Chapter 16

"You're quiet, Anny," Lily murmured as they stepped neatly around the empty ballroom. The high windows let late afternoon sunshine filter down and dust danced in the columns of light as they whirled. There was no music, and Anastasia had set the rhythm by humming a few bars of their favorite waltz. It was the sixth time they had practiced together since Mr. Halloway and Anastasia had argued and Lily was starting to relax and enjoy herself again.

"Mm," Anastasia replied, a little distracted.

"I can't wait for this evening," Lily commented as they stepped neatly around the corner.

"Mm," Anastasia answered again. She was lost in a haze of daydreams, the meeting with the duke recurring in her mind again and again. She had stowed the ribbon away in her dressing table, waiting to wear it at a ball or some special occasion. His sweet words whirled through her thoughts and her lips lifted in a smile.

"Anny!" Lily giggled as they reached the top end of the ballroom and stopped dancing.

"What?" Anastasia asked, blinking. They had danced for two or three minutes, and her mind had barely left the duke.

"You're so distracted. What are you thinking about?" Lily asked. A grin tugged at the edges of her full lips. "I daresay! You must have encountered your gallant suitor. Am I correct in my assumption?"

Anastasia went bright red. "I..." she stammered. She could not deny Lily's comment, though she hesitated to confirm it either, lest her sister press her on who the man was. She still had to be careful and keep the entire matter as secret as she could.

"You have!" Lily yelled delightedly. "Oh, how wonderful." She whirled in place, one hand holding the corner of her white muslin skirt so that it billowed as she moved, the little pattern of pink roses on it flaring out as she danced.

Anastasia chuckled. "I..." she began.

"I would love to find my own gallant suitor," Lily told her, a rapt smile on her face. "I would dance from dawn to dusk, and we would walk in the midnight gardens. I can't wait to be in society soon!"

Anastasia grinned to herself. She had been worried that Lily would want more details, but her imaginative younger sister was clearly wrapped up in her own wonderful imagination.

"You will be at the musical evening this evening," Anastasia reminded her gently. Their mother hosted the event annually, so that meant that Lily would be there too—it wasn't a ball, and so exceptions could be made. Lily grinned.

"And there won't just be ladies there?"

"No."

As if summoned by Anastasia's remark, Rachel appeared, their mother just behind.

"Lady Anastasia! Lady Lily!" Rachel called urgently. "It's time to prepare for the musical evening."

"Oh!" Lily exclaimed. "Is it already so late? Come on, Anny!"

Anastasia just smiled. She gazed at Mama, who looked a little flustered.

"We must begin the preparations for the assembly room," Mama commented, a frown between her brows. Anastasia smiled. She knew her mother well, and knew that, though Mama looked troubled, she was always delighted to be organizing the musicale. It was a popular annual event in London, and they would host at least fifty people, mayhap more. Her stomach fluttered at the thought. Performing was something she both loved and dreaded. She glanced around the room. The footmen were already bringing in chairs and she smiled at her mother.

"I must prepare myself," she said softly, to explain why she would not stay to help supervise the setting up of the room, as she usually would if were to be a ball or soiree.

"I know, dear," Mama said gently. "I will hurry to do so too as soon as I have told Mr. Simons where the chairs must go." She gazed around the room. "There's a lot to do."

"It will be capital," Anastasia told her mother warmly.

Lily beckoned to her. "Come along, Anny. We must make haste. I shall don my new white gown. How delightful! I can scarcely contain my excitement."

Anastasia smiled warmly as she walked briskly up the hallway behind Lily. They reached their rooms almost at once. Rachel would assist Anastasia and Lily's new maid, Debbie, would help her. Since it was almost the beginning of her first social season, Lily needed a maid of her own now to help her prepare.

Anastasia reached for her gown, which had been hung on the wardrobe to air. It was a pale blue, the satin fine and shimmering, and she was tempted to wear the new ribbon in her hair. She hurried behind the screen to get dressed. Rachel would help her with the buttons and style her hair.

"Very fine, milady," Rachel murmured as Anastasia stood in front of the looking-glass twenty minutes later. She turned, watching her skirt flare slightly, gazing at the outfit more than usual. At a ball, it was not as though all fifty pairs of eyes would be trained on her, after all. But when she performed, they would all be looking at her.

"Thank you," Anastasia replied softly. Her long blond hair was arranged in ringlets and the chignon was bound in place by a blue silk ribbon. The thick ribbon showed across the crown of her head, her curls tucked into it. She had chosen to wear no other adornments in her hair.

"As pretty as a picture. Enjoy the evening, milady," Rachel said in a warm, quiet tone. A smile blossomed in her eyes.

"Thank you," Anastasia said softly. She fetched her shawl from the chair—a white silk one—and then she went slowly downstairs.

"Anastasia!" her sister called out. She was running downstairs, her white muslin gown streaming out around her. Her face was lit with a smile that was brighter than the little beads that were sewn onto her gown and which glittered as she moved. It was more of a ballgown than a gown for a soiree, but she was only sixteen and nobody would mind if it was a trifle elaborate. Lily's honey-colored curls were framing her face, decorated with a white band and little white beads.

"You look beautiful," Anastasia told her, reaching out her hands to take Lily's. They did not wear white gloves, as for a ball, since they would both be performing later.

"You, too, Anny! I'm so excited I fear I will explode!"

Anastasia giggled. "I do hope not."

"Me, too!"

They were both smiling as they walked down the stairs to the entrance. Mama was already there, her long gown a rich dark blue. Her graying honey-brown hair was arranged in ringlets and partially covered with a lace cap.

"Daughters!" she exclaimed. "You look grand."

Anastasia smiled and took her mother's hand fondly. Papa was already in the ballroom, no doubt—he did not enjoy the musical evening, yet he had never disagreed to host it, mostly because of the prestige of hosting it.

"Shall we go in?" Mama asked, sounding worried. "The guests will soon start arriving. I believe it is all in order."

"It is going to be grand, Mama," Anastasia insisted gently. "It always is."

Mama smiled and they went into the ballroom together.

"Lord and Lady Ashford, and their son, Lord Matthew."

Anastasia grinned. The first guests included a young man, which she thought was bound to please Lily. She glanced sideways at her sister, who stood at the door with them to welcome the guests, smiling as she saw her round eyes focus on the young lord.

"So glad you could attend," Mama murmured as the guests entered the room.

"We would never miss the musicale. Would we?" Lady Ashford asked her son.

"No, Mama," he murmured, his gaze moving shyly to the floor. He could not have been much older than Lily. She grinned as she watched the two gaze at each other and then looked shyly away, both reddening intensely.

The newly arrived guests went to stand in the ballroom, where some refreshments were laid out. Professional musicians played soft music while the guests stood about chatting politely or sampling the lemonade or small delicacies on offer.

More guests began to arrive, some of whom were ladies Anastasia knew and were part of her circle of acquaintances. Many attended yearly. She gazed through the door but could not yet see Camilla.

She arrived a few minutes later, and Anastasia grinned, delight at seeing her lifting her mood, which had been a little quiet.

"My dear friend!" Camilla exclaimed. "Why! How lovely you look. The perfect colour for you." She gazed at the ribbon and Anastasia flushed. Camilla grinned.

"It's grand to see you," she told her friend. Camilla wore a white gown with blue lavender sprigs patterning the muslin. They had already decided that they would both wear something blue, that they might match a little better for the performance. A sweet smile brightened Camilla's face.

"And you. I hope you will join me soon," she added, tilting her head in the direction of the ballroom as she and her party moved towards the steps.

"Me, too," she agreed.

The rush of guests eventually became a trickle, and then the butler was closing the big doors, indicating that there were no more guests to arrive. Anastasia's stomach lurched. Soon they would perform.

She found herself standing nervously on the floor of the ballroom, the chandeliers brightly lit above them, conversing with Camilla. She could hear Lily giggling and knew that her sister had found some friends. She smiled to herself, trying to focus on what Camilla said. She could feel her stomach clenching with nerves, and she attempted to distract herself from the impending appearance. She could not make herself ignore it for long, and sweat pricked down her spine, her fingers knotting through each other nervously if she did not make her hands stay at the sides.

"Should we go to perform near the beginning?" Camilla asked. Ladies would elect for themselves when they went up, and Camilla always said it was best to be one of the first five. People tended to stop listening after that, waking up again somewhere near the end. She also agreed that going first was not comfortable at all. Anastasia giggled.

"If you like," she agreed, her stomach twisting queasily at the thought.

"First five," Camilla replied, repeating her rule. "Ideally number three."

Anastasia nodded, knowing they would be performing third, as her friend elected.

Her mother, standing nearby with her friends, cleared her throat.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome," she announced. No trace of her earlier nervousness showed—she sounded relaxed and calm. "The performances will be beginning in a few minutes. Please make your way to the chairs provided."

Anastasia smiled proudly. Mama always shone at social events, in no small part because she loved them. She shuddered, thinking of Lord Ridley—he was in many respects even worse than their own father, and he would crush the life out of Anastasia much the way their father attempted to do with Mama.

"My lady."

A voice at her elbow made her turn. She felt her stomach knot up as she saw Lord Ridley standing there. He looked less than usually sober. If she breathed in, she could smell alcohol.

"Good evening," she greeted him.

"Might I...be seated beside you?" he asked a little unsteadily. Anastasia spotted her father, watching her intensely. She cleared her throat and nodded.

"Of course, my lord," she answered.

"Grand. Grand," he repeated, nodding as though the answer pleased him. Camilla cleared her own throat.

"I will sit beside you, Anastasia," she said firmly.

"Thank you," Anastasia replied. She did not like Lord Ridley's company at the best of times. When he was likely to lose his inhibition, she liked it less.

She made her way to the seats.

A young lady went up and Anastasia felt her stomach knot up with nerves, more intensely because of the solid, reeking presence beside her.

If only Mama had included one more name, she thought wistfully. Papa would never have allowed the duke to be on the guest list. If he even looks at the guest list, she reminded herself.

"Capital!" Lord Ridley murmured, as the young lady sat down. Anastasia winced. It was not exactly polite to speak during a performance, but she watched stiffly, ignoring the man and his antics. How he behaved was not her fault, after all.

"I will perform a sonata by Scarlatti," the young lady announced. She was around Lily's age and Anastasia glanced over, seeing Lily smile reassuringly for her.

The piece began and Anastasia listened intently. She enjoyed all manner of music and she fought to sit still as the stirring, bright music poured across the crowd. She wished the duke was there. He would understand if she tapped her foot sometimes.

They applauded the young lady politely, whose performance had been good. A harp had been brought in alongside the pianoforte. The evening was not excluded to piano or voice, though many young ladies were highly accomplished at both.

"I will perform a piece by Vivaldi," another young lady announced.

Anastasia sat nervously. She knew Camilla wanted to go next. They would be the first duo to perform together. Her stomach was already knotted up and she gazed at the candles on the pianoforte's top, willing herself to calm.

"Capital," Lord Ridley murmured. He was barely watching or listening, and Anastasia tried to focus on the performer. She applauded as the young lady concluded her piece, her stomach twisting queasily, and her fingers laced together as Camilla stood up. They would go next.

"We will perform a vocal piece set to music by Haydn," Camilla announced. The words were beautiful, a poem by one of Camilla's favourite poets. Anastasia felt her fingers settle on the keys, so automatic after a month of practice that she did not need to think about it.

She inclined her head, counting internally as she waited to begin. They would start on the count of three, so that neither of them was taken by surprise by the other.

One, two, three, she counted silently. Then her fingers began to weave the melody. A short introduction led into Camilla's vocal performance. Camilla had warmed up beforehand—or she had promised that she would—and the first notes were resonant and beautiful. Anastasia shut her eyes for a moment, losing herself in the beauty of the music that poured from them both.

She felt a slight breeze, stirring the flames that flickered before her eyes. She opened them and gasped.

A gentleman was seated opposite her, one she had not noticed. She wondered if the breath of wind had been the door opening to admit a late guest, but all thought was secondary to the astonishment flooding her.

The duke is here.

His green eyes were focused on her and his face was lit with a tranquil half smile. He looked as though he was enjoying the music as she was, but the look in his eyes was more intense. It was more than admiring, more than interested, and Anastasia felt her heart thunder, sweat tingling on her fingers at the sight of his stare.

A slight fumble on the notes brought her attention back to her performance and she tensed, but skipped ahead to the next phrase, keeping pace with Camilla. She sent up a silent prayer of thanks for how many hours they had spent preparing. If she had been even a little less well-schooled in the piece, she would have lost her place entirely.

The duke's smile broadened as the music continued. Anastasia stared at him, forgetting everything. Her fingers played of their own volition, the weeks of rehearsing informing them in ways that her mind could not. Her gaze was locked on the green eyes before her. The piece shifted and she was conscious with some part of her mind that they were about to conclude, but the rest of her was aware only of the man who was in the middle of the audience, who watched her with love in his eyes.

Camilla's voice was resonant as she sang the highest notes of the piece, and then Anastasia pressed her hands down in the chords that tied it together. The applause rang out, loud and warm, and Anastasia stood up, dropping a curtsey. Her skin tingled, aware that the duke was applauding her, a smile on his slim features, warming them.

She could sense Camilla's skirt rustling behind her as they walked across the floor back to their seats. She sank into her chair, her thoughts drifting, the rest of the room blurred around her for a moment. A young lady was performing, and she could barely hear her thoughts elsewhere.

She could not think of anything except his smile and that green-eyed gaze and warmth flooded her as she recalled it. She could barely believe that he was there, and she longed to discuss the music and the evening and all that they could talk of as soon as she could.