfield said, bowing low, “for I am to do the country dance with her and it is to begin very shortly.” He smiled at Bridgette and then turned his gaze towards Lady Madeline. “I look forward to our dances together, Lady Callander, Lady Madeline.”
Bridgette smiled. “I thank you,” she said quietly, thinking to herself that this gentleman appeared to be quite unobtrusive, unwilling to push himself forward and demand her attentions. He was clearly quite interested in Lady Madeline, however, even though the lady herself did not appear to notice it.
“Goodness,” Lady Madeline huffed, crossing her arms in front of her chest again. “I thought I might be able to escape his company but it seems I cannot.”
Surprised, Bridgette turned to her. “But why would you do so, Lady Madeline?” she asked, a little confused. “Is there something about Lord Chesterfield that you do not like? Has he done something to upset you in some way? Or is there gossip that I am entirely unaware of?” She grimaced. “I am afraid I know very little in that regard.”
Lady Madeline sighed and turned her head to look after him for a moment. “No, there is nothing about him that is particularly odious, I will admit to that,” she said, still looking rather irritated. “He is something of a flirt, which I know a good many gentlemen are, but there is something about his manner, his confidence in himself that infuriates me.”
/> “I can see that,” Bridgette remarked, quietly. “But it is clear that he wishes to be in your company this evening.” A knowing smile caught her lips. “It was not I he wished to speak to, but rather, to you.”
For a moment, Lady Madeline said nothing, her expression one of consideration. And then, she threw up her hands and blew out a breath, propping her hands on her hips.
“Regardless, I must prepare myself for the next dance,” she said, looking towards Bridgette. “Do you have a gentleman attending you?”
Glancing down at her dance card, Bridgette noted the name there.
“Yes,” she said, with a small sigh of her own. “Lord Cambleton, the baron from Scotland.” Wincing, her shoulders slumped. “He is new to London, apparently, and I spoke to Miss Winchester recently, who told me that her feet were still bruised from where he trod all over them!”
“Then mayhap I can cut in.”
Bridgette turned around sharply, looking into the face of Lord Millerton. His hazel eyes swirled with questions, as though he feared she would refuse him. His dark hair was brushed to one side, although a little flopped forward over his forehead as he inclined his head, before smiling in Lady Madeline’s direction. “Do excuse me for interrupting you.”
Bridgette quickly made the introductions, aware of the slow flush of heat that began to climb up her spine as she looked back at him, wondering at what he had been doing in standing so close to her as to overhear her conversation.
“Lord Cambleton is, I fear, a little overcome already,” Lord Millerton continued, with a small smile. “I am sure he will not mind if I take his place, although…” Trailing off, his eyes drifted to her dance card. “Might I enquire as to whether or not you have any further dances which require a partner?”
She did not answer him but rather slipped off her dance card and handed it to him, aware of just how warm her cheeks were. Lady Madeline was looking at her with an arched eyebrow, her lip curling just a little. Bridgette did not say a word, waiting until Lord Millerton had written his name where he wished it and then returning it to her.
“I thank you,” she murmured, as another gentleman — whom Bridgette assumed was to take Lady Madeline to the floor — approached them.